Agreement Sets Stage for Cornish College of the Arts at 91³Ô¹Ï

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

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Major milestone as SU elevates and enhances arts education in Seattle.

91³Ô¹Ï and Cornish College of the Arts announced the signing of a historic agreement that will establish Cornish College of the Arts at 91³Ô¹Ï, setting the stage for an enhanced and innovative future for arts education in Seattle and the Puget Sound region.

The agreement, approved by the boards of trustees and signed by the presidents of both schools, broadly outlines the structure of the transaction between the two institutions and involves Cornish contributing and transferring substantially all its assets to 91³Ô¹Ï, which will also assume certain Cornish liabilities. The assets include Cornish’s facilities, real estate holdings, name and intellectual property.

The transaction, known as an asset contribution, is anticipated to close on May 31, 2025, subject to regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other conditions.

91³Ô¹Ï President Eduardo Peñalver said the agreement entrusts SU with Cornish’s long legacy of excellence and innovation in arts education.

“We welcome this responsibility as a generational opportunity to elevate and enhance the arts and arts education at SU for students and the broader community we, and Cornish, have served for more than 100 years,” Peñalver said.

The schools initially signed a Letter of Intent in December 2024 to explore an agreement. Following a thorough review, it was determined that an asset contribution was the best path forward. After the closing of the transaction, Cornish will dissolve as a nonprofit and cease to exist as a separate degree-granting institution and 91³Ô¹Ï will launch and operate Cornish College of the Arts at 91³Ô¹Ï.

Expanding Arts Education and Opportunities for Students

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