University of Wisconsin-Madison

The University of Wisconsin–Madison is home to the first university dance major. We were the first college in the nation to host an artist in residence (John Steuart Curry, 1936). We were also the first to appoint a musician as artist in residence (Gunnar Johansen, 1939). In 1999, the Division of the Arts created the semester-long Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program. Nick Cave introduced the program as our first artist, and we have hosted over 35 well-known artists since.

In 2007, the First Wave Hip Hop and Urban Arts Learning Community was born. First Wave is a cutting-edge multicultural artistic program for incoming students. The program offers a four-year full tuition scholarship to University of Wisconsin –Madison. Since its inception it has attracted diverse, talented students from across the country. These students develop their personal art forms while pursuing degrees in any chosen field.