Jordan College of the Arts

You bring the talent,
we’ll light the path.

It takes more than creativity to build a career in the arts, and it takes more than just technical proficiency. At Butler, you’ll learn to harness your talent and become an artist-citizen.

Our faculty members and academic programs are nationally recognized, providing you with conservatory-level instruction as you follow a path of your own making. Double major, study abroad, participate in clubs, land an internship—the choices are yours, and the opportunities are endless.

Beyond campus, you’ll find the beating pulse of Indianapolis’ arts scene, where you can plug in to a dynamic community and gain valuable experience as a working artist.

Passion into Profession

Perform Like a Pro

Great art can happen anywhere—but JCA’s facilities set the stage for powerful experiences with you and your audience. From an intimate black-box theatre to a 2,000-seat performance space that looms as large as the A-list talents who have graced it, you’ll hone your craft in venues that inspire your best.

Tour our Venues and Facilities See the Butler Arts & Events Center

300+

Performances held annually at the Butler Arts Center

100%

Placement rate for JCA students

Venues in the Butler Arts & Events Center

JCA Admission

Amplify your talent by applying to Butler University as a Jordan College of the Arts major! First-year applicants are encouraged to apply by November 1, Butler’s Early Action Deadline.

See JCA Admission Requirements Apply Now

Art is made to be experienced

At JCA, your artistic education comes to life through music ensembles, major ballets in our 2,000-seat Clowes Hall, theatre productions with incredible set and costume designs, University art showcases, and the celebrated JCA Signature Series. View our lineup of student-centered visits by nationally and internationally renowned guest artists and scholars, who educate and inspire JCA students in all disciplines.

JCA Signature Series

The arts have the power to initiate difficult conversations, highlight injustice, and promote peace.

Our Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Access (IDEA)

Featured Alumni

“The ‘music and more’ initiative in JCA meant I could study what I wanted without limiting myself to one thing.”

2021 grad Walker Demel triple majored in Music Performance—Piano Pedagogy, Computer Science, and Mathematics. While those three majors may not make sense at first glance, he says they all fall under the same umbrella of problem solving and have helped him become a successful PhD student at Northwestern University.

Read Walker’s Story