Alice Coonley Higgins Institute for Arts and Humanities

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Alice Coonley Higgins Institute for Arts and Humanities We support teaching and research through grant programs, public events and campus-wide initiatives.

The Alice Coonley Higgins Institute for Arts and Humanities sponsors public programming and campus initiatives, supports curricular innovation and excellence, and funds creative practice and research through our grant programs at Clark University. Founded in 1986, the Higgins School of Humanities works to enhance the intellectual and cultural life of Clark University by fostering connection between the humanities disciplines (English, Foreign Languages, Visual and Performing Arts, Philosophy, and History). At Clark, we believe that humanistic inquiries and practices are crucial to our development as intellectually curious, socially engaged, and ethically oriented beings. In cultivating the ability to read great texts and artistic forms, to frame analyses and arguments on the most important questions, to speak and listen with open intensity, and to examine our own deepest assumptions, the humanities bring the large questions of value and purpose to life for undergraduates. Learning through the humanities and arts grounds an individual's capacity to engage with societal complexities — by developing historical, cultural, literary, linguistic, and philosophical consciousness, and encouraging empathic and aesthetic ways of knowing.

Don't forget to join us tonight at 7pm in the Higgins Lounge! We look forward to seeing you there.
10/06/2026

Don't forget to join us tonight at 7pm in the Higgins Lounge! We look forward to seeing you there.

Tomorrow, October 6, at 7pm in the Higgins Lounge, we’re excited to welcome Ramzi Aburedwan with Ensemble Dal’Ouna and s...
10/05/2026

Tomorrow, October 6, at 7pm in the Higgins Lounge, we’re excited to welcome Ramzi Aburedwan with Ensemble Dal’Ouna and singer Mona Miari for an evening of music rooted in the rich traditions of Palestine and the broader Levant. Raised in the Al Amari refugee camp in the West Bank, Aburedwan discovered music as a young person and went on to become a celebrated violist, composer, and educator. He is the founder of Al-Kamandjâti, an organization that provides music education and performance opportunities to children and communities in Palestine and Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. His work has made music a vehicle for education, cultural preservation, community-building, and creative possibility.

Admission to this special concert is free and open to the public. We hope you’ll join us.

Clark University's Environmental Humanities cohort begins an exciting year of programming tomorrow with a panel discussi...
09/09/2026

Clark University's Environmental Humanities cohort begins an exciting year of programming tomorrow with a panel discussion featuring faculty members Christina Gerhardt, Eman Lasheen, and moderator Stephen Levin. Admission is free and open to the public.

It has already been a fantastic day of ClarkFEST, and we're not done yet. Join us at 4:30pm in the Higgins Lounge for a ...
04/22/2026

It has already been a fantastic day of ClarkFEST, and we're not done yet. Join us at 4:30pm in the Higgins Lounge for a book talk by Professor Lex Lu from the Clark University History Department. This is our last public event of the spring semester - don't miss it!

Following ClarkFEST, join the Higgins Institute in collaboration with the Clark University History Department for an exc...
04/21/2026

Following ClarkFEST, join the Higgins Institute in collaboration with the Clark University History Department for an exciting Faculty Lecture from Professor Lex Lu as he presents his new book "Appearance Politics: Legitimacy Building in Late Imperial and Modern China," at 4:30pm in the Higgins Lounge. In this lecture, Professor Lu will share excerpts from his book, and highlight examples from Ming Prince Zhu Di's usurpation to Mao Zedong’s iconic visual legacy.

Take a moment to learn more about Professor Lex Lu and his book Appearance Politics: Legitimacy Building in Late Imperial and Modern China in the images above ahead of his lecture!

In his recent book, "Appearance Politics: Legitimacy Building in Late Imperial and Modern China," Clark University facul...
04/20/2026

In his recent book, "Appearance Politics: Legitimacy Building in Late Imperial and Modern China," Clark University faculty member Lex Lu argues that crafting an appealing and powerful outward image has long been a critical political tool in China. This strategy is evident in historical records, imperial portraits, physiognomic assessments, photographs, posters, statues, and digital images. Using rare archival materials from Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing, Lu explores how political figures designed their images and examines the shifting standards of male beauty that shaped their choices. Join us as Professor Lu shares excerpts from his book, highlighting examples from Ming Prince Zhu Di's usurpation to Mao Zedong’s iconic visual legacy. Join us on Wednesday, April 22 at 4:30pm in the Higgins Lounge - refreshments will be offered.

** Wednesday, April 22 at 1:15pm in the Higgins Lounge **Join us during ClarkFEST for a brief presentation and panel dis...
04/20/2026

** Wednesday, April 22 at 1:15pm in the Higgins Lounge **
Join us during ClarkFEST for a brief presentation and panel discussion about The Women of Clark oral history project. Supervised by Professor Melinda Marchand of the Clark University History Department, this project seeks to amplify women’s voices and to contribute to the University's historical identity by collecting and showcasing the stories of women who were part of the Clark community as former students, faculty, staff and community partners. Come learn more about this important piece of Clark's history and see student work exhibited in the Higgins Lounge. Admission is free and open to the public.

Don't forget to join us tonight for a special concert by Cosmic Lucifer, an audio-visual collective rooted in dark wave,...
04/16/2026

Don't forget to join us tonight for a special concert by Cosmic Lucifer, an audio-visual collective rooted in dark wave, film soundtracks, and the Berlin School of electronic music. Science fiction, literature, and experimental cinema will collide in this electrifying multidisciplinary presentation of “Blade Runner Reimagined” (in tribute to the composer Vangelis), “UBIK” (in tribute to author Philip K. Dick), “Alien” (in tribute to filmmaker Ridley Scott), and “Who Are We.” Composer and producer Robin Amos will perform on a mix of analog and hybrid systems, collected from his 50+ years as a pioneering synthesizer player. The evening will also feature a recorded collaboration with musician Blaik Ripton on analog and digital synthesizers. Glitch video artist Allison Tanenhaus, who specializes in trippy op art and anachronistic tech mashups, will present the music’s dancerly, larger-than-life visuals, rich in psychedelic abstraction and unexpected dimensional qualities. The concert begins at 7pm in Razzo Hall - admission is free and open to the public.

Thursday promises to be an incredible day of programming sponsored by the Arts + Technology Program here at Clark Univer...
04/15/2026

Thursday promises to be an incredible day of programming sponsored by the Arts + Technology Program here at Clark University. Glitch video artist Allison Tanenhaus will discuss her creative journey at noon and then showcase her trippy, psychedelic work during an evening concert by Cosmic Lucifer, featuring the talents of composer and producer Robin Amos. Admission to both events is free and open to the public. Make plans to join us!

With special thanks to our partners in the Clark University Department of Visual & Performing Arts and the Becker School of Design and Technology.

Address

Clark University (Dana Commons, 2nd Floor), 36 Maywood Street
Worcester, MA
01603

Telephone

+15087937479

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