A new 18-credit painting and drawing minor will be attainable at Point Park next spring semester, according to Ben Schonberger, media arts program coordinator and senior lecturer of photography.
Six classes–four already existing, and two new classes–will be required to obtain the minor.
Two new painting classes will begin study in spring of 2026: Painting I and Painting II.
Existing required courses include Introduction to the Visual Arts, Introduction to Drawing, Advanced Drawing and Figure Drawing.
“We have had several students express a great interest in more art classes that are not necessarily technology driven,” Schonberger said, referring to the many graphic design classes offered by Point Park’s School of Communication.
“I am excited about it,” Chris Rolinson, School of Communication chair, said. “I think it is an additive thing. It’s something that fine art students have needed access to for a while.”
Schonberger said Painting I will teach students skills to improve at painting, and Painting II will allow them to explore their own style.
“[Painting I is] going to be focused on color and how to create a color blend, mix, utilize brush, etc.,” Schonberger said. “It’s probably going to oversee certain types of painting mediums, such as watercolor to oil to acrylic.
“Painting II will be sort of like an advancement of that, where you can actually choose your chosen mode and go for it.”
He said that he expects the new painting classes will be affordable to the university.
“You don’t need a lot of buy-in,” Schonberger said, “We’re going to buy like 20 easels, or we’re going to build them.”
Instructors have not yet been officially selected to teach the painting courses, but Schonberger said he does not expect the hiring process to be difficult.
“We have amazing artists in Pittsburgh,” Schonberger said. “We’re going to have a difficult time telling people no, because the pool is going to be very large.”
Schonberger said pieces made within the new minor are welcomed for future Juried Art Exhibitions, which he helps organize.
“[The Art Exhibitions] often receive submissions from students in other schools,” Schonberger said. “So, there’s really great representation from the whole university at large.
I think this is gonna help the Juried Art show too, because it’s an opportunity for more students to sort of get into our space a bit. No more school silos; break them down,” Schonberger said.
But Schonberger also said he expects School of Communication students to be first in line to take up the new minor.
“I think [the] School of Communication is the nucleus for visual art in the university,” Schonberger said. “I think performing art–stage art is absolutely COPA. Hands down. But, the photographers and designers are in Communication, and that’s cool.”
Schonberger said he hopes the new minor will allow Point Park to fill gaps in demand left by the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, which closed in 2019.
“The best case scenario is people want it so much that it becomes a major,” Schonberger said, “and that situates itself with these other visual art BFA’s. And, we start growing something really astonishing and unique. We have this moment where we can really cultivate more visual art on campus; I think this is the time.”
Carson Folio contributed reporting to this article.
Chris Rolinson is faculty advisor to the Globe, but his relation to the story makes him an essential source.
