Three people discuss on center stage with clothed mannequins dressed in sequined garments standing around them as the speakers sit in front of an audience
Two students interact with green and pink square cutout structures in a classroom setting
A model walks down the runway with black glasses and a black, sleeveless garment
Side profile of a young woman holding a violin to her chin
Student with headphones raises his hand passionately as he sings a note from the sheet music displayed in front of him
Shana points to a landscape painting with a golden frame before a group of students
A guy blows into a brass instrument in a crowd of similar players
Side profile of an ensemble of active singers dressed in black clothing
Lead singer of school of rock dressed in school uniform plays red electric guitar while singing
Three ceramic artists perform pottery wheel techniques side-by-side across a long table
A woman speaks and gestures towards white garment, being pinned by a man who is sitting down in front of it
Actor playing part of the Lion sings and spreads his arms, a large fur fabric splaying upwards from his shoulders to around his head
Percussionists raise their mallets with both hands while smiling
Exhibit featuring blue glassware square-like shapes descending in a line
A single dancer is raised up on her stomach by many hands as she extends her limbs in a gesture similar to flying
Visitors view garments from a collection donated by Aileen Mehle while on display in the museum.
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Empowering global leaders to transform lives through the arts.

Welcome to Kent State University's College of the Arts, where you can experience our nationally and internationally recognized programs and learn from faculty who are leaders in the fields of visual, performing and design arts.

Our multitude of program options, including 28 majors and 26 minors including our signature Arts Entrepreneurship minor, make us the destination of choice for your arts education.
 

Beginning Fall 2027

We will come together with Kent State’s College of Communication and Information to form the College of Design, Media and the Arts. The future college will expand opportunities for interdisciplinary learning and collaboration across nationally recognized programs in art, fashion, media, music, theatre, design and emerging technology while preparing graduates for rapidly evolving careers where technology, storytelling and artistic expression increasingly intersect.  See the board of trustees announcement.

 

Accessing the Arts

At the College of the Arts, no student is turned away for lack of formal training. With an accessible audition or no-portfolio-required admissions policy, students are embraced at every level, nurturing passion and skill to prepare for successful careers

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400 Performing & Visual Arts Events Per Year
Top Ranking Art, Theatre, and Fashion Programs
26 Academic Minors Open To All Students

News from the college of the arts

 

ohio's state house in columbus on a sunny day
Kent State University Museum Presents Spacesuit at the Ohio Statehouse, Highlighting the Power of Museums to Elevate Ohio Stories
May 7, 2026

The Kent State University Museum and the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board announce “Ohioans in Space: The Carl E. Walz Spacesuit from the Kent State University Museum,” a special installation opening on May 19 at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, celebrating Ohio’s legacy of excellence in aviation and space exploration. 

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Featured Events AND EXHIBITS

 

Group of students study a black garment in a fashion studio.

Kent State and Cleveland Museum of Natural History Present ‘Fashion & Feather,’ a Cross-Disciplinary Exhibition

Opening on Earth Day at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the exhibition will be on view April 22 through Oct. 11, bringing together historic fashion, ornithological specimens, cultural objects and contemporary student designs to examine the complex relationship between people and the natural world.

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Purple building background with fashion show logo

The Kent State School of Fashion Presents the 2026 Annual Fashion Show

The nationally and internationally ranked Kent State University School of Fashion is thrilled to announce its acclaimed Annual Fashion Show will take place April 30-May 2, in Crawford Hall on the Kent Campus.

The 2026 Annual Fashion Show features 173 looks by 48 designers chosen by a panel of industry critics and jurors for inclusion in the show. The collections and garments span all categories of fashion and include childrenswear, knitwear, streetwear, avant-garde looks and more. 

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close up image of a yellow fabric folded in on itself

2026 Spring Exhibitions

The Kent State University School of Art proudly presented a series of student exhibitions this Spring, showcasing the artistic development of emerging undergraduate and graduate artists.

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Stage with a red curtain and ghost light background witht he words "2026-2027 main Stage Season Announcement"

Kent State School of Theatre and Dance Announces 2026-2027 Main Stage Season

The School of Theatre and Dance is thrilled to announce its 2026-2027 season: Fall Faculty Dance Concert, "Perfect Arrangement," “Bright Star,” " She Loves Me" and "Romeo and Juliet."

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Black and white artwork depicting two figures building a structure

Ombre: Works by Massinissa Selmani Exhibition to Open March 20

The School of Art Collection and Galleries at Kent State University is pleased to announce Ombre: Works by Massinissa Selmani, Friday, March 20 to Saturday, May 30, 2026, at the KSU Downtown Gallery, 141 East Main Street, Kent, Ohio. There will be an opening reception on March 20, from 5-7 p.m.

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Other Events

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Tour Our Spaces in 360

Students in the College of the Arts have access to versatile and expansive spaces in the Center for the Performing Arts, Center for the Visual Arts, Rockwell Hall, the KSU Museum, and Cartwright Hall. Explore these spaces in 360-degree imaging!

Explore Our Spaces

  • School of Art

    School of Art

    Kent State University’s School of Art is one of Ohio’s top schools in the visual arts, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in Art Education, Art History, and Studio Art. Our program offers a wide array of studio disciplines, expert faculty, and a place for fine arts and liberal arts to come together in creative and inspiring ways.

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  • School of Fashion

    School of Fashion

    At the Fashion School, design and merchandising majors showcase their talent and innovation in real-world settings. This energized atmosphere has earned the school a consistent ranking among the best fashion programs nationally and globally. Students are required to complete an approved internship and a study-away experience before graduating.  More than 3,000 alumni can be found throughout the industry working for the world’s most recognized brands.

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  • School of Music

    School of Music

    The School of Music alumni network comprises a global ensemble of music performers and educators embedded in the world's most prestigious musical institutions. The school is one of the busiest on campus. Music pours out of practice studios, ensembles gather for rehearsal, faculty members attend student recitals and highly coveted guest artists teach master classes.

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  • School of Theatre and Dance

    School of Theatre and Dance

    Theatre and Dance students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the study of their art at one of the nation's highest-ranked public research universities. From dawn until long after dark, the Center for the Performing Arts is alive with students' creative activities.

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  • Kent State University Museum

    Kent State University Museum

    The Kent State University Museum contains important collections of fashion and decorative arts. Its eight galleries feature changing exhibitions of work by many of the world's great artists and designers.

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