Creative Arts & Technology - Westminster Hall

Westminster Hall is ‘Home’ to our C.A.T. students. The building, a historical brownstone church, houses high-end labs that provide our students and alumni with cutting edge technology. Westminster is known campus-wide for its artistic and collaborative environment.

News: We are currently upgrading both our Music and Graphics Labs with new Macintosh G5s. Stay tuned for new photos and updates!

Students and alumni are encouraged to bring their laptops and take advantage of our wireless network throughout the building.

Our Animation Lab has 15 student stations ready for you to make your sketches come to life. At every station is a Power Mac G5, 23’ high definition monitor, Wacom Tablet, USB microphone and lightbox. In addition to our 15 student stations are 2 ‘Super Stations’ with increased processing capabilities for Upperclassman/Capstone students.

Our Graphics Lab is the perfect balance of beauty and technology. The Graphics Lab is adorned with beautiful stained glass windows that shine colorful flecks of sunlight onto 15 Macintosh student stations. Scanners, inkjet printers, and cutters are readily available along with the professional-level equipment from the student run print shop, Categrafica.

At the end of the summer the Music Technology Lab will have been upgraded with brand new Macintosh G5s loaded with industry standard software, such as Digidesign ProTools, Live, Propellerheads, Reason and Finale, as well as control oriented MIDI keyboards. The unique acoustic qualities of this room add to the overall ambience, which allows users to immerse themselves in their projects.

Our Video and Multimedia Lab has 15 student stations ready for high quality digital video editing. At every station is a Power Mac G5, 23’ high definition monitor and Firewire hub for uploading video. The Video Lab is home to high-end video editing software, many with plug-ins for green-screen technology. In addition to our 15 student stations are 2 ‘Super Stations’ with increased processing capabilities and special plug-ins for Upperclassman/Capstone students.

Categrafica is a student run print shop providing the Bloomfield College community and non-profits with low cost print and design services. The print shop is equipped with 2 Laser jet printers, an oversize inkjet printer, oversized flatbed and slide scanners, a roll feed laminator, custom framing equipment, a vinyl graphics cutter, a heat press for clothing and various book binding machines. If you are interested in creative services by Categrafica you can call them at ext. 795.

Cool CAT Studios is a state-of-the art digital audio recording studio owned and maintained by the CAT program. Run by students under faculty supervision, the studio is ideal for recording music vocals, narration and voice-over projects. Cool CAT Studios also has the resources to provide digitization and restoration of existing audio from cassette tapes, vinyl and other analog recording media.  Those interested in booking time with a Cool CAT Studios audio engineer should contact Professor Chris White at ext. 773.

Equipment Rental is available to all students enrolled in CAT courses to work on class assignments. Students have access to digital cameras, video cameras, lighting accessories, dollies, tripods, boom microphones, and wireless microphones. Upperclassman can rent higher end cameras for use in their Capstone projects. Students enrolled in the Digital Video Effects course have access to a high-definition camera and popup green screen, as well as a key for access to the Green Screen Studio. For more information on renting equipment call the Equipment Rental Lab at ext. 793.

The Green Screen Visual Effects Studio allows students to create movie magic by shooting scenes in front of a customized green cloth.This green background can be removed on the computer and other backgrounds, real or imaginary, are then composited into the scene.

The CAT Lounge is a great place to relax between classes and hang out with other CAT students. Students can bring their laptops and hook up to the wireless network or use the lounge computers to work on assignments.

Home to the Westminster Arts Center, the Art Gallery is frequently updated with new exhibits, including CAT Capstones at the end of each semester. The gallery hosts many concerts, performances, lecture series, and movie screenings. Every Wednesday of the academic year the CAT program hosts CAT Chow, a lecture and performance series with free pizza for all CAT students, and every Thursday night a late night Bistro event with poetry and open mic.

Fine Arts is the foundation of every CAT discipline. The Fine Arts Studio allows students to explore their own creativity by studying Art History with hands on experiences with painting, printmaking, drawing, and design study. Students will find open lab hours where they can utilize equipment such as easels, drawing desks, printing presses, and more.

The Performing Arts Studio is the ideal space for the study of acting, dance, and movement. The studio has giant stained glass windows, a high ceiling, and a mirrored wall. These features allow students to easily learn how to flip, walk on stilts, juggle, and dance in classes such as Tap Dance, Hip-hop Dance, Acting, Circus Arts, and Movement for Animators. There is a full array of circus equipment including juggling balls, pins, diabolos, and rola bolas.

The three hundred seat Van Fossan Theater is the premiere showplace of the Westminster Arts Center. It hosts concerts, lectures, theater, dance, and both student and community events. Students present their final Capstone projects to the college community in the theater in conjunction with a gallery presentation.