More Information
	Art
	Dance
	Music
	Theatre
	Fine Arts Minor Requirements
	Scholarship Opportunities
	What Can I Do With This Major?
	Faculty & Staff

The Fine Arts Department of the School of Fine and Performing Arts has an illustrious history that traces back more than half a century when then Rider College moved from Trenton to its present location in Lawrenceville.  At that time the Department, as part of the School of Liberal Arts, Education, and Science, offered concentrations in Art, Music, and Theater with the goal to train young artists for the professional world and to bring out the artist in all interested Rider students regardless of major.  In 1966 the Fine Arts Theater opened with a dazzling production of the musical “Carousel” starring Gordon MacRae and soon after welcomed such artists as choreographer Tommy Tune.   The theater program of the Fine Arts Department has since grown into a highly respected undergraduate producing agency that has received many awards and has sent actors, designers, and technicians to professional stages, including Broadway and major films.  In 1994 the Dance Concentration was added to the Department using the state-of-the-art studios and the professional staff of the Princeton Ballet School in Princeton, the home of the American Repertory Ballet Company.  

The Fine Arts programs provide students with a variety of strong programs utilizing both new technologies and traditional methods. Students develop their talents through relating liberal arts studies to their exploration of visual creativity. Faculty members and guest lecturers provide professional examples by being active in their respective disciplines. The Rider Art Gallery is home to permanent collections and offers students the opportunity to show their work. Classes are kept small allowing students access to all equipment and technology in the studio, workshops, and labs, as well as on the stage. Faculty provide individualized support, guidance, and criticism for students in the department. Students gain knowledge and skills for careers in the fields of fine art, music, theatre, dance, and art education.  

Internships:
The School of Fine and Performing Arts offers internship experiences in the areas of art, dance, music and theatre.  See  your faculty advisor for further information.

Facilities:
Theatre students will work in both the newly-renovated state-of-the-art Yvonne Theater and the Spitz Theatre on the Lawrenceville campus.  Performance venues on the Princeton campus include Bristol Chapel, the Playhouse, and the Princeton High School Performance Auditorium.

Rider University is also home to the Rider Art Gallery and the Isaac Witkin Sculpture Park. 

Honors Program:
Honors programs are available in partial fulfillment of major requirements in the four areas of art, dance, music and theatre.  See your faculty advisor for further information.

Student Organizations:
Alpha Psi Omega is a national theatre honor society. Members have a strong interest in theatre, whether behind the scenes or on stage. Alpha Psi Omega supports all theatre and cultural events.  For further information, contact the Fine Arts Office.

Find out about Scholarship & Award Opportunities!

To find out more about the Fine Arts major, please contact:

Dr. Jerry Rife Chairperson 609-896-5481 Office Location: Fine Arts 149 rife@rider.edu