The Office of the Arts connects Hunter College students with transformational arts experiences, both on and off campus, and helps student artists build fulfilling, sustainable careers in the arts. The Hunter College Office of the Arts is partially made possible by the generous support of Susie Sainsbury, and we welcome new partnerships and financial support for our work.
The Office of the Art gathered artists, arts leaders, elected officials, students, professors, and more May 1 , 2025, to discuss issues related to working class artists and to propose solutions toward a more economically inclusive culture that reflects the full breadth of the American experience in the twenty-first century.
The OOA brought world-renowned British theater director Trevor Nunn to Hunter College for an inspiring series of five talks, on topics from Shakespeare’s language to Broadway musicals. During his visit, he spent time with theater department students, offering valuable insights and engaging in a special discussion with the cast of the department’s production of Twelfth Night.
The OOA has brought inspiring artists to Hunter for short and long-term residencies. Acclaimed Russian director Dmitry Krymov has conducted two master classes with Hunter College students, and presented works in progress during workshops staffed by Hunter students. The OOA has also hosted intimate conversations with artists including three-time Pulitzer finalist playwright David Henry Hwang and the Tony-nominated design collective dots, and a performance by the Grammy-nominated Aiuzuri Quartet and Syrian clarinetist and composer Kinan Azmeh.
The Office of the Arts offers competitive, rolling-basis funding for students in the arts through two dedicated internship funds: The Lasky Internship Fund for Theater majors, and the Sainsbury Internship Fund for majors in Art & Art History, Dance, Film & Media, and Music. These internships give our students invaluable work experience and a foot in the door at prominent arts institutions, and have led to ongoing employment at organizations including Lincoln Center, the Jazz Gallery, Little Island, and La MaMa.
Hunter Underground is a student-run interdisciplinary arts showcase, designed to create a venue on campus with ongoing opportunities for students in all arts programs to collaborate and share their work. Hunter Underground launched in Fall 2024, with students from across the campus presenting original short films, short plays, songs, poetry, fiction, and visual art.
“It was overall a pretty fantastic experience. I also really liked the multi-disciplinary element. As an artist, it’s so nice to see Hunter students and staff coming together to have events like this. I hope it continues for a long time!”
Elijah Wheat
“Events and programs like these are essential for the Hunter College community, we learn through other people’s work.”
Catherine De Jacinto
"The experience was not only professionally enriching but also personally valuable. This internship was a period of growth for me, as I learned from the expertise of the team I met. I will cherish the knowledge I gained in my career as a stage designer and artist."
Arina Kleparskaya
"My time there has introduced me to many virtuous musicians that have been so friendly and informative. I would not trade the conversations I have had with these people for anything in the world. There are times where an artist will perform and I do not leave the space the same person I was."
Christopher Panchame
"This internship was wonderful and I am incredibly grateful for the experience, as well as the financial support I received. There can be high barriers to entry into the art world and the support provided for Hunter students through the Sainsbury internship is crucial to diversify this field."
Jolie Corvino
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