Creative & Performing Arts

The Creative & Performing Arts Department provides training for students seeking skills in varied forms of artistic expression; offers general education and foundation classes to serve students preparing to transfer for advanced studies; presents programs and performances which give participants, and audience, unique learning experiences, as well as enrich the quality of life on campus and throughout the Muskegon community.

Study in Arts or Humanities classes and participation in programs or performances provide valuable opportunities for students to develop and practice desirable personal qualities, work skills and social attitudes valued by all twenty-first century employers, including:

Speaking and listening skills
Visual literacy
Teamwork skills
Leadership
Flexibility
Ability to adapt and improvise
Initiative and work ethic
Analysis and interpretive skills
Negotiation skills
Ability to work with culturally diverse people
Attention to detail
Decision making
Problem solving skills
Self-esteem and self-confidence
Time management skills
Creative thinking

Research increasingly shows that these attributes are acquired through learning and applying artistic languages. Of course these skills can be developed in other fields as well, but please don’t think that the arts and humanities are only “fun and frills.” Serious study, commitment and hard work in the arts and humanities will serve you well in all areas of your life, including both work and leisure. Life-long learning is a key to your success on the job, and in life. The arts and humanities offer each of us different ways of seeing, different languages with which to express ourselves, appreciation for the variety of ways to respond to the world around us, and provide pleasure for our senses. While only mathematicians may find beauty in imaginary numbers, and only a physicist may find beauty in quarks, virtually everyone finds beauty in music or painting or drama or dance or architecture.

For information about classes and programs offered by the Muskegon Community College Creative & Performing Arts Department please call: 231-777-0324 or e-mail Julie.Solowy@muskegoncc.edu .