The Department of Art offers a dynamic, challenging, and open learning environment emphasizing interdisciplinary research and artistic production. We are committed to creative research that investigates the relationship between inquiry and practice and how this dynamic manifests itself in contemporary and historical approaches to cultural production in a continually changing world.Our renowned faculty are deeply committed to teaching and creative research.  We attract students who are self-motivated, visually and conceptually inventive and interested in being a part of an outstanding community of artists within a world-class research institution.  At UCSB, emerging artists develop the means to express themselves and the critical thinking essential to their future roles within society. Our faculty, current students and alumni actively participate in local, national and international exhibitions, symposia and conferences.The Dept. of Art's interdisciplinary curriculum structure is supplemented by close association with the Media Arts and Technology Graduate Program, the College of Creative Studies, the UCIRA, and the Interdisciplinary Humanities Center. Please visit our links for updates to the Art Colloquium speaker series and the exhibitions listings, both open to the public.