Founded in 2016, the BAI is home to the university's six academic arts departments, the David Winton Bell Gallery, and the Rites and Reason Theatre.

[3] The Brown Arts Initiative was founded 2016 and launched in March 2017 with Professor of Music Joseph “Butch” Rovan as its inaugural faculty director.

[7] In August 2017, the BAI launched the Warren and Allison Kanders Lecture Series which brings four artists, critics, and curators to campus each year to engage in dialogue about contemporary art and its impact.

The inaugural installment of the lecture series featured Nick Cave, Wangechi Mutu, Shirin Neshat, and Thelma Golden.

[14] Past Professors of the Practice include Tania Bruguera, Coco Fusco, Erin McKeown, and Ralph Lemon.