Florida State University’s College of Fine Arts recently hosted the inaugural Creative Co-Lab: Illuminating the Creative Experience at FSU, bringing together students, faculty, staff, alumni and volunteer leaders staff from across disciplines to tackle a central question: “How can we make the arts more visible, more integrated, and more impactful on campus and in the community?”
“The Co-Lab offered a unique opportunity for our community to come together and think boldly about the future of the arts at FSU,” said Sara Scott Shields, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. “It wasn’t just about generating ideas—it was about advocating for the arts, imagining new possibilities, and building connections across disciplines. The energy and commitment from the Deans Advisory Council, our students and faculty was truly inspiring.”
The event, hosted at the newly renovated Facility for Arts Research, was a true collaboration, jointly developed by the Dean’s Advisory Council and faculty and students from every academic unit in the College of Fine Arts. This collective effort ensured that voices from Art, Art Education, Art History, Dance, Theatre, and Interior Architecture & Design were at the table, contributing diverse perspectives and expertise to the conversation.
Designed as a think-tank style gathering, the Creative Co-Lab provided a structured but open-ended space for deep brainstorming, creative problem-solving, and bold idea generation. Participants were grouped into interdisciplinary teams intentionally composed of students, faculty, and alumni from across all academic units, allowing each team to draw on a wide range of backgrounds, expertise, and artistic approaches. This interdisciplinary model was key to the day’s success, enabling participants to explore connections across disciplines and spark innovative ideas that might not emerge within a single field.
Throughout the day, teams engaged in a series of facilitated sessions—identifying challenges, exploring opportunities, and ultimately developing and pitching creative proposals aimed at amplifying the role of the arts in FSU life. Ideas ranged from interactive installations and cross-disciplinary performances to community partnerships and digital platforms designed to connect students and audiences in new ways.
“The most impactful part of the event was the brainstorming session and how our different majors and experiences led to such a diverse range of ideas,” said Sarah Dwaikat, a graduate student pursuing her MS in interior design who participated in the event. “I learned a lot and loved being part of it. It was amazing to see how many ideas we generated in such a short time, and I’d love to explore what the possibilities could be with even more time.”
The DAC’s student engagement committee is currently evaluating the pitches, with the goal of moving selected projects toward implementation in the coming year. All teams will receive feedback, and the College hopes to continue fostering these collaborations beyond the event.
“As we reflect on the semester’s achievements, the Creative Co-Lab stands as a powerful reminder of the creativity, leadership, and vision our community brings to every endeavor,” said Shields. “It underscores the vital role the arts play in fostering dialogue, strengthening communities, and shaping the future of higher education. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who participated, supported, and contributed to the event, and we look forward to seeing how these ideas continue to grow in the months ahead.”
For more information on how you can get involved in future initiatives at FSU’s College of Fine Arts visit cfa.fsu.edu/support.