DENVER, COLORADO–– In an exciting continuation of the CU Denver and Sunway University of Kuala Lumpur partnership, George Hess will be visiting the College of Arts & Media (CAM) January 21–26 as a part of a new MOU providing opportunities for research, creative work, and global education.

Hess is an award-winning educator, composer, guitarist, and author. His continent spanning career began in Colorado led him to Sunway University in southeast Asia. CAM is particularly engaged in this partnership because of the robust creative economy in Southeast Asia, which provides investment in the arts­—creating global opportunities for students and creative entrepreneurs.  

"Opening the doors to Asia is mission-critical for CAM because of the thriving economy that is supporting the arts and artists, and boosting the quality of life,” says Larry Kaptain, Dean of the College of Arts & Media. “As the creative sector is becoming more global and interconnected, CAM students will need to be in the right place at the right time.”

Universities such as Sunway are viable partners for CAM and CU Denver, as CAM examines its own role in the local, national, and international creative economy. Students enrolled in CAM are preparing for important and emerging careers in the creative industries. In Colorado, arts industries contribute $13.7B to the state’s economy, employing 100,631 who earned $7B. The arts contribute more than Mining or Transportation to Colorado’s economy.

The CAM has recently sent students, faculty, and staff to India, Singapore. Malaysia, Japan, China, and Hong Kong, to learn more about healthy creative economies. As a part of the exchange that has brought Hess campus, CAM’s Music Entertainment Industry Studies Department has designated Scott Burgess to travel to Sunway later this year. Burgess is the Manager of Recording Labs and Live Sound at CU Denver.

While on campus, Hess is meeting with representatives from CU Denver’s Office of International Affairs to discuss global study opportunities and with CAM faculty and students. He will be visiting Recording Arts, Performance, Singer/Songwriter, and Music Business classes. Hess will be addressing students and faculty about the importance of global perspective in the contemporary music and creative industries ecosystem.

For more information, please contact Alice Crogan, alice.crogan@ucdenver.edu.