From left to right: Katie Fraumann, senior vice president, advancement and external relations, Wally Weitz; Katie Weitz, a 1999 College of Education graduate with a master of education in teaching and learning; Jim Duignan, founder and director of the Stockyard Institute and chair of the visual art education program in the College of Education; Rachel Harper, assistant director of the Stockyard Institute; and DePaul President Rob Manuel. (Mirela Fratila/DePaul University)
Jim Duignan is the founder and director of the Stockyard Institute and chair of the visual art education program in the College of Education. (Jeff Carrion/DePaul University)
For Jim Duignan, art had a profound effect on his childhood growing up just steps from DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus.
“Art provided like it did for many of us, a language to speak from, but was regularly deflected by the rigid priorities of school, Duignan says. “When I arrived in 1992 to the College of Education, I saw an opportunity to build platforms that demonstrated how the arts are central to learning and living.”
Now, his name will forever be part of the visual arts education program with the creation of the James P. Duignan Endowed Chair for Arts Education.
“Naming the first endowed chair position in the College of Education after Jim is a fitting tribute to his 30-year career at DePaul. He’s a model for the university’s Catholic, Vincentian mission through his work educating our students and leading Stockyard Institute projects throughout Chicago,” says DePaul President Robert Manuel.
“The arts are an invaluable part of our campus and help cultivate future leaders who are well-rounded, reflective, empathetic and innovative. With this announcement, arts education in the College of Education will be secured for generations to come,” Manuel adds.
Duignan chairs the visual art education program and leads the Stockyard Institute. For 30 years, Stockyard has created projects and programs for underserved communities i
n Chicago. Duignan’s work with Stockyard was the subject of a retrospective exhibition at DePaul Art Museum in 2022.
The endowed position is possible thanks to gifts from the Weitz Family Foundation of Omaha and the estate of the late Justina Tzeng. Katie Weitz, a 1999 graduate from the College of Education with a Master of Education in teaching and learning, took Duignan’s “Learning Through the Arts” course and remains close to him and his work to this day.
“Jim is a passionate advocate for providing a quality arts education rooted in social justice and the welfare of others,” Weitz says. “I have always admired his ability to inspire individuals and communities to explore, challenge and find solutions to our greatest societal issues through creative pursuits. My family and I hope this gift enables Jim to share his vision and expertise for turning life into art with DePaul students, faculty, staff and collaborators for years to come.”
Stockyard Institute turns 30
Founded by Duignan in 1995, Stockyard will celebrate 30 years in 2025. The institute is a project that explores Chicago communities as places to engage youth, community residents and artists through a small, open interchange of projects and programs in electronic and visual arts, social activism, and experimental pedagogy.
“I can’t thank the Weitz and Tzeng families enough for their generosity to the College of Education. Their gifts will support the next generation of artists and art educators who will use their talents to be agents of social change within their communities,” says Jennifer Mueller, dean of the College of Education.
Currently, Stockyard is collaborating with
DePaul Art Museum on a project called the “
Learning Studio.” The project, in its initial phases and with seed funding from the Terra Foundation for American Art, explores the state of learning inside the museum and asks questions about how the current technological age improves, impedes or alters exchanges between visitor and exhibition. Duignan and DPAM administration held conversations with artists, students, teachers, faculty, writers, performers, scholars and the public to contemplate the adjustments of pacing, access and engagement inside the museum for building a museum education program for the 21st century.
“Jim Duignan’s contributions to the cultural vibrancy of our university and Chicago writ-large run deep,” says Laura-Caroline de Lara, director of DePaul Art Museum.
“Jim’s models for pedagogy, empathy, community-building, and meeting people where they are have affected so many teachers, students and parents throughout our city and across socioeconomic barriers. We are excited to continue our important work together as we build DPAM’s first art education program for lifelong learners and continue his legacy of civic love for Chicago and creative placemaking together,” de Lara adds.
For Duignan, this new funding for arts education at DePaul will help generations of future teaching artists create meaningful works that can challenge and inspire.
“This endowment is, itself, a powerful work of art. It courageously creates an enduring and interactive platform for creativity, connection and positive change,” Duignan says. “Through supporting the transformative social practices of teaching, learning and consciousness-raising, it invites all of us to ask ourselves what we might build up today to create a more just, peaceful and beautiful world.”
Russell Dorn is a senior manager of media relations in University Communications.