Community Arts

Combine your passion for civic engagement with your love of the arts by enrolling in the Community Arts degree program at Edinboro University. This new interdisciplinary program offers you the unique opportunity to share your talents while you stand up for social justice.

A Legacy of Excellence in the Arts.

Edinboro University has been a NASAD-accredited (National Association of Schools of Art and Design) since 2007. The University recently celebrated its 100th anniversary of education in visual art and art education.

Why Edinboro Stands Out.

The Art Department at Edinboro is one of the largest in the nation and meets the same rigorous standards as the finest art programs in the nation. With a concentration in Community Arts, you will hone your skills under the guidance of highly regarded faculty while you explore ways to use the arts to impact society.

Thanks to a well-balanced curriculum, you will gain a breadth of skills in the arts, as well as a background in other topics that interest you, such as anthropology, sociology and communication.

You’ll graduate well-prepared to tackle the work of community arts professionals, coordinating and implementing project-based initiatives, and using art as a medium for educating communities that are affected by poverty, drugs, violence and neglect.

Cultural workers in the arts can make a significant difference in their community.

Dr. Jay Hanes,

Associate Professor

How Edinboro Supports You.

As a student, you will have access to a variety of resources to help you grow personally and professionally, including:

A variety of visual arts studios, as well as theatre and music facilities.
Opportunities in community arts programming and art therapy.
Proximity to cultural organizations and events that the metropolitan area of Erie offers.
Field experiences in a variety of settings, with all ages and various populations including those in struggling communities, individuals with mental or physical disabilities and victims of racial, domestic or commercial exploitation and abuse.

Your Future

There are plenty of things you can do with a B.S. in Art Education - Community Arts. For example, you can work closely with community groups to help individuals discover their true potential, or help a nonprofit organization implement projects that bring the arts to people who might not otherwise have that opportunity. Your responsibilities may include:

Performing administrative activities such as fundraising, bid writing and budget management.

Establishing a pool of professionals who hire or work on projects.

Crafting artwork in the community.

Supporting and managing volunteers.

Helping community groups decide on the kind of artwork to be developed for their community.

Publicizing and marketing projects through the press and social media.

Forming liaisons with companies, schools, local authorities, specialist workers and freelance professionals.

Teaching individuals various art techniques through classes and workshops.

Cultivating new groups and helping existing groups.