Stanford Arts Institute

The breadth and depth of the arts on campus are manifest in the academic departments and distinguished programs, as well as in the signature arts presenters on campus: the Anderson Collection at Stanford University, the Cantor Arts Center and Stanford Live/Bing Concert Hall.

Stanford’s unique interdisciplinary investigation of the arts combines innovation and entrepreneurship that is the hallmark of Silicon Valley with academic leadership in art theory and practice.

Only at Stanford University

• The Anderson Collection at Stanford University is a collection of 121 modern and contemporary American paintings and sculpture representing Bay Area Abstraction, Bay Area Figuration, California Light & Space, Color Field Painting, Contemporary Painting, Funk, Hard-Edge Painting, New York School, and Post-Minimalism. Admission is free.
• The Cantor Arts Center, hosting major art exhibitions from around the world as well as displaying a remarkable encyclopedic permanent collection, is one of the most visited university art museums in the country. Admission is free.
• Stanford Live, the university’s performing arts presenter, schedules over 40 events each year representing a wide range of genres—including chamber, symphonic, jazz and world music, as well as newly commissioned works—and offers free programs for students.
• There are dozens of exhibition and performance spaces on campus utilized by over 100 student arts groups in addition to a robust residential arts program throughout the dorms.
• The arts district at the entrance to campus includes the Anderson Collection at Stanford University, Bing Concert Hall, the Cantor Arts Center, Frost Amphitheater, the McMurtry Building for the Department of Art & Art History, Memorial Auditorium and the Stanford Art Gallery.
• From Papua New Guinea sculptures on the south side of campus, to Peter Wegner's site-specific works at the Graduate School of Business, to Mark di Suvero’s monumental steel work Miwok in front of the School of Medicine, there are more than 85 outdoor works of art across campus that are accessible 365 days a year.
• Stanford Arts and the Office of the Associate Dean for the Advancement of the Arts are the nexus for interdisciplinary campus-wide arts programming and provides support for faculty and student arts activities.