The Spinoza Project
"Training Artists to be Social Entrepreneurs"
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Continuing in the long tradition in the state of North Carolina for exceptional leadership in support of the arts, UNC is uniquely positioned to create the most outstanding artistic entrepreneurship program in the country.
Toward that end, “The Spinoza Project” to serve as an evaluatory model for design of the program.
This model serves to focus on universal problems and issues through utilization of multidisciplinary classroom research, service learning, experimentation, information sharing all integrated through the arts with an eye toward venture viablilty.
"Training Artists to be Social Entrepreneurs"
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Continuing in the long tradition in the state of North Carolina for exceptional leadership in support of the arts, UNC is uniquely positioned to create the most outstanding artistic entrepreneurship program in the country.
Toward that end, “The Spinoza Project” to serve as an evaluatory model for design of the program.
This model serves to focus on universal problems and issues through utilization of multidisciplinary classroom research, service learning, experimentation, information sharing all integrated through the arts with an eye toward venture viablilty.
Phase I-Spring Semester, 2010
Phase II--In progress
Phase I The Spinoza Project, examined the issue, “religious freedom and separation of church and state." The mission of the project was threefold:
--to create a rigorous multi-disciplined approach intersecting the arts and the academy to examine a specific issue.
--to enhance opportunities for research and dialogue through public fora activities on campus
--to share documented information, gathered through the above-mentioned activities, utilizing social networking and cutting-edge information sharing technology both inter and extra-campus. Phase I of the project included the following elements:
1) Inter-disciplinary courses offered in concert through three departments:
A. Religion 138-- “Religious Freedom”, Broad emphasis on history as well as philosophical, political and social theories
B. Music 212--“UNC Opera", Preparation of student actors and technicians for the world premiere of the new musical, “Searching for Spinoza” (Concept & Book,/Suzanne Ishee,Music & Lyrics/Dr. Thomas Conroy)
C. Econ 327 --Business Venturing/cross-listed Music 286-"Arts Entrepreneurship", Study of how arts can inform entrepreneurship and business literacy for artists.
D. WMST 290 -- "Women in Contemporary Art" – Interview with Artist/Entrepreneur, Suzanne Ishee detailing how her art serves to stimulate dialogue on the issue to be included in the documentary archive of contemporary women artists housed in the Department of Art.
2) Service-Learning Initiatives
A. UNC Opera Presentation—World premiere of the musical “Searching for Spinoza”
B. The Program for Humanities and Human Values, “Adventures in Ideas Weekend Seminar—The Spinoza Project”, April 16 & 17, Nelson Mandela Hall, Fed Ex Global Education Center
C. WUNC—Frank Stasio Interview on “The Spinoza Project” with Dr. Terry Rhodes, Suzanne Ishee and Chris Nickell, April 17, 2010
D. Ackland Art Museum—Special Study Gallery Exhibition
Core Project Partners
Faculty Chair—
Dr. Terry Rhodes, Music Department Chair, UNC Opera Director, Professor, Music 212
Faculty Partners—
Dr. Randall Styers, Religious Studies, Professor Religion 138
Dr. Mark Katz, Music/affiliated with Economics, Professor, Econ 327/Music 286
Susan Harbage Page, Art/affiliated with Women’s Studies, Professor. Art 230
Associates
Tim Matson, Post Graduate, Conductor
Zachary Kyle Ballard, B.Mus. (Dec. ’09), Production Stage Manager
Senior Project Consultant
Suzanne Ishee, Producer, Broadway Center Stage
Consultant
Eve Duffy,Director The Program for Humanities and Human Values
--to create a rigorous multi-disciplined approach intersecting the arts and the academy to examine a specific issue.
--to enhance opportunities for research and dialogue through public fora activities on campus
--to share documented information, gathered through the above-mentioned activities, utilizing social networking and cutting-edge information sharing technology both inter and extra-campus. Phase I of the project included the following elements:
1) Inter-disciplinary courses offered in concert through three departments:
A. Religion 138-- “Religious Freedom”, Broad emphasis on history as well as philosophical, political and social theories
B. Music 212--“UNC Opera", Preparation of student actors and technicians for the world premiere of the new musical, “Searching for Spinoza” (Concept & Book,/Suzanne Ishee,Music & Lyrics/Dr. Thomas Conroy)
C. Econ 327 --Business Venturing/cross-listed Music 286-"Arts Entrepreneurship", Study of how arts can inform entrepreneurship and business literacy for artists.
D. WMST 290 -- "Women in Contemporary Art" – Interview with Artist/Entrepreneur, Suzanne Ishee detailing how her art serves to stimulate dialogue on the issue to be included in the documentary archive of contemporary women artists housed in the Department of Art.
2) Service-Learning Initiatives
A. UNC Opera Presentation—World premiere of the musical “Searching for Spinoza”
B. The Program for Humanities and Human Values, “Adventures in Ideas Weekend Seminar—The Spinoza Project”, April 16 & 17, Nelson Mandela Hall, Fed Ex Global Education Center
C. WUNC—Frank Stasio Interview on “The Spinoza Project” with Dr. Terry Rhodes, Suzanne Ishee and Chris Nickell, April 17, 2010
D. Ackland Art Museum—Special Study Gallery Exhibition
Core Project Partners
Faculty Chair—
Dr. Terry Rhodes, Music Department Chair, UNC Opera Director, Professor, Music 212
Faculty Partners—
Dr. Randall Styers, Religious Studies, Professor Religion 138
Dr. Mark Katz, Music/affiliated with Economics, Professor, Econ 327/Music 286
Susan Harbage Page, Art/affiliated with Women’s Studies, Professor. Art 230
Associates
Tim Matson, Post Graduate, Conductor
Zachary Kyle Ballard, B.Mus. (Dec. ’09), Production Stage Manager
Senior Project Consultant
Suzanne Ishee, Producer, Broadway Center Stage
Consultant
Eve Duffy,Director The Program for Humanities and Human Values
A collaboration between the Music Department (College of Arts and Sciences) Psyco-Oncology Department (UNC Medical School), in conjunciton with The Spinoza Project and the University Entrepreneurial Initiative.
Core Project Partners:
--Kevin FitzGerald-Vice Dean of Finance and Administration, UNC Medical School, Adjunct Professor/Social Entrepreneurship
--James Moeser, Chancellor Emeritus and Professor of Music, Senior Consultant for Special Initiatives at UNC Institute of Arts and Humanities
--Suzanne Ishee, Senior Consultant, The Spinoza Project
--Terry Ellen Rhodes, Professor and Chair, UNC Music
Project specifics are in the formative stages. Check back soon for a “Call for Projects”
Core Project Partners:
--Kevin FitzGerald-Vice Dean of Finance and Administration, UNC Medical School, Adjunct Professor/Social Entrepreneurship
--James Moeser, Chancellor Emeritus and Professor of Music, Senior Consultant for Special Initiatives at UNC Institute of Arts and Humanities
--Suzanne Ishee, Senior Consultant, The Spinoza Project
--Terry Ellen Rhodes, Professor and Chair, UNC Music
Project specifics are in the formative stages. Check back soon for a “Call for Projects”