The Brigham Young University (BYU) College of Fine Arts and Communications (CFAC) is one of the nine colleges at the university, a private institution operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and located in Provo, Utah.

Worldwide audiences totaling more than 12 million people, have also included radio and TV broadcasts reaching billions.

Following their arrival in the valley, church leaders established several different communities, and the arts were central to the settlements they erected and were equally important to the pioneers' individual lives.

In 1925, under the direction of BYU president Franklin Stewart Harris, the College of Fine Arts was organized with Gerrit de Jong as its first dean.

[5] Rehearsals for plays and productions were held in the Joseph Smith Building in shifts (one in the afternoon, one in the evening, and one starting around midnight).

Musical productions struggled to overcome the poor acoustics and lighting in the Smith Fieldhouse however, despite the many space issues, the programs were academically strong and continually succeeded.

After attending several rehearsals the 1956 University Accreditation Team reported the arts instruction to be of superior quality [6] and the college began its path to national and international recognition.

Internationally acclaimed architect William L. Pereira was hired to design the building and construction on the Franklin S. Harris Fine Arts Center (HFAC) began in 1962.

It was the first center of its kind on campus, offering one-on-one consultations to students regarding their class schedules and graduation plans.

[13] The George H. Brimhall Building was built in 1918 and is located in the southwestern corner of campus and houses the School of Communications.

Recently renovated in 2005, the building previously served as the Student Army Training Corps, blacksmithing and wood working facility, mechanics' garage, storage, and eventually journalism and art classes.

[14] As of 2023, the building hosts the Advanced Advertising Lab (BYU Adlab), Bradley Public Relations (BYU's nationally affiliated, student-run firm), ElevenNEWS (daily, student produced broadcast that airs on BYU Television), The Universe (student-produced campus newspaper with an approximate readership of 18,000) the Eye Tracking Lab, as well as three floors of classrooms, computer labs, graduate study rooms, student organization offices, conference rooms, and faculty and administrative offices.

[14] Jesse Knight Building (JKB) was built in 1960 and was first occupied by the BYU Commercial College (or business school).

The facility includes three Olympic-size heated swimming pools, numerous dance studios, administrative offices, basketball, volleyball, and racquetball courts, locker rooms, and classrooms.

The permanent collection contains works of art from many renowned artists including Carl Bloch, Maynard Dixon, Rembrandt, Norman Rockwell, Earl W. Bascom and Minerva Teichert.

[17] Notable alumni include Janis Mars Wunderlich, Miranda Meeks, Kathleen Peterson, and Paige Crosland Anderson.

The school offers a bachelor's degree in communications, with various emphases, including Advertising, News Media and Public Relations.

The BYU Adlab, Bradley Public Relations Agency, The Universe, and ElevenNEWS are also accommodated in the school and building.

The Department of Dance joined the CFAC on June 1, 2009 after the dissolution of the College of Health and Human Performance bringing all of the arts at BYU under one administrative umbrella.

The School of Music also runs the New Horizons Orchestra, a program for adults 40 years old and above to teach playing of string instruments.

[24] BYU's theatre students have performed in Broadway casts of Mamma Mia!, Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Hair, and 42nd Street.

Additionally, students have been with the Broadway national tours of Cats, Fosse, Footloose, Titanic, Sunset Boulevard, and Annie Get Your Gun.