Few are now able to recall the earliest days of the arts on campus, when visual arts were taught in Quonset huts in a nearby neighborhood. Music belonged to the education department, and courses in speech and drama were occasionally taught within the English department. In 1955, the arts disciplines finally reached departmental status. In 1960, the new Church Fine Arts building provided the first unified physical space for students and faculty.

The Church Fine Arts Building was named after, James Edward Church, professor of Latin, German, classical art and history at the University of Nevada from 1892-1959. Church’s development of the first snow surveying techniques and a system of analyzing avalanche hazards brought recognition to the school and the state. To learn more about Dr. Church and his impact on our University and community, click here.

An addition in the mid-1980s created more classroom space, a concert hall, a gallery exhibition area and a small theatre, enabling greater attendance and participation in the arts by members of the community. The initial and subsequent investments in arts facilities were prompted by an increased demand for arts education within a growing university and by dedicated supporters in the community.