Stanford Arts Institute

Stanford Arts Institute (SAI) cultivates curiosity and radical rethinking by promoting creative practice as a core element of research and education. Uniquely situated as an interdisciplinary arts research institute within the Vice President for the Arts (VPA) at Stanford, we work with students, staff, and faculty from across the University to foster artistic modes of inquiry and forge connections across departments and schools through creative practice.

Academic Programs

Stanford Arts Institute offers two distinct Interdisciplinary Programs (IDPs) open to undergraduate students from any major:

• The Inter-Arts Minor: Designed to allow students to deepen their understanding of the arts, familiarize themselves with interdisciplinary theories and techniques, and make meaningful connections between their home disciplines and artistic practice. Inter-arts minors pursue their unique interdisciplinary interests through a tailored study plan.

• Honors in the Arts (HIA): An advanced pathway supporting undergraduates as they develop rigorous creative thesis projects. Students interested in HIA apply in spring of junior year, and admission is competitive.

Both undergraduate programs support individual and partner projects that center creative practice-as-research, combine two or more distinct art practices, or blend art and scholarship in some rigorous and creative way. We welcome and support all forms of creative expression, including visual art, dance, theater, creative writing, game design, film, fashion, and multimedia installations. 

Interdisciplinary Arts Courses

In addition to the two degree paths, Stanford Arts Institute offers coursework listed under the subject code ARTSINST:

• Arts Immersions: Annual courses and trips provide students an insider’s view into cultural hubs across the U.S. and around the world.

• Senior Workshop Sequence: HIA and Inter-Arts Minor students meet for a weekly workshop with a cohort of interdisciplinary peers throughout senior year. 

• Rotating topics: Affiliated faculty from across the University offer an ever-changing array of interdisciplinary arts courses. Recent courses have focused on: the interplay between digital processes and traditional weaving and printmaking techniques; neurodiversity in immersive experience design; and a recreation of foundational lessons from the experimental Black Mountain College.