Louisiana State University
The Arts at Louisiana State University
At Louisiana State University (LSU), the arts are a vital part of campus identity, infusing creativity, critical thinking, and community engagement across disciplines. Through its distinguished College of Art & Design and College of Music & Dramatic Arts (CMDA), LSU offers a dynamic environment where artistic practice and academic rigor converge. The College of Art & Design, Louisiana’s largest and most comprehensive art and design school, houses nationally accredited programs in architecture, art, interior design, and landscape architecture.
The LSU Museum of Art, located in the Shaw Center for the Arts in downtown Baton Rouge, enhances this ecosystem by serving as both a cultural hub and a teaching resource, offering exhibitions that connect academic research with public engagement.
The College of Music & Dramatic Arts anchors LSU’s performing arts offerings through the School of Music and School of Theatre. Students pursue rigorous training in instrumental and vocal performance, composition, music education, theatre performance, design & technology, and arts administration. Performances are staged in the Shaver Theatre, Studio Theatre, and the Reilly Theatre, home to LSU’s professional Equity theatre company, Swine Palace. LSU is also home to the Turner-Fischer Center for Opera, offering robust opera training and productions, as well as acclaimed ensembles in jazz, wind, orchestral, and choral music.
LSU’s commitment to community engagement is evident through public programming, youth outreach, and collaborative arts experiences, such as the Neighborhood Arts Project and student exhibitions open to the public. Whether in the studio, gallery, or on stage, LSU fosters a culture where the arts thrive as a core element of research, innovation, and cultural leadership.
