Support the KU Arts Society for a Better Campus Experience

Kutztown, PA (02/21/2019) — Comprising community and university volunteers who are dedicated patrons of the arts, the Kutztown University Arts Society's primary goal is to help advance and support the visual and performing arts both at KU and in the surrounding community.

Video Introduction
Podcast: KUR interview with Zellmer & Hoffman
Learn More & Become a Member

The Society's mission is to ensure that future generations of KU students and community members can benefit from quality art education and events, as public funding for the arts has begun to dwindle. The Society hopes to sustain the long, rich history of arts at KU, guaranteeing a bright, vibrant future abundant with visual and performing arts for all.

"One of our objectives in developing the KU Arts Society is to ensure there is a large role for the visual as well as the performing arts," Kutztown University President Dr. Kenneth S. Hawkinson said. "The Arts Society can help bring young people to special exhibitions, allow them to participate in arts events and come to campus and learn about communication design. We want to inspire young people to go to museums and to seek out avenues in the visual arts, where they can become more informed and enlightened about our world.

"I am also excited about the possibility of funding for small grants to support such things as an international quintet, to provide resources to faculty to do programming out in the community, as well as bringing the community to campus," Hawkinson said. "There is so much opportunity this Society will be able to provide to our university and our community as a whole."

The Society, which was formed last year by university leadership, raises funds to support numerous arts programs, including Promoting the Love of Arts for Youth Series (PLAY), KU Presents! events, KU art galleries, the President's International Quintet, the Kutztown Arts Academy, various arts programming grants and other important arts-centered programs.

"One of the exciting things that the KU Arts Society is bringing to campus is the PLAY initiative," director of KU Presents Bryan Zellmer said. "PLAY serves the school districts in our region: elementary, middle, high school and home-schooled students. We want to bring this group to campus to experience the arts, and we also want to go out into their neighborhoods and bring professional artists to their schools."

Funds are raised through individual donations, corporate sponsorships and social fundraising functions, and recognition is given to all donors on the society website, no matter the contribution. Other benefits include early ticket access, invitations to select events and receptions, recognition in society publications and even limited edition artwork.

The Kutztown University Arts Society is currently seeking members to join in the important endeavor of supporting the arts at KU, to ensure a positive and rich campus experience for students and community member alike.

"The KU Arts Society exposes students and young minds to ideas and experiences that often are not accessible every day," said Ben Hoffman, Kutztown Area High School visual arts teacher and chair of the KU Arts Society. "In doing so, we are providing these students an opportunity that will better themselves in the future in the fields of music and art."

For more information or to join the Kutztown University Arts Society, please visit www.kutztownarts.org.

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