Inver Hills Art, Music, and Theatre students display their artwork and performance skills
The Art, Music, and Theatre departments at Inver Hills Community College hosted the first-ever Creative Crash in the Fine Arts building commons Tuesday, May 3, 2022. Embodying the tremendous importance of highlighting the inspiring work of Inver Hills fine arts students, Creative Crash recognized and showcased student artistic talent via an art exhibition and live performances with the goal to help restore the college’s on-campus spirit of direct collaboration after a demanding period of remote learning due to the pandemic.
Creative Crash Spring 2022 featured:
- Collaborative drawing event
- Showcase of student creative work from spring semester 2022
- Choir event with students of Jennifer Parker, music faculty
- Drum event with students of Andy Martin, music faculty
- Acting monologues by students of George Roesler, theatre faculty
- Gallery 120: Graduating A.F.A. Majors Capstone Show
- Gretchen Funk
- Rose Hoffman
- Julian LaFerla
- Laura Heiman
Dean and faculty perspectives

Barbara Curchack, PhD, dean of liberal arts at Inver Hills was delighted with the event’s high energy and strong turnout. “Creative Crash highlighted our art, music, and theatre students while giving all students a much-needed boost before finals,” she said. “Students inspired us with choir music from around the world, African drumming, and monologues from student-chosen plays. Final work from our art classes was displayed front and center; it was a joy to see students take pride in their work knowing they were supported by caring faculty.”

Rob Kolomyski serves as chair of the college’s Fine Arts department (Art, Music, Theatre). Rob also teaches drawing and painting courses. He is an integral member of the team that put together Creative Crash.
“The Art, Music, and Theatre departments collaborated to produce Creative Crash as a way to celebrate and value the hard work of our creative students during very challenging times,” Rob said. “We aim to rebuild the in-person, supportive creative communities so essential to students’ lives. A highlight of the event for me was meeting my student’s friends and families who came to see the results of their hard work. We hope to hold more student-centered events such as Creative Crash in the future as we continue to value the authenticity of student expression and connections made possible through the arts.”
Creative Crash Spring 2022 gallery
View more event photos as well as student artwork by visiting the Inver Hills Flickr album:
Creative Crash Spring 2022
More about Art at Inver Hills…
Faculty members in the Art department at Inver Hills are accomplished artists who are passionate about teaching. They exhibit their work both regionally and nationally, and are exceptionally knowledgeable in their fields of expertise.
Whether you are a novice sculptor or a future art historian, our instructors are dedicated to expanding your artistic world both creatively and professionally.
Why study Art at Inver Hills?
Bring your art to the next level and beyond.
The Transfer Pathway A.F.A. in Art is a pre-professional degree is ideal if you plan on transferring to a four-year school to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in an art-related major. Completing your A.F.A. in Art at Inver Hills not only gives you valuable experience learning from established artists, but also allows you to start earning your B.F.A. or B.A. with junior-year status.
Launch your career in the world of art.
Completing your Transfer Pathway A.F.A. in Art gives you the power, proficiencies, techniques, and know-how to find your niche as a creative professional in a wildly imaginative artistic universe where people produce, commission, present, preserve, promote, chronicle, evaluate, buy, and sell fine art.
Take your pick of tools and materials.
Our Art department offers in-depth courses in ceramics, digital art, drawing, painting, glass, photography, and sculpture. Courses are taught by artists with years of experience and success creating and exhibiting artwork in their favorite medium.
Find your artistic groove in the perfect space.
Our superb art facilities provide the atmosphere, tradition, tools, and technology you’ll need to propel yourself forward as an artist. As an Inver Hills art student, you’ll have access to a Ceramics Studio, Advanced Ceramics Studio, Drawing and Painting Studio, Sculpture and Glass Studio, Digital Photography Lab, and Art History Classroom.
Discover and strengthen your artistic talent.
Many of our students take art courses to satisfy their liberal arts requirements. They soon figure out making art is not only fun, but also a wonderful way to make friends and learn about yourself. On top of that, research shows working on art projects boosts your brainpower and promotes your emotional well-being.
Build a solid art portfolio and learn how to exhibit your work.
Complete your Transfer A.F.A. in Art by taking a Portfolio Development course that teaches you critical business skills such as composing your art resume, preparing your artist statement, and landing and installing an exhibition.
