04-03-2025
UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center joins National Arts Consortium
AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) – The University of Massachusetts Amherst Fine Arts Center has been welcomed into Major University Presenters (MUPs), a prestigious national consortium of performing arts programs affiliated with leading research universities.
Founded in 2002, the MUPs consortium now includes 22 major university presenters across the county who collaborate to strengthen their programming and promote the transformative power of the arts.
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The Fine Arts Center's membership was approved by peer organizations within the group, joining fellow New England institutions such as ArtsEmerson at Emerson College and the Hopkins Center at Dartmouth College.
'The Fine Arts Center is honored to join Major University Presenters, a consortium that reflects our deep commitment to championing the transformative power of the arts in higher education and society,' said Jamilla Deria, director of the UMass Fine Arts Center. 'As we approach our fiftieth anniversary season, this membership strengthens our ability to collaborate with peer institutions, amplify diverse voices, and create meaningful connections between artists, students, and communities.'
Since opening in 1975, the UMass Fine Arts Center has been a hub for arts and innovation on campus and in the surrounding communities of western Massachusetts. Its work focuses on supporting artists, enhancing student learning, and providing inclusive programming that enriches public higher education and advances social progress.
Through its membership with MUPs, the Fine Arts Center gains access to a network of colleagues dedicated to improving university-affiliated arts programming, sharing resources, and creating new opportunities for collaboration.
The consortium facilitates partnerships in areas like marketing, development, and production while also exploring field-wide initiatives, such as mentorship programs and co-commissioning projects.
MUPs also supports its members in advocating for the role of the arts in higher education and the broader community, with a shared mission to build more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable cultural spaces.
Looking ahead to its 50th anniversary season in 2025-2026, the Fine Arts Center plans to use this new affiliation to continue fostering creativity, inclusion, and artistic excellence both on campus and beyond.
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