SIM is an incubator. It is a place that generates the kinds of ideas with the potential to grow into entirely new art forms. The artists in The Studio for Interrelated Media[SIM] combine the study of many media by pursuing the representation of their ideas with the most appropriate media for each idea. This process often results in the extending, reshaping, and breaking of boundaries. SIM is project- and concept-centered and depends on the exchange of experience, knowledge and curiosities of a diverse community of students and faculty.

SIM courses students present, perform and produce work. The intention is to help students recognize and articulate their artistic ideas. They then study the media necessary to realize their work. Media and form are two of many aesthetic decisions that SIM artists make. Most important is the concept. The faculty is committed to helping students develop their concepts while gaining proficiency in the media necessary to realize them.

The backbone of the SIM program is the SIM Major Studio course. This is a studio in which all members of the program meet together in one space, share SIM community news, learn to collaborate, as well as present artwork and refine constructive critique skills. Individuals and groups present and discuss work in media of their choice such as audio, video, computer, performance, publishing, and production of events that interrelate media. Each week, these presentations are organized and produced by students who select, schedule and technically support the presentations.

In addition to SIM Major Studio, there are a variety of SIM electives courses that provide studio practice in particular skills. SIM art overlaps and intersects with many other disciplines. Because the goal is to encourage students to invent and develop experimental art forms, new directions, and unusual contexts, each semester SIM provides a selection of courses in many media ? courses might explore web art and digital distribution; video editing and production; interactive media and computer-controlled installations; dance techniques, composition and improvisation; performance art and spoken word; the interrelationship between art and science; technical theater and stage lighting; sound performance, composition, recording, and editing.

SIM students also have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience curating, designing, and producing interdisciplinary art events by producing the Eventworks festival and managing the Godine Family Gallery. 

Students that graduate from SIM are uniquely prepared for lives as self-motivated artists as well as professionals in many commercial and non-profit fields. SIM grads have started their own galleries, TV shows, and businesses; worked as non-linear film and sound editors in Hollywood, New York and Boston (WGBH, ZOOM); as stage crew for theaters in New York City; as web developers for award-winning studios; as educators at Harvard, Stanford, Mills, Carnegie Mellon, and the New England Aquarium; and as practicing, exhibiting, and/or performing artists around the world.

Please view this page for information about the SIM Major Requirements needed to graduate with a BFA as a SIM Major.

Read the wikipedia pages about SIM and Harris Barron, SIM founder. Visit Harris Barron's website that he shares with his wife and collaborator of 50 years, Ros Barron - harrisandrosbarron.com

Check out the SIM studio Flickr photostream.

If you'd like to start a SIM program of your own, read:

How to Create a Studio for Interrelated Media

Steps

1. Locate yourself within a community that boasts an intellectual research culture - to visit, to invite speakers from, for cross-registration, etc. (for example in Boston, the home of the original SIM program, there are hundreds of first class universities, research institutions, and other intellectual pools that offer an endless list of potential field trips and visiting scholars and artists to draw from.)
2. Find a dynamic and tireless group of artist educators who are available to meet regularly with a group of students that don’t fit into easily defined categories. This faculty should be idea-centered, protective of student interests, and deeply understanding of cross-disciplinary productivity. It is a plus if they are comfortable with the public perception that “they are not in control of their classroom”. This faculty will need the resources and skills to deliver a tremendous amount of individualized advising and to teach comprehensive classes in specific subjects.
3. You’ll need a meeting place that can accommodate all majors, staff, and faculty at the same time as well as smaller meeting places for more intimate conversation. You can also add studio space for audio/visual exploration by individuals or small groups.
4. Students will need access to a well-maintained collection of digital and analog audiovisual equipment ranging in vintage and complexity. Students should be able to take equipment off campus and keep it for a week of exploration. Clear user’s manuals should be included with each piece of equipment. Studio managers should be on hand for one-on-one training and troubleshooting with all the equipment.
5. Impose a requirement that students present their work/ideas for critique.
6. Now, start meeting every week for as long as possible. It’s important that these meetings include every student, faculty and staff, and everyone knows everyone’s name.
7. Allow these elements to simmer for as long as it takes for something to happen. As students share information, they will begin to prioritize agendas, identify challenges, and brainstorm actions. The students should be part of any decision-making related to schedules, curriculum, department management. As times passes, individuals will begin to make their ideas come to life while also collaborating with others simultaneously - each process informs the other.

Tips

• Faculty, staff and mentors should try hard not to fix any problems or challenges that arise. Allow the students time and space to figure things out.
• Groups should not exceed 100 members.
• Allow skill specific workshops and electives to emerge according to student interest, cultural influence and faculty specialization.

Warnings

• Often students will make decisions that the faculty dislikes. The faculty must be willing to accept these decisions and allow the results to emerge - then the community may tackle the new challenge. There needs to be the expectation that the students will introduce content, projects, and procedures that may be unexpected and at times inconvenient for the school structure. The faculty stands ready to facilitate this process, provide knowledge where appropriate, and periodically intervene to ensure all voices are being heard.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Create a Studio for Interrelated Media. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

SIM Courses for FALL 2011:

MPSM276 01 Studio for Interrelated Media Sturiale Nita TH N 187 01:30PM-06:30PM

MPSM376 01 Studio for Interrelated Media Kramer Dawn and Flackett Antony TH N 187 01:30PM-06:30PM

MPSM476 01 Studio for Interrelated Media Buckholtz Elaine TH N 187 01:30PM-06:30PM

MPSM203 01 Video Sculpture Marika Denise M N 181 01:30PM- 06:30PM

MPSM205 01 Stagecraft/Tech.Productions Azanow Max W N 187 03:00PM-08:00PM

MPSM272 01 SoundPerformance Buckholtz Elaine T N 181 08:00AM-01:00PM

MPSM273 01 Intro to Sound Studio Freeman Eric F N 185 01:30PM-06:30PM

MPSM307 01 On the Spot Kramer Dawn T N 187 01:30PM-06:30PM

MPSM335 01 Interrelated Media Seminar Buckholtz Elaine W N 181 08:00AM-01:00PM

MPSM336 01 EventPlanning&Production Sturiale Nita TH N 181 09:00AM-12:00PM

MPSM337 01 ElectronicProjects/Artists Sanford Jason M T 320 01:30PM-06:30PM

MPSM392 01 Course Assistantship

MPSM398 01 Media Internship

MPSM399 01 IndependentStudy: Sim

MPSM501 01 SIM Graduate Major Studio Marika Denise T N 181 01:30PM-06:30PM

CONTINUING EDUCATION SIM COURSES FALL 2011: