Spring 2025 Message from Interim Dean Lionel Popkin
Dear UCLA Arts Community,
As we begin the spring quarter, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the emotional, intellectual, and physical toll of the past several months. Between the ongoing challenges posed by wildfires here in Los Angeles and the uncertainty stemming from recent federal policies affecting higher education and our broader civic life, it has been a long and difficult stretch. Many in our community are feeling vulnerable, tired, and unsure of what lies ahead.
We are living through a time of considerable strain—socially, politically, environmentally, and economically. And yet, it is in times like these that I find myself returning to what grounds us: our values and our unwavering commitment to art and its role in shaping a more just and vibrant society.
The daily work we do—teaching, learning, creating, researching, mentoring, building—matters. It matters in small moments of insight and in large-scale acts of generosity and courage. In the arts and architecture, we are not only stewards of innovation, expression, and wonderfully diverse forms of knowledge; we are also participants in a broader democratic project—one that depends on critical thinking, active listening, imagination, and open inquiry.
Education is foundational to a free society. It allows us to question, to discover, and to grow. The arts, in particular, reflect who we are and help illuminate the path forward. When education is threatened—whether through policy or rhetoric—it is often accompanied by attempts to limit thought and expression. We must remain vigilant and rooted in our collective purpose.
The University of California is steadfast in its commitment to protecting that purpose. As a public research university, UC has long affirmed the importance of access, equity, academic freedom, and the protection of its people. For those seeking up-to-date information about how the UC system is responding to recent federal actions and executive orders, I encourage you to visit the UC Federal Updates page.
Here at UCLA Arts, I remain deeply grateful for the ways in which our community shows up for one another. This is not easy work, but it is necessary. And one of the most sustaining things we can do during difficult times is to gather—to bear witness to each other’s efforts, to celebrate one another, and to share space.
This spring brings with it many such opportunities:
- Fire Kinship at the Fowler Museum offers a powerful reflection on resilience, climate change, and collective memory.
- CAP UCLA’s L.A. Omnibus initiative continues to explore the cultural fabric of our city through conversation, performance, and collaboration.
- Our M.F.A. Graduate Open Studios event invites you into the intimate spaces at the UCLA Margo Leavin Graduate Art Studios in Culver City where creative inquiry takes shape.
- We’ll see culminating projects and final exhibitions across the school, showcasing the dedication and brilliance of our students in galleries, exhibitions, and performance spaces in Broad Art Center, and Perloff and Kaufman Halls.
- On June 5, we will mark the inauguration of our new Chancellor, Julio Frenk.
- And on June 14, we will celebrate our graduating class at commencement—a day of joy, reflection, promise, and new beginnings.
We must also acknowledge that the end of April and beginning of May will bring the one-year anniversary of the violence that occurred on our campus last spring. That event remains a source of pain for many and a reminder of the urgent work we all share in fostering a campus culture grounded in safety, dialogue, and care. Healing is ongoing—and necessary. We must also recognize how forces beyond our campus can shape our individual and collective sense of safety and well-being. I encourage us all to continue approaching one another with honesty, patience, and compassion.
As we move through the quarter, I hope we each find ways to stay connected—to our work and to each other. I am honored to be in community with you and grateful for all the ways you help carry this work forward.
With steadiness and care,
Lionel Popkin
Interim Dean, UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture
Stay engaged. Use #UCLAarts to stay connected.
