The Center welcomes Kindergarten to College Students to Practitioners from the tri-state area. We design, implement and support school group activities, WLU community engagement opportunities, Educator Professional Development and Partnerships.

Designed as a hands-on interdisciplinary welcoming environment, the Center continually evolves in response to changing needs. From a Learning Lab and Maker Space for the regional education community to a safe haven and resource center for WLU students.

Led by Director Lou Karas, well known for introducing innovative educational practices, cultivating and sustaining impactful partnerships and leading transformational professional development opportunities in the region. Lou is supported by a revolving cohort of Graduate Assistants who bring their unique experiences and perspectives to the Centers’ work.

The Center provides resources that include a lending library, craft/maker materials and tools plus an extensive collection of innovative educational books to local and regional learners. The Center supports WLU community with high quality presentation posters and materials for hand-made signage to showcase creativity around campus and beyond.

The Center has developed innovative learning opportunities for WLU students and Regional Educators and Administrators, aligning with thought partners. Notable partnerships include Carnegie Mellon University’s CREATE Lab and Entertainment Technology Center, Center for Creative Reuse, Intermediate Unit 1 and the Children’s Museum among many others.

The Center for Arts and Education was established in July 2011 as a collaboration between the Appalachian Education Initiative and the Colleges of Education and Arts and Communication at West Liberty University with support from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. With assistance from Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, we retrofitted WLU’s former business office space into a physical “home” for the Center for Arts and Education.