Fine art, theater and music are much more at Oakton College than just academic programs within the Fine Arts area of interest. The arts permeate our campus community, making Oakton a cultural hub in the area for Chicago-based artists. Our thriving cultural scene is bolstered by the diverse students in our Fine Arts programs and provides entertainment and opportunities for enrichment for the community.
We invite you to explore the Koehnline Museum of Art, with its vast permanent collection and frequently scheduled exhibitions of special collections. Take in a show at the Performing Arts Center; our vibrant performing arts community includes actors, singers, jazz musicians and a group of talented pianists. The art scene you’ll find here is nothing like what you’d expect from a traditional community college; it’s a pulsing heartbeat at the center of Oakton’s campus.
The Koehnline Museum of Art
The Koehnline Museum of Art on our Des Plaines campus houses a permanent collection featuring artwork by world-famous artists like Salvador Dali, Alexander Calder and many more. Check out our current exhibition and see what collections will be coming to the museum next. We proudly belong to the American Association of Museums, Illinois Association of Museums, and the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries. As a cultural hub on our campus, the Koehnline Museum of Art offers students and our community opportunities to academically explore the fine arts and participate in regular events not often found at community colleges.
Explore the Collections
The Performing Arts Center
As a home base for our music and theater programs, our contemporary Performing Arts Center provides the very best educational opportunities to our students taking courses in the performing arts. But Oakton's Performing Arts Center is more than a hub for our art students; it is a cultural touchstone in the area. Our state-of-art stage has proudly hosted musicians, poets, playwrights and more from all over the world. See the current schedule of events, attend a show or concert, and learn how you can work and play at the Performing Arts Center.
Enjoy the Performance
Study the Arts at Oakton
Learn more about Oakton's Fine, Performing and Applied Arts academic area of interest. Discover new creative possibilities and explore available courses and academic opportunities.
Fine, Performing and Applied Arts
Unique Opportunities and Events
Oakton's involvement in the greater Chicago area's art community affords a special opportunity for our students to gain knowledge and experience from exclusive sources. You won't want to miss the Chicago Writers' Series –a special program in Oakton's Department of English–which brings acclaimed authors and poets to campus for readings and discussions hosted in the Performing Arts Center.
The Music Department features various student ensembles, from the internationally acclaimed Six Piano Ensemble to the Jazz Band, Choir, String and Guitar Ensembles. In addition to frequent performances at Oakton, the College's music groups have performed at such venues as Carnegie Hall and Chicago's Civic Opera House.
