The Brigham Young University College of Fine Arts and Communications has created The Laycock Center for Creative Collaboration in the Arts thanks to a generous gift from an anonymous donor. The Laycock Center will promote and enable creative collaboration among faculty, students, artists, educators and scholars in various disciplines of the college.
K. Newell Dayley, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communications said, "The Laycock Center is already creating a paradigm shift among our faculty and students. We are creating exciting new ways to work together. This gift will have a far-reaching impact for generations to come."
With initial funding during 2003, the center will support several collaborative activities. In one instance, faculty and students in photography, illustration and Web design will work together to document ancient and modern temple symbolism.
In another collaboration, music composition students will write pieces and participate in readings and recordings of their works by the professional group "Ensemble Aleph." The group also will give a professional concert for all students.
A third initial activity involves Communications, Theatre and Media Arts students and faculty, who will collaborate to create television commercials for "real-world" clients. The final products will then be submitted to the Clio Student Awards in New York City.
The Laycock Center honors the family of George Elijah and Fern Redd Laycock. George and Fern were both born in 1893, then moved to Alberta, Canada, where they met, married and raised their family. As a musician, George accompanied silent films, then found a living as a farmer. Fern loved singing, piano playing and painting. Their children, Harold, Ralph, Merne (Livingstone) and Hugh, grew up with a love for music and the arts. Harold and Ralph served as BYU faculty in the School of Music for many years. Many grandchildren and great-grandchildren have been extensively involved in the performing and visual arts, and many have graduated from BYU.
The public announcement of the Laycock Center will take place Saturday, April 12, at the 7:30 p.m. BYU Combined Choral and Philharmonic Orchestra Concert. Tickets are available at the Harris Fine Arts Center ticket office at (801) 378-4322 or www.byu.edu.hfac.
For more information, please contact Varden E. Hadfield, (801) 422-1133.
