Dabble in art forms or heighten your creative focus in this skill-driven two-year program and continue your passion at a four-year college.
Hone your craft in our 37,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Fine Arts and Design Studios (FADS)
In this dedicated studio space, you’ll have access to covered outdoor workspaces, ventilated studios filled with natural light, and multi-use classrooms that encourage cross-discipline collaboration.
Gain exposure to a vast array of subjects and perspectives, including:
- Ceramics: get your hands dirty and practice hand building and throwing to create beautifully decorated ceramic pieces.
- Digital Imaging: master industry-standard software programs to create amazing art.
- Drawing: capture what you see using charcoal, graphite, pastels, inks, acrylics, and watercolors.
- Film & Media Studies: use professional tools and equipment to tell engaging, captivating stories in film and video.
- Metal & Silversmithing: design custom jewelry and sculptures using chain making, chasing/repoussé, combining metals, setting stones, photo etching, and reticulation.
- Painting: explore historic and modern materials and methods to bring vivid ideas to your canvas.
- Photography: develop advanced methods for digital capture, manipulation, editing, and composition.
- Sculpture: work with limestone, clay, wax, bronze, aluminum, and steel as you hone your skills in carving, modeling, and building.
Build a Fine Arts portfolio that dazzles
Showcase your work on campus:
- Feature your efforts in the Student Gallery on the third floor of the Student Center, showcasing exceptional work by JCCC student artists.
- Include your art in the annual literary magazine, Mind’s Eye.
- Submit your work for competitions and exhibitions at local, regional and national levels— like the one sponsored by League for Innovation in the Community College. These opportunities put JCCC student work in front of gallery owners, industry professionals, and community members.
Be inspired by the internationally recognized Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art on the JCCC campus. It has a world-class collection of permanent works and traveling exhibitions.
Attend lectures and presentations from visiting artists — and have your portfolio reviewed by some of the best local, regional, and national talents.
The department hosts free portfolio review days to help high school students prepare to apply for first-year scholarships and transition into college art classes. Contact department co-chairs Tonia Hughes at thughe38@jccc.edu or Mark Cowardin at mcowardin@jccc.edu for dates and details.
JCCC offers scholarships for students in all fine arts disciplines. Complete JCCC’s easy scholarship application to see what scholarships you may qualify for.
- James Fennel Fine Arts
- Larry Thomas Memorial Art
- The department also offers competitive scholarships for incoming first-year students and continuing students. To learn how to apply, contact Tonia Hughes at thughe38@jccc.edu or Mark Cowardin at mcowardin@jccc.edu.
Leave a lasting impression on the art world
With the skills you develop in your Fine Arts courses, you can work as a museum conservator, making world-class art accessible to everyone. Engage your skillset and pursue work as a photographer, sculptor, illustrator, or painter - or share your talents with the next generation and become an art teacher.
Find employment projections and salary information at the Power BI Post Graduate Report.
Want to go further? Many of the liberal arts and fine arts credits you earn at JCCC transfer to competitive art programs at area four-year schools, including Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas State University, University of Kansas, University of Missouri-Kansas City, and Wichita State University. Make an appointment with a counselor to explore your options.
Need help with Fine Arts homework? No problem!
The JCCC Academic Resource Center offers free tutoring in almost any subject. And our small fine arts classes — most with fewer than 25 students — provide one-on-one attention and feedback from your professors.
Contact Info
Misha Kligman, Co-Chair
Phone: 913-469-8500 x3756
Location: FADS 230
Email: mkligman@jccc.edu
Tonia Hughes, Co-Chair
Phone: 913-469-8500, ext. 3649
Location: FADS 231
Email: thughe38@jccc.edu
