“Echoes of the Renaissance” will feature a panel conversation celebrating new humanities initiative, with opening remarks from NEH Chairman Michael McDonald
NEW YORK, NY — Grand Central Atelier launches The Bruce Cole Lectures, an ambitious speaker series designed to spark a contemporary renaissance in traditional arts and humanistic inquiry. The series begins on October 6, 2026 with “Echoes of the Renaissance”, a panel conversation held at the historic The Players in New York City. The series is part of the greater Bruce Cole Humanities Initiative, a multi-year public program supported by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The kickoff event will be moderated by Grand Central Atelier Founder and Artistic Director Jacob Collins, a leading figure in the contemporary revival of classical realism. Opening remarks will be delivered by newly appointed Chairman Michael McDonald of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Collins will be joined in conversation by Dr. Wilfred McClay, Professor of History at Hillsdale College and former member of the National Council on the Humanities, Dr. Michelle Erhardt, Professor of Art History and Associate Dean of the School of the Arts at Christopher Newport University, and Robert B. Simon, Ph.D., Renaissance and Baroque art historian and dealer.
The series is named in honor of the late Bruce Cole (1938–2018), a distinguished art historian of the Italian Renaissance and the longest-serving Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities. A recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal and the Knight of the Grand Cross of the Republic of Italy, Cole championed the humanities as essential tools for a self-governing citizenry. His signature initiatives, We the People and Picturing America, brought iconic American art to over 80,000 schools and libraries nationwide. A prolific scholar and Distinguished Professor of Fine Arts at Indiana University, Cole authored fifteen books, including seminal texts such as “The Renaissance Artist at Work: From Pisano to Titian,” “Italian Art, 1250–1550,” and “Art of the Western World.”
Following the October 6th event, The Bruce Cole Lectures series will continue on December 4th, 2026 with a feature talk by Jacob Collins, where he will deliver an apologia for the traditional arts as practiced by Grand Central Atelier for over two decades.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
About the Bruce Cole Humanities Initiative
The Bruce Cole Humanities Initiative at Grand Central Atelier is dedicated to enriching the study of art, history, and culture within the Atelier and educating the public about the history of art and traditional artistic techniques. It is made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Founded in honor of Bruce Cole—art historian, educator, and former Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities—the Initiative brings together artists, scholars, and the public to consider the enduring role of the humanities in shaping both personal and civic life. The Initiative will feature twelve public lectures, a two-day capstone symposium, two prestigious postdoctoral fellowships, and a digital publication.
About Grand Central Atelier
Grand Central Atelier is a fine arts academy devoted to the preservation, teaching, and reinvention of classical art traditions. Founded in 2006 by leading realist artist Jacob Collins and a group of dedicated artists and educators, it offers a structured curriculum focused on mastery, historical continuity, and contemplative inquiry. The academy offers a rigorous four-year core training program in drawing, painting, sculpture, and composition from life. Located just minutes from Manhattan, Grand Central Atelier acts as a vibrant public humanities hub, hosting exhibitions, public drawing classes, and a major public lecture series.
Event Details
Date: October 6th, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Location: The Players, 16 Gramercy Park South, New York, NY 10003
Admission: By RSVP only. Inquire for more details.
More details about upcoming events can be found at https://grandcentralatelier.org/events.
Press Contact: media@grandcentralatelier.org