Student Resources

Art and Design Student Organizations

Learn outside the classroom and develop leadership skills by getting involved in student organizations and clubs. By getting involved in the following organizations, you have the chance to attend professional meetings, participate in regional and national competitions, help with community service projects and network with industry leaders.

Art Eaters Art History Club

The Art History Club is a community dedicated to fostering a deep appreciation and understanding of art across cultures and throughout history. Open to all, regardless of expertise, the club provides opportunities for members to explore art movements, artists, and forms through lectures, gallery visits, workshops, and discussions. With a mission to inspire creativity, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of the arts, the club also connects members with key figures in the art world and helps develop valuable skills like curation. Through collaboration and dialogue, we cultivate a deeper understanding of art’s cultural significance.

American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA)

AIGA is the graphic design profession’s oldest and largest professional membership organization for design—with more than 70 chapters and more than 25,000 members—working to enhance the value and deepen the impact of design across all disciplines on business, society, and our collective future. AIGA is committed to enhancing professional development through various learning opportunities and inspiring designers and the public by sharing the most exciting design work and engaging in thoughtful, provocative discussion on pressing issues. The FHSU chapter of AIGA is the perfect way to connect and stay connected with industry professionals as well as other graphic design students from around the nation. Prepare for a successful career through building and expanding your network and design knowledge through attending design conferences and competitions in Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, and Minneapolis, to name a few. Students who have graduated from the FHSU graphic design program attribute their career success to their involvement with AIGA; many of our students receive internships and job opportunities through the connections they make through AIGA.

Arts for Social Change

Focused on building a community for the ceramic arts, Ceramica Clay Club offers our members a unique opportunity to lead or participate in ceramic workshops during our biweekly meetings, organize and attend art events both on campus and in the community, travel to regional and national conferences and workshops, and delve deeper into an experience with the ceramic arts.  Members serve the community as hosts and docents during Moss-Thorns Gallery exhibitions and enjoy interdisciplinary projects that spread art and joy into the community. Hosting visiting artists for workshops and critical conversations is often the highlight of our year.

Collaborative Art Project (CAP)

The Collaborative Art Project is a collaboration between Amy Schmierbach, professor of art at Fort Hays State University, students of FHSU and Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas. Schmierbach and students are providing workshops to the DSNWK individuals to provide structured art experiences centered around weaving, drawing, and photography.  The goal of this project is to expand the arts in the Hays community to help reach more individuals, specifically creating more opportunities in the arts.

Creative Arts Society (CAS)

Do you want to exercise your creativity outside the classroom? The Creative Arts Society is designed to enhance the diversity and culture at Fort Hays State University and the communities of Western Kansas. With guest-artist lectures, workshops and performances, you can enjoy events while networking with peers and professional artists. The Creative Arts Society is also involved in the community through activities like mural painting, children's art workshops and community art projects. 

Fe Sculpture Club

Fe Sculpture Club is an all-inclusive Campus Wide Student organization committed to creatively communicating, educating, and celebrating a variety of art forms and processes through metalworking. Iron is our favorite metal to manipulate and transform through smithing and metal casting but not limited to these processes. Our club has biweekly meetings to discuss and organize art events both on campus and in the Hays community throughout the year. Members of this club have a unique opportunity to learn and foster artistic skills, host and learn from visiting artists, and travel to regional, national, and international conferences and workshops.

Interior Design Student Organization (IDSA)

If you are interested in interior design, joining IDSA is a great way to prepare for your career as well as network with industry professionals and experience group activities and field trips. As a member, gain insight into the professional aspects of interior design as well as new developments in the field through regional events such as the annual Parade of Homes in Denver, Colorado or visiting the Frank Lloyd Wright Allen House in Wichita and other area art museums. Membership in this student organization is open to any interior design majors.

Art and Design Research Resources & Databases

Forsyth Library Art & Design Resources
Art Image Collections (via Forsyth Library)
National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery, London
The Art Institute of Chicago
Nelson-Atkins Museum
Museum of Modern Art Online
Guggenheim Museum

Resources for Art Teachers

The Art Project (Google)
Art Babble
Art Education 2.0
The Incredible Art Department
Art History Teaching Resources
Guggenheim Teacher Resources

Resources for Graphic Designers

Adobe Color
Dribbble
Behance
Skillshare
American Institute of Graphic Arts

Resources for Interior Designers

Autodesk Revit
Interior Design Magazine

Art and Design Journals

Communication Arts
HOW Magazine
PRINT Magazine

Art and Design Career Resources

Academic Advising and Career Exploration Center
Career Services Online Job Resources
Career Guide for Studio Art Majors
Art Teacher EDU
United States Government Jobs in the Arts
Kansas Education Employment Board
American Society of Interior Designers
American Institute of Graphic Arts
The Creative Group
The American Ceramic Society
Jobs in Higher Education