UNO’s CFAM Marks 20 Years With a Message That the Arts Matter

April 18th, 2025

As the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s College of Communication, Fine Arts, and Media — better known as CFAM — celebrates its 20th anniversary, its influence on the city’s cultural landscape continues to deepen.

Founded in 2003, CFAM has helped position communication, music, theatre, and visual arts as cornerstone programs at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). Today, those disciplines are not only vital to campus life but also play a growing role in shaping Omaha’s artistic and cultural identity.

“Obviously, we have a point of view, and our point of view is that the arts are important,” said CFAM Dean Michael Hilt in an earlier interview on KVNO. “And we’ve chosen the word ‘celebration’ for our 20th anniversary because that is what we are doing.”

In the second part of this feature, KVNO takes a closer look at the people and programs that continue to bring CFAM’s mission to life, along with the partnerships that extend far beyond campus walls.

Karen Fannin, director of the UNO School of Music, has been with the university for over a decade and assumed her current leadership role three years ago. She says that this anniversary marks a rare opportunity to bring all the schools within CFAM together — something that is often difficult due to packed schedules and busy performance seasons.

“It is a real collaboration, and that is the best part of it,” Fannin said.

That spirit of unity is on full display this month. The School of Music has organized a special celebration that reflects CFAM’s diversity and creative energy.

The 20th anniversary celebration will culminate on Wednesday, April 23, with an evening event at UNO’s Strauss Performing Arts Center. The highlight of the night will be the world premiere of Fearless, a new work by composer Gala Flagello. A reception begins at 6:45 p.m., followed by the main celebration at 7:30 p.m.

More information about the event and CFAM’s ongoing work is available at unomaha.edu, under the College of Communication, Fine Arts, and Media.

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Gabriel Escalera, KVNO News