Welcome!

The LSC-University Park Visual & Performing Arts Department creates educational opportunities for LSC students interested in art, drama, music, dance, and visual communications. We provide the Northwest Houston community with a cultural center, offering dozens of events and performances throughout the year.

The Center for the Visual & Performing Arts is Now Open!

The Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) building is located at entrance 1 of Lone Star College-University Park (near the intersection of 249 and Louetta).

Visual & Performing Arts
Hours of Operation

Watch a time lapse construction of the building

The Visual & Performing Arts building is first and foremost, a teaching institution designed to provide students a learning space to focus their creativity into learned applicable technique for their specialized art.

The division team has been asked many of time about tours for the VPA, now you can schedule one!

Click on the buttons above for more information on art, drama, or music. For information on Visual Communications, a workforce program within the Visual Arts, please click here. Visual Communications includes these six areas of study: graphic design, multimedia, web design, video and post production, motion graphics and 3-D animation.

Courses

LSC-University Park offers a range of courses in art, drama and music to fit your schedule and skill level. Our low student-to-faculty ratio ensures individual attention in all classes. Our students can earn an Associate of Arts in Fine Arts, Drama, or Music. Students may also take art, drama or music courses that are fully transferrable to a four-year institution. View courses by clicking the buttons below.

Art Courses     Drama Courses     Music Courses
Core Classes     FAQ

Events & Performances

LSC-University Park hosts a variety of art, drama and music events featuring students, faculty and professional guest artists and performers. Each semester, we showcase our drama, music, and art students and their work, along with performances and exhibits in our state-of-the-art Visual & Performing Arts center. 

Please visit our Events Page for up-to-date information

Visual & Performing Arts Faculty

Aaron Alon, D.M.A.
Department Chair of the Visual & Performing Arts
Director of Music, Professor of Music
281.290.5009
Office: 12.110
Bio

Amy Sluis, Ed.D.
Department Lead
Professor of Art History
281.290.5047
Office: 13.868
Bio

Kari Breitigam, M.F.A.
Professor of Art
281.290.2642
Office: 12.109
Bio

Lauren Gadson
Professor of Visual Communications
281.401.5302
Office: 13.602

William Grayson, M.F.A.
Director of Theatre, Professor of Drama
281.290.2956
Office: VPA 116
Bio

Mary Schreier, M.F.A.
Technical Director, Professor of Drama
281.290.1819
Office: VPA 127

Chris Thompson, M.F.A.
Associate Professor of Art
281.290.3610
Office: 12.108

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take music, drama, or visual art classes if I'm not majoring in them?

Yes, and in some cases, these courses can even count toward your degrees!  Most degrees require a core class (see below) and many include elective classes, where you can take any music, drama, or visual art class (except MUSC 1191) and have it count toward your degree.  

Can I take private lessons or perform in a play, musical, or music ensemble if I'm not majoring in music?

?Yes! Learn more about auditions here: LoneStar.edu/UP-Auditions.

Will my classes transfer to university?

Core classes (see below) should transfer toward the core in any public university in Texas, especially if you are core complete.  Also, most courses in the AA degree plans where you earn a C or higher will typically transfer to public universities toward a bachelor's degree in the same fields. 

What classes can I take toward the core?

You can use any of these classes toward the Creative Arts [50] or the Component Area Option [95] in the core:

• ARTS 1301 - Art Appreciation
• ARTS 1303 - Art History: Prehistory to Gothic
• ARTS 1304 - Art History: Renaissance to Modern
• ARTS 1311 - 2-D Design
• ARTS 1312 - 3-D Design
• DANC 2303 - Dance Appreciation
• DRAM 1310 - Theatre Appreciation
• DRAM 2366 - Film Appreciation
• MUSI 1306 - Appreciating Music
• MUSI 1307 - Music Literature
• MUSI 1310 - American Music

How do I major in music, drama, or visual art?

Step 1: Declare Your Major! 

Email upadvising@lonestar.edu? and request to declare your major

Step 2: Set Up an Advising Appointment

Email the department representative to request a meeting as a new major:

• Music: Aaron.Alon@LoneStar.edu
• Drama: William.D.Grayson@LoneStar.edu
• Visual Art: Kari.Breitigam@LoneStar.edu

Step 3: Sign up for classes and for music/drama auditions

Use the plan developed in step 2 to enroll in classes. See these degree checklists below to help you:

Drama Degree Checklist  Fine Arts Degree Checklist  Music Degree Checklist

Where can I find a list of available music, drama, and visual art courses?

Click the links below for more information!

Art Courses     Drama Courses     Music Courses