Facilities | Arts Facilities

Thanks to more than 35 years of past residents' work to build the Collins programs and facilities, Collins features an exciting range of arts and publications studios and equipment and lots of arts programming. Current residents can enjoy all of these facilities, while they continue to upgrade and expand them.

Our arts facilities foster an atmosphere of creativity that helps to define Collins. All have approachable student supervisors who provide regular training opportunities to those wanting to learn more.

Our studios include:

Dark Room
Photography
We have both traditional photography facilities, with three enlargers for printing (stocked with chemistry for your use), and a digital photography lab. The digital lab features a negative scanner (that will do medium format as well); a Macintosh computer running Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign; and an Epson 2200 printer for exhibition quality prints. Through the Duty Office you can also check out both digital and negative film cameras, a 4x5 view camera, and flash equipment and tripods.
Publications studio
Used for our publications: The Collins Columns, Dancing Star literary magazine, and our yearbook, The Lantern.
Textiles studio
Textiles studio
The Textiles Guild is supported by three weaving looms, among other equipment. Workshops are offered in knitting, crocheting, sewing, and other fiber arts.
Audio recording studio
We have a G4 Mac with CD-burning capability running Pro Tools for mixing tracks. Record spoken word, theatrical, or musical performances.
Video production
This state-of-the-art studio runs the latest version of Final Cut Pro on a Mac G5 with built-in DVD burner. Also available for your use through Duty Office sign-out are two Canon GL1s, one Canon GL2 digital video camera and two boom mics.
Film screening room
Available to any Collinsite who would like to show a film. This is a great place to hold events, meetings, and workshops that require film screenings. Enjoy the large screen and surround-sound, as well as comfy couches.
Ceramics studio
We have several wheels, including a kick wheel and 3 kilns, a Raku kiln for extra special effects. Collins provides clay and glazes.
Visual Arts Salon
Our newest studio is just getting off the ground, and you can help. This is the place for our visual artists to come together as a community. Their first project was a collaboratively-made altar displayed at the Lotus World Music Festival in downtown Bloomington. This studio also provides silkscreening equipment.
Music practice room

Studios are available to any Collins resident upon training and approval (although the music practice room is open to any resident without approval). Each studio has a student coordinator who works to train residents to use the studio, and take care of studio upkeep. In addition to the coordinators for the listed studios, Arts Council also has coordinators for music, dance, theater, and publicity.

Here is a brief video about Collins and the arts by video production cooridnator Ben Gibson:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al6tx6SiBIM