Brian Viliunas, professor of music in Samford University’s School of the Arts, was awarded a grant by The Lilly Network of Church-Related Colleges and Universities to fund workshops that aim to understand how an artist’s vocation and calling can strengthen a Samford education.
“It seems like we are at an inflection point. As humans, we seek out that which is most meaningful to each of us. We want to find the most real part of reality,” Viliunas said. “At the same time, we are being offered more and more shortcuts, for example, using artificial intelligence to write for us, which allows a quick pass through our framework of structures without the growth of the struggle itself. This grant will offer faculty who choose to participate ideas on how to revivify the need to pursue meaning in our classes, and especially how to do so in classes where our students typically struggle to find such meaning.”
Students studying the arts often question whether their art matters in a world that values profit, Viliunas said. This workshop series, Can the Artist’s Call Still be Heard?, will equip faculty to guide students toward a sense of vocation and calling.
The workshop series is comprised of three events, each with a distinct theme, designed to engage faculty members from arts and non-arts disciplines in cross-campus dialogue. Events will feature a keynote by a local expert, small-group discussions and a reflective writing exercise. Faculty will be invited to complete pre-event readings and to prepare a brief reflection during participation.
The workshops will be held in September 2026, January 2027 and April 2027. The September event is titled “The Sacred and the Profane” and will offer background on historical perspectives regarding worldviews. The January event is titled “Attention: The Artist’s Superpower” and will examine how artists master attention to influence audiences. The April event titled “On Beauty: Its Primacy and Loss” will synthesize prior themes.
Lance Beaumont, dean of the School of the Arts, said the series presents an exciting opportunity for faculty and will benefit students across campus in the future.
“Samford is committed to helping students know the ‘why’ behind their careers, marrying their passion with a higher purpose,” Beaumont said. “This grant will equip faculty to help students think deeply about their careers and how their work can make a difference in the world around them. We are grateful for the work of Dr. Viliunas and our friends at Lilly for making this possible.”
