A note from Dean Tepper:

In a typical year, Disrupt is a look back at the academic year behind us—it’s the Herberger Institute’s version of an annual report, pulled together over the summer and shared as the next academic year begins.

But 2020 was not a typical year.

Like everything else in our world, Disrupt was disrupted by COVID19, and, as we worked on this issue, big things started to happen in the current academic year—things we want to share with you.

So this issue of Disrupt is not typical either. Yes, we’re taking a look back, but we’re also touching on the present moment, so that we can share some exciting news. Looking ahead into 2021, not only are there several vaccines for COVID19 on the horizon, but the Herberger Institute has two brand new schools—the School of Music, Dance and Theatre and The New American Film School, with more big news on the way.

2020 was a year of necessary reckonings, in some ways accelerated by COVID19—around racial justice, police violence, access, privilege. Moving into spring 2021, we are still in uncharted territory, with no clear sense of how things are going to look in a few months. Nevertheless, artists and designers continue to lead the way through, reflecting our situation back to us, telling our stories and showing us new ways of seeing, and being in, the world. And when we do return to something approaching “normal,” I hope that we can hold on to all the things we’ve learned along the way.

Here’s to staying creative in difficult times.

 

Steven J. Tepper

Dean and director, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts