Lipscomb University President L. Randolph Lowry announced the launch of a significant new, innovative immersive-learning initiative for students with a partnership between Lipscomb's George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts and Nashville's Bart Millard, lead singer of the Christian music band MercyMe, called Imagine House. Millard is the frontman and principal songwriter for MercyMe. He wrote the band's landmark song "I Can Only Imagine," which was the first digital single in Christian music history to be certified 4x platinum, after the loss of his father to cancer. MercyMe has received numerous GRAMMY nominations, American Music Awards, a Billboard Music Award, and numerous GMA Dove Awards and KLOVE Fan Awards.

Imagine House is the only initiative of its kind in the country that offers students with varying artistic interests, an innovative education, real market entertainment experiences and a nation wide mentoring network. It will officially launch this fall.

"Imagine House will be a place that intentionally brings filmmakers, musicians, designers and animators into creative collaborations that sharpen their ability to tell compelling stories while also inspiring them to connect their art more deeply with their faith," said Mike Fernandez, dean of Lipscomb's George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts. "Imagine House is the place where you can dream about your future, ignite the wonder of your faith, apprentice under successful pioneers that have blazed a trail ahead of you and collaborate with other multifaceted artists to create what's next."

Millard approached Lipscomb with his vision for Imagine House. After considering several other universities with whom to partner, he selected Lipscomb to help him bring his idea to life because of Lipscomb's established College of Entertainment & the Arts, the caliber of CEA faculty and the institution's location in Nashville and satellite campus in Austin, Texas.

"I love the creative energy and innovation coming out of Lipscomb University and its College of Entertainment & the Arts," said Millard. "While music is my first love, I am excited about training the next generation to impact the world with tremendous storytelling across many artistic mediums."

Fernandez said plans for Imagine House include:
? ImagineEdu. A pathway for offering online degrees, which is convenient for those already working in the industry; undergraduate and graduate certificates; a two-year fast-track to the industry; additional graduate programs and on-demand video training among other programs.
? Imagine House Studios. This will be a functioning content production studio that will build and promote a legacy house band, called Longview, that will tour the country representing the university on the national stage, and also create content for the marketplace including a new animated series called the Dead Sea Squirrels and a sports documentary series called Set Apart: The Music City Mustangs.
? Imagine Nation Network. Imagine House will serve as a network of industry experts and educators who will provide fellowship, mentorship and internships to students from high school to college ages.

In addition to Millard and Fernandez, the Imagine House leadership team also includes:
? Brown Bannister, music industry veteran and GRAMMY Award-winning producer, director of Lipscomb's School of Music. Bannister will focus on building the house band and will lead the Imagine Nation Network.
? Steve Taylor, is co-founder of Lipscomb's CEA Studios and is director of its School of Theatre and Cinematic Arts. A filmmaker, recording artist, producer and songwriter who has earned multiple Grammy, Billboard, Telly, Addy and Dove awards and nominations, Taylor will be the head of Imagine House Studios and provide expertise in all aspects of the Imagine House development.