The College of Liberal and Fine Arts has launched a new community arts degree program that draws upon San Antonio’s vibrant arts and culture ecosystem.
The community arts degree program is designed to develop graduates who can step into leadership roles in the arts and nonprofit sectors. Coursework blends cultural theory with applied practice, giving students the tools to lead non-profit arts organizations and build community-based artistic projects that respond to pressing social needs.
The program is co-directed by Mark Menjívar, associate professor of public practice in the arts and associate director of UTSA Arts, and Emilie Amrein, professor of community arts education and executive director of UTSA Arts.
The focus on leadership helps to ensure graduates enter the workforce ready to shape cultural policy and strengthen institutions that serve local and global communities.
Housed within the college’s Interdisciplinary School for Engagement in the Humanities and Social Sciences, the new degree program is designed with flexibility in mind, allowing students to shape their studies around their professional goals.
Students can choose concentrations in arts leadership, community arts education or public practice in the arts, with tracks providing real-world skills in artistic practice, project design and evaluation, grant writing, curriculum development and community partnership building.
Art that animates
Through experiential learning opportunities, students can engage in participatory, community-based art practices and gain hands-on experience working with San Antonio’s arts organizations, cultural institutions, and nonprofits.
“From world-class museums and dynamic community arts organizations to grassroots cultural festivals and public art that animates every corner of the city, creativity thrives in San Antonio,” Amrein said.
Artists, educators and communities collaborate to celebrate diverse voices and traditions, making San Antonio an inspiring place to study, create, and lead through the arts.
“Our students take what they learn in the classroom and bring it to life across the city by working together with local galleries, neighborhood spaces, cultural institutions and community centers,” Amrein said.
Community arts students will be provided direct access to San Antonio’s vibrant arts ecosystem through partnerships with local arts and cultural organizations, participation in public arts events and opportunities to create and perform across UT San Antonio’s Main, Downtown and Southwest campuses.
Now open for enrollment
At the core of this experience is UTSA Arts, which serves as a central hub and laboratory for creative activity on campus and in the city. UTSA Arts coordinates exhibitions, public programs, artist residencies and collaborative initiatives that connect the campus with the broader cultural life of San Antonio.
“This program provides so many experiences and skills students need to be successful in the arts sector,” Menjívar said. “I am excited to see the ways our students collaborate and co-create with the community to shape our city.”
The community arts degree program is now open for enrollment.
In 2026, a new concentration in Art + Health will be added to the bachelor of arts program, building on the recent merger. A master of fine arts degree in community arts also is in development and expected to launch in 2027.
