A crucial aspect of the Ford Center’s mission is to find opportunities to collaborate with academic units on campus and the Oxford community. The Ford Center pursues projects that coordinate the capabilities of the facility and staff with events that benefit the university students and faculty interests. The Ford Center seeks private funding to assist with presenting unique collaborations, such as:
- Mississippi: A Performance of the Poetry in Photography – Departments of English and Theatre.
- Amahl and the Night Visitors and Messiah – UM Opera Theatre, Orchestra, and Choirs with alumni, university students and faculty, and community adults and children.
- H.M.S. Pinafore – UM Opera Theatre and Orchestra featuring university students, faculty, administrators, and community members.
- Holocaust Lecture – arranged for public schools on behalf of the Jewish Federation.
The Ford Center also provides educational opportunities for music and theatre students to work alongside exceptional international touring professionals. The Artist Series, Jazz Series, and Campus Connection presentations offer master classes or lectures from hundreds of artists, including:
Bruce Levingston, Renée Fleming, Mzuri Aimbaye , Aquila Theatre ,Actor’s Studio, Fauré Quartet, Cyrus Chestnut, Julian Bliss, King’s Singers, Damien Sneed, Thomas Hampson, Tommy Igoe, Warren Wolf, Craig Hella Johnson, Billy Hart, Andreas Klein & Steven Byess, , Ensemble 4.1, Chanticleer, Huntertones, Cedric Burnside, Ron K. Brown, Bodytraffic, Dance Trio Concert, Camille A. Brown, Malpaso, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Parsons Dance, Urban Bush Women, Koresh Dance,Hubbard Street Dance, Thodos Dance Chicago, and many more.
