The Herberger College of Fine Arts learned of an opportunity to raise $100,000 for its programs in late February 2005.
Ira A. Fulton attended ASU on a football scholarship and once had a newspaper route that covered the campus. He is now a successful businessman and chief executive officer of Fulton Homes. His gifts to Arizona State University total more than $180 million.
ASU Alumnus Ira A. Fulton, the university’s largest contributor, issued a challenge to seven of the university’s colleges: for every gift made to the colleges, he would match it dollar for dollar up to $5,000 per gift, provided that the colleges met their fundraising challenge. The Herberger College of Fine Arts was charged with raising $50,000 by Dec. 31. The hitch—only ASU alumni, faculty, staff and students could be asked to contribute.
The college launched its “one-hand-clapping” campaign in July 2005. Alumni, faculty, staff and students were urged to donate to the Dean’s Investment Fund.
The response was overwhelming. More than 400 gifts came from all over the country. Not only did the college meet its $50,000 goal—it exceeded it by more than $34,000! Now, that’s worth an ovation.
Fulton said he hoped the challenge would inspire ASU faculty, staff, students and his fellow alumni to give back to the university. “There is no better gift than to help others realize their potential through education,” said Fulton.
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is established. By 2006, it will have grown to include partnerships at 46 sites, including ArtsBridge, a collaboration among 14 universities in the country partnering with public schools to provide quality K-12 arts education. 
The college is named The Katherine K. Herberger College of Fine Arts in recognition of Valley philanthropist Kax Herberger. Her $12 million was the largest personal gift given to the university at the time. Photo: Paolo Vescia. 
Kurt Weiser (art) is named college’s third Regents’ Professor.
Kurt Weiser, Continental Drift, 2005. 
Multi-million dollar gifts by Evelyn Smith and her family endow faculty positions and graduate fellowships throughout the college. Their generosity is recognized with the naming of the Evelyn Smith Music Theatre. The same year David Katzin gives $500,000 to name Katzin Concert Hall and provide endowed programming.
Art in America lists ASU Art Museum as the “single most impressive venue for contemporary art in Arizona.”
Doc Severinsen becomes the first artist to hold the Katherine K. Herberger Heritage Chair for Visiting Artists, followed by Gunther Schuller and the St. Lawrence String Quartet.
Mark Klett (art) is named the college’s fourth Regents’ Professor. 
ArtWalk, the first alumni art festival becomes an annual fixture of ASU Homecoming.
School of Art M.F.A. program leaps to 13th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Specialty areas also received special recognition: printmaking, ceramics, and photography.
School of Art begins a joint Ph.D. in art history and theory with the University of Arizona.
Graduate programs in Music, Art and Theatre are nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report. 
Professional Connections Office, later to be called
Student Success, is established to aid students in gaining on-the-job experience and post-graduation placement.
The Office of Public Art is created to administer the college’s growing public arts program.
Luis Jimenez, Southwest Pieta, 1987.
The Ceramics Research Center, under the auspices of the ASU Art Museum, is created by the Board of Regents. 
Arts, Media and Engineering experiential media graduate program is created in conjunction with Fulton School of Engineering. 
motione premieres at ASU then debuts in Lincoln Center, garnering repeated coverage in The New York Times.
College initiates certificate program in Public Art.
Stanton Sears and Andrea Myklebust, Prickly/Prickly/Prickly/Prickly/Spiny, 2005.
College celebrates 40th anniversary.