Focus on Learning

UH-Clear Lake creates art task force

December 7, 2006

HOUSTON — Area art enthusiasts have joined with University of Houston-Clear Lake to create a task force designed to strengthen the university’s art programs.

The group will raise funds to increase the number of UH-Clear Lake art exhibits, broaden the scope of art education and increase access to art education, as well as promote UHCL art activities throughout the community.

“We hope to see an increase in the number of art exhibitions both on and off campus,” says Associate Vice President for University Advancement Dion McInnis . “By creating the circumstances for rewarding art experiences and promoting early exposure to the arts, UH-Clear Lake ’s goal is to create lifelong art lovers.”

Community members who have accepted the invitation to be on UH-Clear Lake’s art task force are Distinguished Alumni and President’s Cabinet honorees Sue Garman and Mike Reeves; President’s Cabinet honorees Peggy Clause, Verva Densmore and Kathy Reeves; Distinguished Alumna Tina Farrell; alumni Donna Durbin, Cheryl Evans, Margaret Kidd, Patty Romanko and Ann Trask; community friends Mary Williams, Shirley Wettling and Roseanne Frazier; and UH-Clear Lake Executive Associate to the President Mary Ann Shallberg.

The task force’s first project is to promote exhibitions in the art gallery at the university. To coordinate an increase in exhibits, a part-time gallery coordinator has been added to the university staff.

Other areas the task force will tackle are bringing art and art education to all ages through classes, exhibitions, presentations and collaborations, and raising funds to continue the university’s student and professor exchange programs with universities in Slovakia and Mexico .

“With support from its patrons, UH-Clear Lake also hopes to see an increase in the number of visitors and the number of collaborative relationships with area business and arts organizations, which will result in more art-related job placements for students and an expanded network for exhibiting art,” says McInnis.

For more information about the art task force call UH-Clear Lake ’s Office of University Advancement, 281-283-2021. Art gallery exhibition information can be found at http://hsh.uhcl.edu/art_gallery. For more information about UH-Clear Lake ’s art programs, contact the School of Human Sciences and Humanities at 281-283-3333 or visit http://www.uchl.edu/hsh