The mosaic initiative aims to shift the culture around the arts and humanities while connecting undergraduates with the people, ideas, scholarship and experiences already flourishing at Duke University.
Piece by Piece, the mosaic Initiative Connects Duke Students to the Arts and Humanities
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences has launched mosaic, a college-wide initiative aimed at shifting the culture around the arts and humanities while connecting undergraduates with the people, ideas, scholarship and experiences already flourishing across campus. The new initiative includes the mosaic Fellows Program, a year-long engagement that provides undergraduates with a cohort-based experience centered on mentorship, community, immersive learning and professional exploration.
To celebrate the launch of the initiative, Duke will host acclaimed author, humorist and cultural critic Fran Lebowitz on Tuesday, Oct. 6. Held in Page Auditorium, “An Evening with Fran Lebowitz” will feature Lebowitz in conversation with Associate Professor of English Taylor Black, who is mosaic’s inaugural faculty director. Tickets will become available to Duke students on Sept. 10 and to Duke employees on Sept. 15. A limited number of tickets may be offered to the general public, subject to availability.
For Leo Ching, Schiff Family Dean of Humanities and the Arts and professor in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, the work to elevate the arts and humanities at Duke begins with collaboration.
“It’s quite an ambitious initiative, but at the same time, we’re not trying to reinvent the wheel,” Ching explains. “We don’t expect departments to create an entirely new slate of programs for mosaic; we’re asking them to identify one or two opportunities each semester where they can be intentional about shaping their programming to keep students — from all corners of Duke — in mind.”
Those welcoming points can take many forms: an arts masterclass open to students whose only qualification is curiosity; a meet-and-greet where a guest lecturer’s undivided attention is the main event for undergraduates; or a chance to encounter “The Odyssey” for the first time without needing to know a word of Ancient Greek.
“The problem isn't a lack of arts and humanities entry points, it's that students don't always know about them or feel too intimidated to attend,” Ching shares. “mosaic is here to help our departments identify the existing events that can welcome a broader undergraduate audience, then help connect students with those experiences.”
Ching adds that the goal isn’t to make the arts and humanities less rigorous; it’s to make the introduction less intimidating. A student shouldn’t need specialized knowledge to walk into a lecture, workshop or performance. They can come because something catches their attention — and discover, once they’re there, how much more there is to explore.
“Arts and humanities can give students ways to interpret the world, ask questions, understand other people and connect seemingly disparate ideas,” Ching says. “Those experiences don’t belong only to our students who have already decided they are ‘humanities’ people.”
As mosaic’s faculty director, Black is embracing the initiative as a “vibe change” and a chance to push back on the notion that the arts and humanities have lost their shine on college campuses.
“At its heart, mosaic is intended as a cultural shift to help students see how the arts and humanities shape the world and their place in it,” Black says. “The initiative isn't about convincing every Duke student to become a humanities major. It’s about making sure every student has the opportunity — and the encouragement — to become a more knowing, discerning, creative and fully human person.”
That means moving beyond the question of whether the humanities are “practical” enough for college and asking a bigger one: Can a college education truly be complete without them?
The initiative will welcome the first cohort of mosaic Fellows in September. Through a yearlong experience that extends into the summer, they will meet faculty, peers and special guests; explore the arts and humanities and gain experiences that connect classroom interests with the wider world.
Scheduled fall events include a meet-and-greet with historian and filmmaker Ken Burns, who will be on campus in September as part of the We the People initiative from Duke Arts that celebrates 250 years of American democracy. A second event will take place in October with Fran Lebowitz.
The fellowship program also includes two summer internship opportunities: one with Duke in New York Summer - Arts & Media, offered through the Global Education Office, and one supporting the Duke University Press.