About
About The Clarice
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center—known as “The Clarice”—at the University of Maryland is the innovative and collaborative home for the School of Music (SOM); the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies (TDPS) and The Clarice’s own artistic platform, Clarice Presents, as well as The Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library (MSPAL). Together they create a welcoming, cooperative and socially-conscious community for students, artists and patrons. With six outstanding performance venues to showcase diverse artistic expression, The Clarice brings together creativity, research and innovation to engage audiences, drive positive change and grow the arts ecosystem at the University of Maryland and beyond.
The Clarice is proud to be a part of the University of Maryland’s College of Arts and Humanities (ARHU), a community of scholars, artists, historians, writers, social scientists, performers, philosophers and communicators whose work helps shape how people understand the world and one another.
The performances, scholarship and community engagement activities of The Clarice are amplified by the university’s Arts for All initiative. Dedicated to building a culture of creativity and innovation campuswide, Arts for All, in collaboration with The Clarice and partners across campus and beyond, is committed to making UMD a national leader in leveraging the combined power of arts, technology and social justice to address the world’s grand challenges.
Inclusive and Diverse Community
The Clarice values and affirms the diversity and humanity of our community. Diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice are fundamental values embedded in all that we do. We adopt a multi-cultural approach to our performance, community, digital, civic and education programs—and are committed to ensuring all programs are accessible to everyone. This commitment fosters an environment where innovation thrives, where communities culturally connect, and where creativity, collaboration and expression are shaped by the full breadth of human experience. At The Clarice, all are welcome—and together, we will shape a vibrant, socially cohesive and inclusive future for our community.
The Clarice - People and Venues
Within this arts center are six well-equipped venues and associated production shops. Its programs, presentation and general operations are supported by some of the region’s finest technicians, craftspeople and staff. Our production shops utilize state-of-the-art technologies in audio, lighting, video, and costume and set production. In addition to The Clarice’s performance venues, the design and rehearsal studios in SOM and TDPS serve as core teaching spaces. MSPAL complements and supports the presentation and academic activities of The Clarice with a rich selection of music, theater and dance materials, as well as its Special Collections in Performing Arts and International Piano Archives.
Learn more about the people who work within The Clarice.
Who Is Clarice Smith
The Clarice is named in honor of visual artist and philanthropist Clarice Smith (1933-2021). Mrs. Smith attended the University of Maryland before continuing her studies at George Washington University. She was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, from the University of Maryland in 2015. She painted professionally for over 50 years and had numerous solo exhibitions in prestigious galleries in the United States and abroad. Mrs. Smith's husband, Robert H. Smith ('50), supported many projects at the University of Maryland, including the Robert H. Smith School of Business.
History
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center celebrated its official dedication and opening on September 29, 2001. At the time of its opening, this arts complex—totaling 318,000 square feet—was the largest single building ever built in Maryland. The Clarice was conceived to fill academic and performance needs of the School of Music and School of Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies; become a central home for performing arts on campus; bring outside artists and performers to campus; and to extend the University’s mission into the surrounding community, especially to Prince George’s County residents.
It was designed by architects Moore Ruble Yudell in association with Ayers Saint Gross; acoustical consultant Kirkegaard; theatre consultants Theatre Projects; mechanical/electrical/plumbing engineering by Henry Adams LLC; and lobby interiors by Gensler. Construction was by Turner Construction Company.
