University of Memphis

The Arts at the University of Memphis

The University of Memphis offers a dynamic and multidisciplinary arts ecosystem within its College of Communication and Fine Arts (CCFA). Anchored by the Art Museum at the University of Memphis (AMUM), which houses the largest collection of Egyptian antiquities in the Southern U.S., alongside African and print collections, the museum provides free public access to exhibitions and a flexible gallery space for emerging student, faculty, and community artists.

The Department of Theatre & Dance supports robust BFA and MFA programs spanning performance, musical theatre, dance, dance science, design, and technical production. Students benefit from access to five performance venues, including a Mainstage Theatre with automated lighting, projection, and advanced sound systems, a flexible Black Box Studio, and dedicated dance studios used for both rehearsal and presentations.

For musicians, the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music, located within the expansive Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center, offers world-class performance and rehearsal spaces. Complementing formal music programs is WYXR, the university’s free-form FM radio station in collaboration with Crosstown Concourse which provides students a platform for creative broadcasting and audio arts. The arts at Memphis also stretch beyond traditional campus boundaries. The innovative Center for Arts Integration in Business Performance blends arts-based methodologies with business training to help students develop emotional intelligence, leadership, and creative collaboration.

With the University of Memphis combining advanced facilities, from galleries and theatres to radio studios and integrated research centers, with performance-rich academic programs and community partnerships, the arts are central to student growth, public engagement, and cross-sector innovation.