Brigham Young University Professor and Distinguished Faculty lecturer, Curt Holman, shared about the power of the arts in a forum on Tuesday, June 23 at the Marriott Center. He shared that the arts can be a way to go past language and connect to the divine, and each other, in a new way.
Holman began by sharing his experience of being chosen for the Distinguished Faculty Lecturer award. He laughed that the award usually went to those who cure cancer, “not those who teach the cha-cha.” Still, Holman expressed gratitude that BYU prioritizes the arts. The construction of the new Fine Arts building on campus serves as a testament to what BYU values.
“Those buildings represent more than construction projects. They represent a belief that education is about more than preparing students for a profession,” Holman said. “It is also about helping them become fully developed human beings.”
With a long career in the arts, particularly with BYU’s Ballroom Dance Team, Holman has seen firsthand the impact the arts can have. Outside of the enjoyment people can have from watching them, he believes they can help creators become something new.
“For many years, I thought the arts mattered because of what they produced. However, over time, I have come to believe they matter even more because of what they produce within us,” Holman said.
His speech also celebrated the act of creation as God-given. Using quotes from modern-day prophets such as Thomas S. Monson, Holman illustrated the principle that Heavenly Father left items on the Earth for humans to create.
He said, “The act of creation has always been part of the human experience. Long before there were universities, governments, corporations, or modern economies there were stories, images painted on cave walls, dance, music, and rituals that helped people make sense of their world.”
Looking towards the past, Holman connected the arts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint’s robust pioneer legacy. Throughout a difficult journey to the Salt Lake valley and the settlement period, he emphasized how pioneers continually relied on singing, music and theater to uplift their spirits. Their value of the arts spread into the building of the Social Hall, a gathering place dedicated to the arts.
“The pioneers understood that human flourishing requires more than survival. Even while building a civilization, they made room for beauty, creativity, celebration, and expression,” Holman said.
Today, Holman believes that BYU and the Church as a whole continues to value the arts.
“In many ways, that legacy remains visible today. Ours is a faith that sings. We gather in chapels around the world and raise our voices together,” Holman said. “We tell stories, create music, stage performances, write, paint, and build. Even as we focus on doctrine, service, and discipleship, artistic expression continues to shape how we worship, remember and belong.”
To illustrate, he shared a clip from President C. Shane Reese’s inauguration as well as a video depicting the BYU Ballroom Team’s work leading up to the Blackpool Championships. He explained that when individuals focus on creating, they can express ideas beyond language.
He said, “The arts are not a luxury that civilizations pursue after everything else is finished. They help us celebrate, mourn, worship, remember and hope along the way.”
To wrap up his thoughts, Holman shared about how experiencing the arts can change both the creator and the audience.
“The greatest works of art do more than present something beautiful to observe. They invite us to see differently, feel differently, and ultimately become different,” Holman said. “They do not replace language. They extend it, allowing us to experience aspects of life that often lie beyond the reach of explanation.”
Holman ended his speech by inviting the BYU Ballroom Dance Company to perform “Voila” for the audience. His desire to leave the audience with an artistic experience inspired his choice.