The final phase of Cal State Fullerton’s (CSUF) Visual Arts Modernization Project will finally be complete this November 2024 with the opening of the Nichaols and Lee Begovich Gallery relocated to building G from building A.

The full project, involves the construction of two new buildings and the refurbishment of two old ones. The project has expanded to 87,000 square feet. In 2017, when the project was announced, the university received $65 million from the state of California, however, COVID-19 temporarily halted the completion, so groundbreaking didn’t begin until August 2022.

“We strive to maintain the traditional focus as well as evolve into the more digital, even AI, world that’s going on. You have to continually evolve with your curriculum so that you’re providing the tools to the students to be able to go out into the present themselves and earn a viable living,” said Dominic Mumolo, Senior Director of Development for College of the Arts.

To keep up with these new expansions, scholarship funding will have to be increased, as the university has one of the largest art colleges in the CSU system. Scholarships have become the biggest need for students because of the programs growth.

Building E now houses the photography department. The first floor has faculty offices, drawing and painting rooms, a classroom for instructional printing, and a 2D foundations classroom. The second floor has two studios, a darkroom, a photo lab, a room for large-scale printing and a photo computer lab.

“I came here about ten years ago, and it was a great facility, but it needed some updates. I think the renovations turned out wonderfully, and the students seem to love it. I’m excited to see how the program grows and who will join in the future, as well as the new programs they will introduce,” said Professor William Camargo, who is one of the faculty members at CSUF who teaches photography.

Camargo has a MFA in visual arts from Claremont Graduate University and in 2014 a BFA from from CSUF.

Building H houses the new computer labs and student labs which are available to students 24 hours, 7 days a week. Now students will have access to equipment needed for their animation and illustration projects and assignments. The labs feature digital fabrication technology, laser and 3D printers. Cintiq tablets were acquired so depth can be added to animation. Art projects are showcased on the clear white spaces inside the building decorate the walls. Building H will also house the new deans office on the first floor besided drawing rooms and classrooms on the first floor.

The second new building, G, is the new Nicholas and Lee Begovich Gallery, which is designed to showcase students work throughout the day, instead of certain times during the day with supervision from the gallery programs team to welcome art enthusiasts and spur career growth.

The gallery is dedicated with the names of Nicholas Begovich and his wife Lee who were art enthusiasts and made generous donations to the CSUF College of the Arts. Lee’s family were long-time art supporters and Nicholas was an engineer who felt visual arts and engineering both needed to be supported at CSUF.

The newly accommodated large windows will also serve well in letting the artwork be more easy to view for community members and fellow students alike, and to beckon them into the college of visual arts.

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