Lipscomb University announced an innovative partnership that will offer students seeking careers in entertainment and music a unique immersive learning experience at its 2021 IMAGINE event “The Soul of America Today” featuring former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham tonight.
Lipscomb University President L. Randolph Lowry announced the launch of an innovative new immersive learning initiative for students with a partnership between Lipscomb’s George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts and Nashville’s Bart Millard, lead singer of the band MercyMe, called Imagine House. Millard is the leader and primary songwriter for MercyMe. He wrote the band’s signature song “I Can Only Imagine,” which was the first digital single in Christian music history to be certified 4x platinum, after losing his father to cancer. MercyMe has received numerous accolades nominations GRAMMY®, American Music Awards, a Billboard Music Award and numerous Dove Awards“>GMA Dove Awards and KLOVE Fan Awards.
Imagine House is the only initiative of its kind in the country that provides students with diverse artistic interests with innovative education, real-world entertainment experiences and a nationwide mentorship network. It will officially launch this fall.
“Imagine House will be a place that intentionally brings filmmakers, musicians, designers and animators into creative collaborations that enhance their ability to tell compelling stories while inspiring them to more deeply connect their art to their faith,” said Mike Fernandez, dean of Lipscomb’s George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts. “Imagine House is where you can dream about your future, ignite the wonder of your faith, apprentice with successful pioneers who paved the way before you, and collaborate with other multifaceted artists to create what’s ahead.”
Millard approached Lipscomb with his vision for Imagine House. After considering several other universities to partner with, he chose Lipscomb to help bring his idea to life because of Lipscomb’s established College of Entertainment & the Arts, the caliber of CEA’s faculty, and the institution’s location in Nashville and satellite campus in Austin, Texas.
“I love the creative energy and innovation coming out of Lipscomb University and its College of Arts and Entertainment,” Millard said. “While music is my first love, I am excited to educate the next generation to impact the world with great storytelling across many artistic mediums.”
Fernandez said Imagine House’s projects include:
● ImagineEdu. A pathway to offer online degrees, convenient for those already working in the industry; undergraduate and graduate certificates; a two-year fast-track to industry; additional graduate programs and on-demand video training, among other programs. ● Imagine House Studios. This will be a functional content production studio that will build and promote a legacy house band, called Longview, that will tour the country representing the university on the national stage, and will also create content for the market, including a new animated series called Dead Sea Squirrels and a sports documentary series called Set Apart: The Music City Mustangs. ● Imagine Nation Network. Imagine House will serve as a network of industry experts and educators who will provide scholarships, mentorships and internships to students from high school to college.
In addition to Millard and Fernandez, Imagine House’s leadership team also includes:
● Brown Bannister, music industry veteran and GRAMMY®-winning producer, director of Lipscomb’s School of Music. Bannister will focus on building the house band and leading the Imagine Nation network. ● Steve Taylor, co-founder of Lipscomb’s CEA Studios and director of its School of Music Theater And Cinematographic arts. Award-winning filmmaker, artist, producer and songwriter nominations Grammy, Billboard, Telly, Addy and Dove alumni, Taylor will lead Imagine House Studios and provide expertise in all aspects of Imagine House’s development.
