Founder’s Room, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center

Since its opening in September 2004, the University of Notre Dame’s DeBartolo Performing Arts Center (DPAC) has become essential to the University’s vision and commitment to become a leader in arts research and creative practice.

As the primary presenter of cinematic and artistic programming, DPAC has hosted renowned filmmakers such as Claire Denis, Wim Wenders, and Haskell Wexler, as well as activists, critics, and creatives including THEKINGTRILL, Carlos Lozada, and Philip Glass. The Browning Cinema collaborates annually with local artists for live-score film presentations, while the Presenting Series has commissioned over 40 new works across various genres.

As an academic space, the center enriches scholarship, teaching, and practice in the performing and cinematic arts. As a community space, the center welcomes over 100,000 patrons annually, including hundreds of K–12 students participating in educational and artistic programs.

Aligned with Notre Dame’s new Strategic Framework and the Arts@ND initiative, the center is an open, welcoming space for all where scholars, students, and community members come together to create a vibrant arts community.