A more vibrant and integrated performing and visual arts culture involving students, staff, alumni and the wider community is being planned for Monash.

An advancement committee with representatives from the Vice-Chancellor's Group, the Arts and Art and Design faculties, Marketing and Public Affairs and Monash International has been commissioned to draw up a new vision and raise funds to make it a reality.

The Monash Advancement Committee for the Arts is headed by Arts dean Professor Homer le Grand.

A director for Performing and Visual Arts has been appointed to assist in making the concept happen. Ms Jan Clancy, who has run the highly successful performing arts program based at Clayton campus, has been appointed to manage the project with the advancement committee.

Professor John Redmond chairs the MUMA committee

Ms Clancy’s brief is to attract more interest in Monash cultural activities, including the Monash University Museum of Art (MUMA) and a long list of performing arts events.

More than a quarter of a million visitors are attracted to more than 400 events across Monash campuses each year. Monash currently offers theatre events, dance, music performances and art exhibitions at its Clayton campus and its three art galleries - MUMA, the Switchback Gallery at Gippsland and the Faculty Gallery at Caulfield. It also has a multi-million Australian art collection that tours regularly.

The advancement committee will feed its ideas into the university's campus and academic planning processes and work closely with the MUMA committee, chaired by Professor John Redmond.

The committee aims to devise a shared vision and forward plan for the arts that would add a new dimension to university life and the university's academic curricula. It will also look at ways to attract financial and other support for the arts at Monash.

Ms Jan Clancy, Director of Visual and Performing Arts.