Implementing the arts in an urban public college: A case study

This study examined the function of arts programs in one urban public institution facing difficult challenges. The college serves a non-elite population that is difficult to engage with the institution, and it bears a reputation for utilitarian education. Commuting student traffic and campus expansion are points of conflict with the local community.;The qualitative case study involved site visits, documents, and interviews with 23 administrators, faculty, and students. Analysis of the data yielded themes regarding the function of arts programs in relation to social class, public image, curriculum, student engagement, community relationships, the organizational environment, and institutional support.;The results show that arts programs serve many interests in the institution. For the college administration they bring prestige to a public image that is important in pursuit of resources. Their public activities support positive interactions with the community and improve town-gown relations. For the arts and sciences faculty, the arts serve the educational mission, which is partly intended to help working class students transcend the limitations of their background. For the arts faculty, the public arts activity draws attention and resources. For students the arts programs offer participatory opportunities and personal development, and professional art programs provide entry to a career.;Key features at the study institution include a weekly open class period when commuting students can attend arts presentations and other activities, and an office charged with promoting and advancing the arts activities. In the study case, a specific faculty leader was critically important in arts development efforts.;The study suggests that the impact of arts programs can be optimized if the institution makes a commitment to public arts presentations, provides a good product, promotes and supports it well, and makes it accessible. It concludes that some of the particular efforts at the study institution are useful approaches for broader application, particularly at urban public colleges.