The Pigott Family Endowment for the Arts is dedicated to deepening the education experience of students by bringing internationally renowned artists to campus. The endowment provides educational and artistic experiences for students and faculty as well as for the general public.
Each year the endowment sponsors major programming in one area of the fine arts (theatre, music, art, or art history) on a rotating basis, while also supporting smaller on-going programming in other areas. Students benefit from direct interaction with the visiting artists and participation in programs and events.
2022-23
During the 2022-23 academic year, funds from the Pigott Endowment for the Arts are supporting outstanding visiting artists in music.
This year's highlights will include:
- Concerts by renowned artists Christian Howes and Rachel Barton Pine.
- A visit by professional treble ensemble MUSING which will include a student workshop and a concert in the Chapel of St. Ignatius.
Summary of Activities
2019
- Nine students and faculty members from the Strings Program traveled to Austin, Texas- home base for the world-renowned chamber group, Miro Quartet.
- Called “the premier men’s vocal ensemble in the United States,” Cantus visited Seattle University in April, 2019. The group gave several master classes and workshops and performed two nights at St. Joseph’s Cathedral.
2017-18
-
Seattle U Theatre and the nationally acclaimed Sojourn Theatre preformed the most ambitious and far-reaching production heretofore underwritten by the Pigott Family Endowment for the Arts. How to End Poverty in 90 Minutes encouraged conversation between artists, agencies, and audience about poverty and how to allocate resources to solve the problem.
2016-17
- Ten students joined Seattle University faculty members for a weekend trip to Los Angeles, participating in art museum trips and studio visits.
- Andrea Geyer’s week long residency at Seattle University involved visiting several classrooms and conducting two public lectures.
- Seattle artist Dawn Cerny spent months working in Seattle University facilities as part of Seattle U’s ongoing SUVAIR (Seattle University Visiting Artist in Residence Program). She mounted a show in Vachon Gallery titled Showroom.
2015-16
- Theatre Alumna Meme Garcia was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to continue her acting studies at London Academy of Dramatic Arts (LAMDA).
- Twenty-six students and faculty travelled to Twisp, Washington to preform their production of The Women of Troy for a full house at The Mercy Theatre.
2014-15
- Scott Kaiser, longtime member of the artistic staff at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, joined the Theatre faculty to direct his new play, Love's Labor's Lost, during the Fall quarter.
2013-14
- Friedhelm Mennekes held a residency in the Fine Arts Department during the Spring Quarter.
- Jeffry Mitchell will be the Seattle University Artist in Residence (SUVAIR) in the Fall Quarter of 2013.
- Students participated in a weekend-long trip to Los Angeles for a tour of some of the city’s legendary art museums. Air fares, hotel, ground transportation and museum fees will be covered by the endowment. Two faculty members prepared and chaperoned the tour and provided learning opportunities and contextualization throughout the trip.
- A professional choreographer worked with students on the production of Charles Mee’s Big Love.
2012-2013
- The music division hosted a public lecture with Angela Beeching.
- Rajan Krishnaswami, Mark Salman, Indra Thomas, Melissa Parks, and the Miro Quartet performed concerts on the SU Campus.
- The theatre division had guest artist Miriam Goodman-Miller as the milliner for the spring production of Fefu and Her Friends.
- Mary Ann Peters was the Seattle University Artist in Residence (SUVAIR) for the visual art division.
