Waynesburg University’s Fine Arts Academy for community members is currently open for summer enrollment.
The Fine Arts Academy consists of community-based non-credit courses and is open to anyone who wants to study comprehensive collegiate music or visual art, taught by current Waynesburg University faculty.
The Summer 2022 Schedule includes a ceramics course, private woodwind and percussion lessons, and a five-day summer camp for kids.
Youth scholarships have been made available by funding from the EQT Foundation. Additional funding for other scholarships is also available.
Madelynn Rishell, a student at Jefferson-Morgan High School, is currently enrolled in a jazz ensemble class.
“I would definitely recommend WU’s Fine Arts Academy! It gives you opportunities to challenge yourself and learn more about your instrument and music in general. It’s a great way to push yourself,” Rishell said.
The Fine Arts Academy is currently led by alumna Emily Wiedner, part-time instructor for the Department of Fine Arts and a teacher's assistant at an early childhood learning academy. Wiedner holds a master’s degree in studio arts from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
“The Fine Arts Academy has been a wonderful way for us to engage with our surrounding community,” said Wiedner. “The pandemic, unfortunately, forced us to put the Academy on pause. We are very happy to be back and fostering creativity once again. Over the next year, we hope to offer more classes year-round and invite other University Departments to participate.”
The Fine Arts Academy offers a wide variety of classes for all ages during the Fall and Spring semesters. Those classes run for 10 weeks. Opportunities to participate in University ensembles, based on proficiency and the director's approval, are also available.
Previously offered courses include watercolor, drawing, exploring the visual arts (K-12), elementary music, and private voice, guitar, piano, or string instrument lessons.
Summer Offerings
Ceramics Course
Held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 to 8p.m., from June 7 to August 18, this new offering will provide students the opportunity to explore the creation of pottery through wheel-throwing and hand-building techniques. Students will also learn about the glazing and firing process.
A total of 20 sessions will be offered over ten weeks, and students will be able to select the number of sessions they would like to attend.
Private Instrument Lessons
Woodwind lessons offered include flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon or bagpipe. Percussion lessons offered include drums, keyboards (mallets), Latin percussion and symphonic percussion, for kids or adults, with or without previous knowledge.
The duration of the private instrument lessons is ten weeks, with days and times to be scheduled between the instructor and student.
Kids Summer Camp
The Fine Arts Academy Kids Summer Camp will be held Monday, June 27, through Friday, July 1, from 8 a.m. to noon and is open to grades kindergarten through 12.
Activities include: tie-dye, decorating art journals, clay dragon eggs, squirt gun painting, spin art and mosaics. The week will also feature a “Create-Your-Own-Garden Day,” during which campers will paint flower pots, rocks, plant flowers and create nature sun catchers, as well as a “Make-Your-Own Piñata Day.” The full daily schedule is available online at Waynesburg.edu/fineartsacademy.
About Waynesburg University
Consistently ranked a best value school, Waynesburg University’s Strategy for the 21st Century affirms its commitment to developing an entrepreneurial mindset and ethical leadership skills for all students. Rooted in its mission of faith, learning and service, the private, Christian university is located on a traditional campus in the hills of southwestern Pennsylvania, with an additional site for graduate and professional programs in Southpointe.
