Arts Society

The creation of an arts society at Kutztown University originated with Dr. Kenneth S. Hawkinson, the university president, and Ann Marie Hayes-Hawkinson. In January 2018, Dr. Hawkinson formed a group of KU staff and asked them to develop this idea into something that will:

• Help existing KU arts offerings open to the public survive and thrive.
• Break down “silos” and promote collaboration between the various arts programs.
• Provide arts engagement opportunities for K-12 schools by bringing students to KU’s campus and artists to their schools.
• Expand current KU arts programs to serve more people from the community.
• Unite the community through the arts by fostering a supportive and inclusive community for artists and lovers of the arts.
• Create fun and unique experiences for the arts community to gather, network, and share.
• Support new arts initiatives that will benefit KU faculty and students while working with community members.

By the summer of 2018, the appointed staff members had forged an outline for the new KU Arts Society and launched their first initiative, P.L.A.Y. (Promoting the Love of Arts in Youth). Over the first year of its offerings, P.L.A.Y. served nearly 2,000 K-12 students, representing 30 regional schools.

The following Fall of that year, several members of the KU faculty and key people from the greater community were approached to serve on the new organization’s board of directors to help launch its success. Informal meetings were held to iron out some details and catch everyone up to speed, and in January 2019, the KUAS Inaugural Board of Directors held their first official meeting.

On the Inaugural Board were: Maria Asteriadou, Amy Botwright, Kate Clair, Pat Corpora, Sandy Corpora, Sandy Green, Ann Marie Hayes-Hawkinson, Dr. Kenneth S. Hawkinson, Nadine Hoffman, Ben Hoffman, Jackie Jones, Dr. Michelle Kiec, Suzanne Kirk, Kevin Kjos, Shelley Klassen, Kurt Nikkanen, Alex Ogeka, Amy Ridenour, Jason Romanski, Dr. Nicole Romanski, Matt Santos, Dr. Harry Serio, Mary Ann Serio, Dr. Brad Shope, Karen Stanford, Bob Watrous, and Bryan Zellmer.

In July of 2019, voting concluded, and the first elected board was named, each to serve a three-year term.