Visiting artists and Inver students showcase their work on campus.
Located in the Fine Arts building, Gallery 120 exhibits the art of notable painters, sculptors, ceramists, artisans, and photographers who have shown their work around the world. Art students at the college have opportunities to exhibit their own work in the gallery. Gallery 120 also hosts art sales throughout the year. You can visit Gallery 120 online.
Transfer Pathway Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.) in Art: 60 credits
The Transfer Pathway A.F.A. in Art offers you the powerful opportunity to complete an A.F.A. degree and transfer with junior-year status to designated Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) programs in art-related majors at five universities in the Minnesota State system.
The A.F.A. in Art also gives you a head start if you’re aiming to make your way as a successful artist or specialist in the art job market. As a student in our Art program, you’ll take 37 credits in the Art Pathway curriculum and 23 credits in the general education curriculum.
Transfer Information
With this transfer pathway, you will be able to transfer to the following majors at Minnesota State universities:
- Metropolitan State University: Studio Arts B.A.
- Minnesota State University Mankato:
- Minnesota State University Moorhead: Art B.A.
- Southwest Minnesota State University: Art: Studio Emphasis B.A.
- St. Cloud State University:
Learn more about Creative Crash and the Transfer Pathway A.F.A. in Art at Inver Hills by contacting:
Rob Kolomyski, MFA
Department Chair: Art, Music, Theatre
Painting and Drawing Faculty
Inver Hills College
651-450-3256
Admissions Team
651-450-3000
College Center
More about Music at Inver Hills…
The Music A.F.A. program at Inver Hills is ideal if you’re looking at earning an associate degree with the goal to transfer to a four-year school. If you love music and want to pursue a music career, our program will help you develop stronger technique and deepen your knowledge base. Our graduates have gone on to become professional performers, teachers, recording industry professionals and more.
The A.F.A. in Music also equips you with the professional knowledge and connections to make your way directly into the music industry.
Why study Music at Inver Hills?
Follow your musical dreams.
Our A.F.A. in Music is designed specifically for you if you plan on transferring to a four-year college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree in a music-related major. Completing your A.F.A. in Music at Inver Hills not only gives you valuable experience learning from accomplished musicians, but also allows you to fire up your Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with junior-year status.
Launch your career in the music industry.
Completing your A.F.A. in Music offers you a hands-on introduction into the music industry with opportunities to establish real connections with industry professionals. You’ll develop the skills, techniques, and know-how to find your niche in an astonishingly diverse world filled with successful songwriters, composers, singers, musicians, recording artists, music publishers and producers, audio engineers, promoters, and more.
Our faculty know and love music.
Our music instructors are passionate about teaching. They are music scholars as well as accomplished performers and composers who are exceptionally knowledgeable in their areas of expertise.
Dive deep into a vast ocean of music.
Your experience in our A.F.A. in Music program will give you a holistic perspective on music. You can take courses in music history, appreciation, theory, and business practices. You’ll also have opportunities to learn more about jazz, rock and roll, Broadway musicals, music in film, world music, and more.
Tune your musical mind in the real world.
The Music program’s Internship in Music Industry gives you hands-on experience working with cutting-edge music industry professionals and arts organizations. During your off-campus internship, you’ll be encouraged to develop both networking skills and industry expertise.
Master the instrument of your choice.
Whether you’ve chosen an instrument you already love to play or contemplating one you would love to learn to play, our Music department’s got you covered. We offer applied courses on strings, low and high brass, piano, guitar, percussion, woodwinds, and voice. If you have another instrument in mind, you can make arrangements with a faculty member to get started. We also offer a course on how to write song lyrics and music accompaniment.
Perform in ensembles with friends and fellow musicians.
You can join the Inver Hills Choir, Inver Hills Steel Drum Ensemble, or Inver Hills African Drum and Dance Ensemble and get experience performing in front of live audiences at college events. Are you a beginner or a musician with years of playing experience? Doesn’t matter—you can find a home in our music community.
Play your best in the best surroundings.
Our Music department is equipped with outstanding facilities that provide the acoustics, instruments, and technology you need to propel yourself forward. We offer dedicated practice rooms, a recording studio, an iMac music composition lab, piano lab, studio lesson spaces, and a large ensemble space. For even larger venues, we have the Black Box Theatre and the 300-seat Inver Hills Theatre.
Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.) in Music: 68 credits
The A.F.A. in Music gives you a strong foundation for transfer to a four-year school with junior-year status. The degree program also offers you opportunities for hands-on learning in the music industry, including an internship, while securing connections to industry experts and professionals that can lead to meaningful employment in the music field.
You will gain a holistic understanding of music by taking courses that explore all aspects of one of humankind’s greatest art forms, from history to theory to applied lessons and much more.
As a student in this A.F.A. program, you will complete the Music curriculum (20 credits), music electives (10 credits), Business and Economics coursework (8 credits), and general education coursework (30 credits) for a credit total of 68.
Transfer Information
The A.F.A. in Music program at Inver Hills is establishing articulation agreements with the following universities:
Learn more about the A.F.A. in Music at Inver Hills by contacting:
Andrew Martin, PhD
Music Faculty
651-450-3774
Admissions Team
651-450-3000
College Center
More about Theatre at Inver Hills…
The Theatre department at Inver Hills is on a mission. As a student in our program, you will learn we are driven to instill in you a lifelong appreciation for the theatre arts and film studies. Our curriculum will encourage you to develop your performance skills and capabilities.
Our faculty, students, and audiences love theatre for many reasons:
- Theatre emboldens self-expression.
- Theatre thrives on creativity.
- Theatre vitalizes empathy.
- Theatre is a great escape…if only for an hour or two.
- Theatre will make you laugh.
Theatre will make you cry. - Theatre tells you how it is.
Stella Adler, the renowned acting teacher, once said: “The theatre is a spiritual and social X-ray of its time. The theatre was created to tell people the truth about life and the social situation.”
Why study Theatre at Inver Hills?
Take your theatrical skills to the next stage.
The Transfer Pathway A.F.A. in Theatre offers you the powerful opportunity to complete your associate degree and then transfer with junior-year status to a Minnesota State university to pursue a baccalaureate degree in the theatre arts.
Confirm theory through practice.
Our Theatre department offers a wide variety of courses, both practical and theoretical, that will give you the experience and knowledge you need to harness your talent. You can begin by taking introductory film, cinema and theatre courses that teach you how to view and analyze performances. You can follow through by taking practicum courses that provide hands-on learning in essential theatrical areas.
Spark your magic acting in college plays.
Inver Hills features two venues ideally suited for live theatrical performances, the 300-seat Inver Hills Theatre and the more intimate Black Box Theatre. The former features three plays a year, including a children’s play in April for elementary school students. Our theatre students have worked on and performed in numerous college productions from Dracula to Jesus Christ Superstar to Aladdin to Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz.
Our faculty live and breathe theatre.
The instructors in our Theatre department bring strong academic credentials and professional experience to their curriculum. Many work on Twin Cities theatrical productions, directing and performing live. The theatrical world is the engine of their lives.
Join a community that lasts a lifetime.
Theatre at Inver Hills provides opportunities for both beginners and old hands, including the chance to participate in student-directed productions through Theatre Club. The sense of a shared purpose gives our department an exciting, interconnected atmosphere. Former students have gone on to become respected professional actors, designers, and theatrical managers in the Twin Cities metro area theatre community.
Transfer Pathway Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.) in Theatre: 60 credits
The Transfer Pathway A.F.A. in Theatre paves the way for you to transfer with junior-year status to a Minnesota State university to pursue a baccalaureate degree in the theatre arts.
As a student in this A.F.A. program, you’ll complete Theatre Pathway curriculum (20 credits), general electives (6–12 credits), and additional general education coursework (28–34 credits) for a credit total of 60.
Transfer Information
With this Theatre A.F.A. Transfer Pathway, you will be able to transfer as a junior to a theatre arts baccalaureate program at six Minnesota State universities:
- Metropolitan State University: Theatre B.A.
- Minnesota State University Mankato: Theatre B.A./B.S.
- Minnesota State University Moorhead: Theatre Arts B.A.
- Southwest Minnesota State University: Theatre Arts B.A.
- St. Cloud State University: Theatre B.A.
- Winona State University: Theatre B.A.
Learn more about the Transfer Pathway A.F.A. in Theatre at Inver Hills by contacting:
George Roesler, MFA
Theatre and Film Studies Faculty
651-450-3588
Admissions Team
651-450-3000
College Center