Community Connectivity

CASE connects programs of the College of the Arts to Houston’s diverse communities. Through ongoing educational programming, CASE fosters an environment of mentorship and active learning, where pedagogy and practice are held in equal regard. We connect diverse segments of our city through creative thinking, celebration of music, and future-oriented dialogues.

young student learning at the piano from instructor

Community Arts Academy

The Community Arts Academy enriches lives and cultivates communities through exceptional music education. Central to our mission is a peer-supported environment that fosters a unique and comprehensive approach to musicianship training. The Community Arts Academy provides an opportunity for community members to engage in life-long learning through programs that include musical instruction for all ages, community choir, and professional development opportunities for music educators.

Mariachi Pumas

The Moores School of Music mariachi program in the Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts educates students, the university, and Houston communities on the cultural importance of mariachi in our region and beyond. We are building a quality program that is competitive with any collegiate mariachi ensemble in the state of Texas. We utilize the mariachi tradition to bring our students and Houston’s many cultures together. CASE, through the Community Arts Academy, provides the administrative infrastructure for the program.

Professional Development

CASE develops workshops and public programs that provide an opportunity for students, artists, educators, and arts professionals to learn with and from each other, gaining skills and experience. We partner with other service organizations as well as create original workshop content to enhance skills, share research, and build accessible cultural policy initiatives.

Tables filled with people at a conference

Leadership in the Arts Summits

Arts Leadership Summits was part of a three-year initiative to connect local artists, community members, and arts leaders to national cultural policy issues. The Summits brought national thought leaders and innovative local and regional practitioners to explore the ideas that now guide CASE’s programming and research.