History

the history of cornish

1914

Cornish Beginnings

Construction for the new campus of "The Cornish School for Drama, Music, Dance" began on the first day of 1921. The work was rushed forward so that the school could open early in September, on time for the still young institution’s eighth season. Perhaps predictably, in late summer agents with homes to sell or apartments to rent in the neighborhood enhanced with this new landmark, began running classifieds for their properties with the message “near Cornish School” in both The Times and The Post-Intelligencer.

the history of cornish

1916

The Artists' Colony

The Holyoke Building in 1900 on 1st Ave is where Nellie Cornish set up her first studio accepting students. The building still stands today.

the history of cornish

1921

Progressive Musical Education

Children learn how music is divided, using the he Montessori-based method of Evelyn Fletcher Copp. Eventually, Mary Cornish would adopt the progressive musical pedagogy of Calvin Brainerd Cady, who had worked as musical director with John Dewey (who set up his seminal progressive educational project, what is now the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools).

the history of cornish

1920s

The School Expands in All Directions

The Cornish School at the Booth Building, Broadway + Pine, 1920. The school occupied the top floor, including Nellie's apartment. Note the sign on the tower advertising

"Expression — Art — Language — Dancing"

Photo: Webster; Stevens; PEMCO Webster &
Stevens Collection, Museum of History; Industry, Seattle

the history of cornish

1920s

Cornish Continues to Develop

The Odd Fellows Hall, which is still standing today. Throughout the years, the hall has been the home of many smaller arts organizations.

Photo: Joe Mabel, WikiMedia Commons

the history of cornish

1924

New Buildings as the Community Grows

Nellie Cornish visits the construction site of what would become Kerry Hall, 1924. Kerry Hall currently hosts the Dance and Music programs and is located at of heart of Seattle's vibrant Capitol Hill neighbor.

Nellie is second from the right.

the history of cornish

1925

Nellie Founds Her School

This portrait was made in the mid-1920s, and has become the official portrait of Nellie Cornish.

the history of cornish

1928

Cornish Artists Make a Name for Themselves

Martha Graham and her dance troupe in action, performing Heretic.

Photo: Soichi Sunami

the history of cornish

1937

Cornish Leaves Cornish

Nellie Cornish handing out degrees at The Cornish School's 1937 graduation ceremony.

Photo: Staff Photographer, P-I; Seattle Post-Intelligencer Collection, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

the history of cornish

1938

Fame Finds Cornish

Merce Cunningham mid-performance, during one of his mesmerizing dance pieces.

the history of cornish

1951

Nellie Back in Seattle

Nellie Cornish at 74, with Mark Tobey, Miss Nellie Cornish, and Mrs. Norman J. Vickerman. (Tobey is second from the left, next to Nellie.)

Photo: Chicago Sun-Times

the history of cornish

1950 + 1960s

Cornish School of the Allied Arts

Music and Art Foundation assumes ownership of Cornish School and in 1955 is renamed Cornish School of the Allied Arts. In 1968 a Board of Trustees is established.

the history of cornish

1970s

Cornish in the 1970s

In 1976, Cornish School of Allied Arts is renamed Cornish Institute, and by 1977, Cornish is awarded accreditation as a four-year college by the commission on colleges of the Northwest Association of Schools. Two years later, the Liberal Arts program is established.

the history of cornish

1980s

Cornish in the 80's

Kerry Hall behind its new, red sign bearing the school's new title: Cornish College of the Arts.

In 1986, Cornish is renamed Cornish College of the Arts. Previously, in 1983, Cornish purchases Lakeside School (The St. Nicholas School) and establishes the Cornish North campus. The Performance Production Department is established.

the history of cornish

1990s + 2000s

Mark Morris

In 1992, Cornish’s Art and Design departments are granted national accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, and four years later, Cornish joins Consortium for the Liberal Education of Artists (CLEA).

In 2001, the Humanities + Sciences program is established as its own department. By 2003, Cornish College of the Arts relocated Art, Design, Humanities + Sciences, Performance Production, Theater, Library, and Student Services to its new campus in South Lake Union. One year later, the first production in the Ned and Kayla Skinner Theater in the Raisbeck Performance Hall is Ladders on The Pearblossom Highway, an Original Works production.

Cornish Main Campus Center with Space Needle

the history of cornish

2000s

2010s

2014 marked Cornish College of the Arts' centennial celebration. The following year, Cornish opens its first ground-up building project, Cornish Commons. The 20-story building in South Lake Union provides both residential and academic space.

In 2015, Cornish adds the Film BFA program, and the following year, the Interior Architecture program. May 2017 marked the first Commencement to award all 8 degrees: Art, Dance, Design, Film, Interior Architecture, Music, Performance Production, and Theater.

the history of cornish

2019

Tuition Reset

In January 2019, Cornish announced a tuition reset to decrease loan debt.