Telling Our Stories

Voice and Tone

Our tone is confident, yet warm and inviting; intellectual but sincere.

We work to keep our writing accessible and avoid technical jargon and “artspeak” that might not have meaning for our audiences. We work to write concisely and to write in an active voice. We work to “show, not tell” in our writing. 

Style

We mostly follow AP Style in written copy, with a few exceptions specific to the university or the college. (For example, we italicize titles instead of using quotes, per AP Style.)

Our Name

The official name is the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts or, if the association with the university is not clear from the surrounding context, the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University.

First Mention

The formal name, the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts, should be used as the first or dominant mention of the school in a document, page, or website.

Secondary Mentions

After the formal name has been used, it is permissible to identify the school in secondary mentions as “the college.” Please do not refer to the college as “CABCOFA or COFA” in any external-facing communications.

Narrative Description

The Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts is the cultural center of Howard University—an academic, collaborative, space and home for artists, performers, designers, administrators, scholars, educators, makers, storytellers and creatives ready to change the world.

With an emphasis on collaboration, innovation and scholarly activity, our students pursue to master their craft every day and have ample opportunities to perform, exhibit and present their work. As an extensive visual and performing arts college embedded in a culturally diverse, comprehensive, research intensive and historically Black private university, our college includes the the Department of Art, the Department of Music, the Department of Theatre Arts, the Gallery of Art, the Office of Choirs and Bands, the Center for Student Success, and the Office of the Dean.