Amplify the Power of the Arts for Columbia Students
The Arts Initiative connects students with the transformative power of the arts through programs that ensure affordable access, support their art making, and foster community. Our goal is to inspire lasting engagement with the arts at Columbia and far beyond—empowering the next generation of creators, thinkers, and community-builders. As you consider the remarkable ways in which the arts have enriched your own life, we ask that you pay it forward by making a gift today.
Your Gifts Impact Our Success
Opening Doors to NYC’s Culture
Whether discovering iconic performance venues and art museums for the first time, or deepening a lifelong passion, the Arts Initiative enhances the New York City experience for all students with simple and affordable access. From free admission to museums including the Met and MoMA to discounted tickets to Broadway, the New York Philharmonic, and beyond, Columbia students explore art beyond campus with ease.
“The best part of the tour was how the guide didn’t just give us facts—they encouraged us to engage with the art more thoughtfully.” —Student participant feedback
Fostering Community
We believe in bringing students together—at private tours of Carnegie Hall, the Met Cloisters, and the Guggenheim Museum, as well as for our annual Morningside Lights procession featuring brilliant lanterns made collaboratively during free workshops. These experiences spark joy, foster belonging, and strengthen the bonds that hold communities together.
“Surrounded by hundreds of smiling faces and vibrant lights, I was moved and energized by the sight in front of me.” —Bwog coverage of Morningside Lights
Amplifying Student Creativity
The Arts Initiative is proud to support the extraordinary student art making that happens outside of the classroom with Student Arts Grants for performances and arts publications. Whether it’s imaginative retellings of classic plays, inspiring dance performances, or innovative new works of writing, gifts to the Arts Initiative on Giving Day help to champion the creative voices of hundreds of student artists—contributing to the long tradition of vibrant artistic expression at Columbia.