The University of Memphis has been getting a lot of press attention for its athletics lately. But some of that attention has turned to the impressive achievements of the arts at The University as well.
Richard Ranta, dean of the college of communication and fine arts, has been awarded an Arts Leadership Award, one of the 2005 Governor's Awards.
The honor was given to those who have actively encouraged and created an environment for the arts to grow in the community and in the state.
Ranta believes that the arts are very important to the city of Memphis and he is also a member of several committees that influence the arts in the city, the state and the nation.
"I think that, obviously, for a city like Memphis the arts are extremely important, mostly because of the music history here," Ranta said. "In the 1970s, Memphis was a major recording center."
He is still on the executive board of the Memphis and Shelby County Film Commission, which he helped found and served as its first chairman. He served for over a decade and was also the former chairman for the State Film, Tape, and Music Commission. He has also served a number of years on the Southern Arts Federation Board and is currently their treasurer.
Ranta is also a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which produces the Grammy awards and the Latin Grammy Awards.Ranta has had an impressive history, both before and after joining the faculty at The U of M. He received his undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota in speech and drama, history, and education, with a minor in political science. Ranta began formally teaching after graduate school in 1969. He received his master's degree from Cornell University in New York in communications rhetoric with a minor in diplomatic history. He received his doctorate from The University of Iowa.
Ranta first came to The U of M in 1972 and served as director of communications. Ranta was involved with starting the honors program here and was chair of the commission that started the University College. In 1977, he founded the college of communication and fine arts and became dean.
Ranta's not only concerned with the history of music in Memphis, but with its future as well.
"It isn't just a matter of history because if it was just that then we'd have created a museum. The music industry program was designed to help young musicians and continue to foster Memphis as a music center," Ranta said.
Ranta started the music business program at The U of M in 1980. The program started as a group project as part of the University College and then moved into the communications program. The program started a record company called High Water Records, which predominantly produces blues and gospel artists.
Ranta's contribution in the development of the college of communication and fine arts has helped other arts at The University besides music, including painting and film and video.
He also played a large part in the creation of the art museum, according to Lisa Abitz, assistant director of the museum.
"He is very supportive of all arts from contemporary to ancient," Abitz said. "He was the founding dean of this college so he was very much involved in creating the museum space and getting state-of-the-art technologies for us to display art. He is a big advocate of the arts here - locally and state-wide."
Dr. Shirley Raines, president of The U of M, believes that this award also signifies a major achievement for The University."It points out the significance of the arts, not only at The University, but as a part of the metropolitan area too," Raines said. "We are also a national leader because we have the only doctorate program in music in the southeast region."
"The arts are a significant part of The University, therefore, they are also a significant part of the quality of life in the surrounding area. Dr. Ranta's award is an indication that we are succeeding in the arts here as well."
