I am pleased to announce the launch of The Institute for Creativity and Creative Campus at Sheridan.
The Institute is will function as an interdisciplinary cross-Faculty Sheridan unit that embodies Sheridan’s commitment to purposeful creativity. The Institute aspires to become an established hallmark of Sheridan’s Creative Campus. As such, its intent is to:
- mobilize a framework for creative engagement that aims to bring together disciplines, departments and people in order to catalyze and support advanced interdisciplinary exchange;
- facilitate co-curricular collaborations, incubate interdisciplinary scholarship and research, advance public and creative activities, and form inspired connections which serve to open and expand the relationship between Sheridan and the wider community.
Effective August 15, 2015, Dr. Yael Katz will assume the leadership of the unit as the Dean, Institute for Creativity and Creative Campus. Having spent the past two years, as the Special Advisor to Sheridan for the Creative Campus initiatives, Yael is well positioned to provide thoughtful and strategic leadership to this important portfolio. Initiatives under Yael’s purview will include:
- The Creative Campus Complex: A series of creative spaces opening in September 2016 with the expansion of the Hazel McCallion Campus. These include an Office for the Institute, a Creativity Gallery and a Creativity Commons.
- SRCA supports such as the Scholars and Creators Fund, Scholars and Creators Awards, Scholars and Creators Conference, Fellows and Visitors/Scholars, Innovation Funds, etc.
- A series of ‘real’ and virtual creative galleries (e.g. CTL Gallery, Institutional Repository), across all campuses, for interdisciplinary and cross-campus showcasing of SRCA initiatives.
- A series of innovation spaces that aim to reinforce Sheridan’s commitment to creativity and innovation.
The Institute will sponsor the Creative Campus Advisory Council to provide leadership, strategic direction and oversight in keeping with Sheridan’s mission, vision, values and goals. The Institute will maintain close affiliation with each Faculty and with Sheridan’s academic units/departments (e.g. Library, CTL and the Office of Undergraduate Research) which will serve to lead, mobilize and sustain the spectrum of initiatives and activities that comprise the Institute’s engagement framework. The Institute will maintain close partnership with areas such as Student Affairs, Office of the Registrar, Corporate Planning, Facilities, and Communications and Advancement. Through these links and partnerships, the Institute will aim to facilitate a collaborative and inclusive approach to creativity and innovation across Sheridan.
Please join me in congratulating Yael on her new position.