Department of Art and Design
Our Mission

Windgate Fine & Performing Arts Center
The Department of Art and Design views educational achievement as both an individual and collective responsibility. Offering a variety of undergraduate programs in art, the department directs the educational progress of students toward quality research, creative practice, and public service. Art uniquely transforms those who create and those who respond. The department uses the transformative value of art to connect members of the community, enhancing and enriching lives, and making us more conscious of ourselves and others in the world. In order to achieve this mission, the department has set the following goals:
- To challenge students with an intensive curriculum characterized by individualized instruction.
- To reward faculty who demonstrate excellence in teaching, scholarly and creative endeavors, and community service.
- To maintain facilities and resources that foster opportunities to experience the creation, exhibition, and study of the visual arts.
- To provide opportunities for community involvement and broaden public awareness of the visual arts.
Message from the Chair
Welcome to the Department of Art and Design!
The Department of Art and Design challenges students with an intensive curriculum, guiding them toward creative practice, quality research, and public service. The department serves over 190 art majors pursuing the BFA degree with emphases in ceramics, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture and the BA degree with emphases in art education, art history, and fine arts. Our faculty members are committed to students and are productive in their fields, exhibiting artwork in galleries and competitive shows across the country, publishing in academic journals, and presenting at regional, national, and international conferences. Our students are active in making and studying artwork, teaching in the community, and participating in student organizations and public service activities. Every semester the Baum Gallery in McCastlain Hall displays the work of nationally and internationally known artists as well as the BA/BFA Senior Exhibit. The Black Box Gallery in the Schichtl Studio Arts Building hosts a number of student exhibitions rotating every few weeks. These exhibits broaden awareness of the visual arts on campus and provide opportunities for the people in the central Arkansas area and the state to view and experience the arts.
Accreditation
The University of Central Arkansas is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Their offices are located at 11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21, Reston, Virginia 20190. Telephone: (703) 437-0700.
Contact Us
Art and Design Office, Windgate Fine & Performing Arts Center
2150 Bruce Street, Room 131, Conway, AR 72035
(501) 450-3113
Baum Gallery, McCastlain 145, (501) 450-5793
Click here for a Campus Map.
Beyond Me
Watch the surprise from Karmen Barnes, BFA in Studio Art. The Beyond Me series is a four-part video series showcasing students receiving scholarships. We all know that scholarships can change the trajectory of a student’s life, but we wanted to show you the very moment of impact when students receive a scholarship.
What’s Happening
Read Our Newsletter »
Events at the Baum Gallery »
- This fall – The Baum at 25: 25th Anniversary Exhibition
- More announcements soon!