Nashville, Tenn. -- Lipscomb University recently announced an innovative partnership that will provide students seeking careers in entertainment and music a unique immersive learning experience at its IMAGINE 2021 The Soul of America Today event.
Lipscomb University President L. Randolph Lowry announced the launch of a significant new, innovative 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 frontman and principal songwriter for MercyMe. He wrote the band's landmark song "I Can Only Imagine," which was the first digital single in Christian music history to be certified 4x platinum, after the loss of his father to cancer. MercyMe has received numerous GRAMMY® nominations, American Music Awards, a Billboard Music Award, and numerous GMA Dove Awards and KLOVE Fan Awards.
Imagine House is the only initiative of its kind in the country that offers students with varying artistic interests, and innovative education, real market entertainment experiences, and a nationwide mentoring 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 sharpen their ability to tell compelling stories while also inspiring them to connect their art more deeply with their faith," said Mike Fernandez, dean of Lipscomb's George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts. "Imagine House is the place where you can dream about your future, ignite the wonder of your faith, apprentice under successful pioneers that have blazed a trail ahead of you, and collaborate with other multifaceted artists to create what's next."
Millard approached Lipscomb with his vision for Imagine House. After considering several other universities with whom to partner, he selected Lipscomb to help him bring his idea to life because of Lipscomb's established College of Entertainment & the Arts, the caliber of CEA faculty, the institution's location in Nashville, and their satellite campus in Austin, Texas.
"I love the creative energy and innovation coming out of Lipscomb University and its College of Entertainment & the Arts," said Millard. "While music is my first love, I am excited about training the next generation to impact the world with tremendous storytelling across many artistic mediums."
Plans for Imagine House include ImagineEdu, Imagine House Studios, and Imagine Nation Network. To stay up-to-date on the latest Imagine House news, click here.
