“Echoes of the Renaissance” will feature a panel 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 held at the historic Players Club in New York City. The series is part of the school’s Bruce Cole Humanities Initiative, a multi-year public program supported by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The kickoff event opens with remarks by Chairman Michael McDonald of the National Endowment for the Humanities, followed by reflections from Dr. Wilfred McClay, Professor of History at Hillsdale College and former member of the National Council on the Humanities, and Dr. Michelle Erhardt, Professor of Art History and Associate Dean of the School of the Arts at Christopher Newport University. A panel conversation will follow, moderated by Grand Central Atelier Founder Jacob Collins, a leading figure in the contemporary revival of classical realism.
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 and humanities resources to 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 and Art of the Western World.
Following the October 6th event, The Bruce Cole Lectures series will continue on December 4, 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.
Supported by a $2 million NEH grant, the Bruce Cole Humanities Initiative is a two-year public program 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. 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.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Event Details
Date: October 6, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Location: The Players, 16 Gramercy Park South, New York, NY 10003
Admission: By RSVP only. Inquire for more details.
Press Contact: media@grandcentralatelier.org
More details about upcoming events can be found at https://grandcentralatelier.org/events.