The School of the Arts at New York University was founded in 1965 to provide rigorous conservatory training in theater and film within the context of a major research university. The school was renamed the Tisch School of the Arts in 1982 following a generous gift from Laurence A. and Preston Robert Tisch, which made possible the acquisition and renovation of 721 Broadway, where most of the school’s programs are currently housed.
Over the decades, Tisch has expanded significantly, establishing numerous departments and programs including the Department of Drama (1974), Interactive Telecommunications Program (1979), Department of Dramatic Writing (1980), Department of Performance Studies (1980), Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program (1981), and the Department of Photography & Imaging (1982). More recent additions include the Department of Art and Public Policy (1999), the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music (2003), and the Collaborative Arts program (2019).
The Kanbar Institute of Film & Television at Tisch is renowned for its comprehensive approach to visual storytelling. Since 1965, the program has had a significant impact on the cultural and artistic landscape, with faculty, staff, and students creating more than 5,000 films per year.
The program mentors young artists in both traditional and innovative approaches to an evolving media landscape that is deeply rooted in visual storytelling. Students receive hands-on training in all aspects of filmmaking, from scriptwriting and directing to cinematography and editing.
Tisch has produced numerous influential filmmakers, actors, writers, and artists who have shaped the entertainment industry. Notable film and television graduates include directors Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone), Melina Matsoukas (Beyoncé’s Lemonade), Ryan Fleck (Captain Marvel), and Jon Watts (Spider-Man: Homecoming); editor Sally Menke (Pulp Fiction); TV writers/producers Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad) and Damon Lindelof (Lost); and cinematographers Rachel Morrison (Black Panther) and Reed Morano (The Handmaid’s Tale).
Tisch has expanded its educational footprint beyond New York City. In 2007, Tisch School of the Arts Asia was established in Singapore as NYU’s first degree-granting campus outside New York City, initially offering an MFA in Film. Today, Tisch education extends across the NYU Global Network with coursework available in locations including Abu Dhabi, Shanghai, London, and Prague.
The school continues to innovate with new programs and facilities, including its newest location at 370 Jay Street in Brooklyn (opened in 2019), which houses the Game Center, Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, and Interactive Telecommunications Program.
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