Windgate Foundation Gives $100,000 for Art

The Arkansas Tech University Foundation has received a $100,000 grant from the Windgate Charitable Foundation that will strengthen the visual arts programs offered on the ATU campus in Russellville.

“Arkansas Tech University and the Windgate Charitable Foundation share a common mission to increase higher education opportunities in the arts,” said Dr. Jeff Woods, dean of the ATU College of Arts and Humanities. “It is our hope that this grant marks the beginning of a partnership that will assist our university in furthering student success, innovation and community building.”

Programs created with the funds will focus on the development and marketing of the arts scene in Arkansas. The funds will allow ATU to offer continuing education workshops for K-12 art teachers and scholar-in-residence opportunities among other programs.

The private support from the Windgate Charitable Foundation coincides with a curriculum change in the ATU Department of Art. Beginning in summer 2018, Tech will transition its Bachelor of Arts degrees in graphic design, game and interactive media design and fine art into Bachelor of Fine Art degrees. The revised programs will require 15-to-18 more hours of art department specific courses.

The number of students majoring in ATU Department of Art programs increased by 66 percent from 2013 through 2017.

Visit www.atu.edu/art to learn more about the ATU Department of Art.