The Los Angeles-based GRAMMY Museum announced that Monmouth University is an official university affiliate. A launch event and celebration will be held on October 10 at 2:30 p.m. in Lauren K. Woods Theatre with performances by bands from Monmouth University’s student-run record label, Blue Hawk Records.
GRAMMY Museum Director and Monmouth University alumnus Bob Santelli, who facilitated the partnership, will speak at the event and present President Paul R. Brown with a plaque. The archives of the Bruce Springsteen Special Collection will also be open during the launch, and alumni and friends are invited to attend the free event.
With the affiliation, Monmouth University will become one of only four university affiliates of the GRAMMY Museum, and the only one on the East Coast. Other educational affiliates include the University of Southern California, Oregon State University, and Delta State University. The partnership provides access to GRAMMY Museum content for educational purposes, curriculum resources, research programs, professional development seminars, collaborative marketing and promotions, project-based learning and unique student internship opportunities.
The museum, dedicated to celebrating the enduring legacies of all forms of music, opened in Los Angeles in December 2008 in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the GRAMMY Awards. Its mission is to help students use music as a gateway to learning and as a way to inspire and cultivate creativity and critical thinking.
The new partnership, facilitated by Santelli, will open doors to students for opportunities like internships, research programs, employment and accessibility to talent for events and production.
“With GRAMMY Museum’s new educational affiliate program, we’re inviting educational institutions to engage in a unique resource-sharing opportunity,” Santelli said.
“We are extremely proud to be a GRAMMY affiliate,” said Stanton Green, dean of Monmouth University’s McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
“The new resources will foster growth at the Center for the Arts and support its mission of connecting students to the arts through curricular initiatives, faculty and student scholarship, creative endeavors and career mentorship programs.”
“We are thrilled Bob brought us this opportunity,” said Joe Rapolla, chair of the Music and Theatre Arts Department. “The program fits perfectly into our updated Music and Entertainment Industry program.”
“It is our goal to provide students with as many real world and hands-on components to complement our solid academic offerings,” Rapolla said.
To learn more about the GRAMMY Museum, visit www.grammymuseum.org . For more information about Monmouth University, visit www.monmouth.edu .