College of Humanities and Fine Arts
Weekly Newsletter
Annual Holiday Art Auction
The Murray State Department of Art & Design and University Galleries are pleased to host the 2026 Annual Holiday Art Auction on Friday, November 13, beginning at 6:00pm in the Clara M. Eagle Gallery. The live auction begins at 7:00pm. Skip the long line and register early or email msu.art@murraystate.edu.
Original works of art in a wide variety of formats will be available for purchase through both silent and live auction during the evening. The works are donated by faculty, staff, students and alumni, as well as local and regional artists. Proceeds from the event go to support Murray State’s Department of Art & Design student scholarships.
Playhouse in the Park, in collaboration with the Department of Global Languages and Theatre Arts, will produce six performances of “Anastasia: The Musical":
- Friday, Nov. 13 @ 7:30pm
- Saturday, Nov. 14 @ 7:30pm
- Sunday, Nov. 15 @ 2:30pm
- Friday, Nov. 20 @ 7:30pm
- Saturday, Nov. 21 @ 7:30pm
- Sunday, Nov. 22 @ 2:30pm
Playhouse in the Park is located at 701 Gil Hopson Dr. in Murray. For ticket information, call Playhouse in the Park at 270.759.1752 or the GLTA Box Office at 270.809.4421.
Final HUM+ Event of the Fall & Spring 2027 Schedule
Our final event of the semester is Wednesday, Nov. 11 @ 3:00pm in Doyle Price Fine Arts 735 - "“Ink, Paper, Power: ‘Zine Making 101 with Dr. Sara Cooper, Dept. of English & Philosophy (students only; registration required).
The spring 2027 series has been finalized! Details for the full schedule can be found on the Humanities+ Series website and YouTube channel.
Humanities+ Series Call for Proposals for 2027-2028
Planning for the 2027-2028 series is underway; it will include a wide variety of dynamic events that feature a clear, practical application to human flourishing via the arts, education, humanities, and/or social and behavioral sciences.
The application process is simple: compose a 250-500 word proposal that outlines the event you envision, its audience, and impact. Submit the proposal via this google form no later than January 15, 2027. Applicants will be notified by mid-February 2027.
The committee is happy to brainstorm possibilities; contact the Humanities+ Directors Dr. Josh Adair (jadair1@murraystate.edu) and Dr. Carrie Jerrell (cjerrell1@murraystate.edu) with ideas or questions.
An Eclectic Eye (Extended by Popular Demand!)
An Eclectic Eye: A Curated Selection from the Dr. Michael E. Porter and Lana G. Porter Fine Art Collection, will be extended through November 20 by popular demand! The exhibition in Clara Eagle Upper Gallery includes works by renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Andy Warhol, and many other masters, all generously loaned by Murray State University Distinguished Alumna Lana Porter (`65, `72).
CHFA Grants & Awards
Recruitment and Retention Grants
The CHFA Dean’s Office is accepting proposals for Recruitment & Retention Grants for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. This year’s grants are designed to be flexible and may support new initiatives or build on existing events and programs. The first review of applications will begin on Friday, September 11, 2026. Applications will continue to be reviewed until all the money is awarded or December 1, 2026. Details can be found on the CHFA Dashboard.
Momentum Grants
The CHFA Dean’s Office is pleased to offer Momentum Grants of up to $500 to support post-tenure faculty looking to reinvigorate their research or creative activity agenda. The grants are designed to help faculty move an idea forward, reconnect with an area of scholarly or creative interest, or stay current with evolving technologies or practices in their disciplines. Review of applications will begin mid-September and continue until all the money is awarded. Details can be found on the CHFA Dashboard.
CHFA Shout-Out
The CHFA Shout-Out is a newsletter featuring faculty and student accomplishments, along with student organization activities and class projects from around the college. Read the September issue of the Shout-Out here.
Deadline to submit to issue 4 is December 1; details are included on the Shout-Out Submission Form. Contact Carrie Jerrell (cjerrell1@murraystate.edu) with questions.
CHFA Thank You Program
The CHFA Thank You Program is an opportunity to express gratitude to faculty, staff, or student workers for the positive impact, big or small, they make. Anyone may submit a Thank You request using this submission form. The dean's office will write the message in a Thank You card and deliver it to the recipient.
The Racer Writing Center is open for the fall semester! Located in the back left corner of Waterfield Library, the Writing Center offers students personalized, one-on-one support to strengthen their writing at any stage of the writing process. Faculty are encouraged to send students to the Writing Center and invite a consultant to their classes for a brief introduction to the center’s services.
To schedule a classroom visit, contact Dr. Zach Garrett (zgarrett@murraystate.edu) with the course and section number, location, and preferred date and time. Students can drop by or visit https://lib.murraystate.edu/writingcenter to make an appointment.
Tertulias: Spanish Language Table
Tertulias, the Spanish Language Table, will meet on Thursdays from 11:00am - Noon in Faculty Hall 305, beginning September 24. Practice your conversation skills in a fun and encouraging environment. Everyone is welcome.
Poster & Press Release Requests
