About

The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) strives to provide students access to all of the arts and academics complemented by exposure to a wonderfully diverse artistic environment. Students in all of the CVPA programs work closely with accomplished and renowned faculty who serve as outstanding mentors and professional role models.

Instruction combines traditional forms and approaches with the latest in technology applications to best prepare all of our students for the challenges and expectations that await them in their careers as artists, designers, scholars, educators, therapists, and arts-related business persons.

The College of Visual and Performing Arts also presents an outstanding calendar of events on an annual basis that provides the campus and community with a rich, vibrant variety of plays, exhibits, dance performances, design and fashion shows, concerts as well as outreach activities in our geographic area.

The work of the students, faculty, and guest artists combine to make our college the artistic and cultural center of this region of the Commonwealth and beyond.

We invite you to visit us, attend our wide array of performing and exhibiting events throughout each year, and see for yourself why the arts at Radford University are exciting, enlightening and enriching!

Our Mission

The mission of the College of Visual and Performing Arts is to:

Create an artistic community of practice.
Expose others to the creative process.
Engage in interdisciplinary and international collaboration.
Lead this institution to a position of cultural prominence.

Our Vision

The College of Visual and Performing Arts strives to reveal and harness the creative energy that drives cultural innovation, empowers leadership, and provides the inspiration to devote one’s life to learning and pursuing artistic excellence.

Meet the Dean

Timothy Channell, Ed.D., professor of music business, has served Radford for 15 years and brings past professional experience in alumni relations, academic advising, festival management and K-12 music education. At Radford, he has served as the chair of the music department and, most recently, as assistant provost for budget and academic operations. He also participated last year in the prestigious ACE Fellows program.

Channell has over 30 years of experience as a music educator, arts administrator, fundraiser, and in concert promotion. He has worked to bring nationally recognized performers to various concert venues. He has performed on or produced multiple recordings and has been very involved in working to raise capital support, market, promote, and develop relationships for various constituencies. Additionally, he has vast experience in event planning, contract negotiation, budget development, and has presented numerous workshops on fundraising throughout the east coast of the United States.

Channell is a sought-after adjudicator, clinician, and performer. He is president of Channell Consulting Services; a firm providing specialized consulting for various arts organizations helping them better understand their current position and potential for financial and artistic growth.

In addition to his teaching and administrative duties he is the pipe major the the Radford University Pipes and Drums. He is also a member of the Music and Entertainment Educators Association and the College Music Society.

Guest Artists

As part of the college’s role as a cultural center for the arts in Southwest Virginia, we bring a wide variety of guest artists and creative scholars to our campus. These arts professionals not only bring high quality performances, exhibitions, and lectures to our campus, but also work closely with our students in the classroom. Having access to artists from the “real world” provides students with an important perspective in terms of developing career goals and networking opportunities.

Guest Artist Gallery

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