The Waynesburg University Fine Arts Department is planning to roll out a new program known as “Fine Arts Academy,” which includes music and art classes. The classes will run from Feb. 10 to April 28. The focus of the academy is to reach out to the entire community of Greene County, and it is intended for those hoping to study the arts in a collegiate setting.

According to the Waynesburg University Fine Arts Academy web page, various instrument and voice lessons, as well as extensive art courses will be offered. Music ensemble classes are to be held Monday-Friday, while art-focuses classes will be held on Saturday mornings.

Andrew Heisey, chairperson for the Fine Arts department, hopes to use art to change the lives of people in Greene County. As a kid, Heisey made chairs out of wood his family gave him, and he loved making things with his hands. When he became a high school student, he said he wasn’t happy with life until he found something that brought him purpose.

“When I was in high school, I realized I could do art. [That] changed my whole attitude,” said Heisey. “I hated who I was. I hated everything about myself. People told me, ‘God’s got a plan for you,’ and I didn’t believe them, but when I realized I could do something, I could make something that was worthwhile, it changed everything. Suddenly I’m like, ‘OK I can do this.’”

With the new Fine Arts Academy program, the doors of the university are being opened for Greene County community members to come in to find that exact purpose.

“Greene County is one of the five poorest counties in Pennsylvania,” said Heisey. “There are not a lot of opportunities for the arts, so we’re trying to provide that here. We have something really great here, and we want to see if we can open that up for community members to come and participate.”

The university already has four professors giving music lessons, and Heisey is instructing a pottery class. He hopes the program takes off this year and continues to blossom as years go by.

“This semester, we’re doing kind of a small opening,” said Heisey. “Hopefully, in the future semesters, future years will offer more.”

To learn more about Fine Arts Academy, visit the Waynesburg University Fine Arts Academy tab at www.waynesburg.edu/now-at-waynesburg.edu.