LUX Center for the Arts is Lincoln's community arts center, providing vital resources for the visual arts in Nebraska.
Arts Education
LUX offers year-round classes for all ages in ceramics, painting, drawing, glass, mixed media, and more. Last year, nearly 400 classes and workshops reached about 3,000 people, with 800 children ages 5-15 participating in summer camps.
Ceramics Program
Our expanded ceramics program includes wheel throwing, hand building, glaze techniques, slip casting, and an array of intermediate and advanced classes. We added Lincoln's only publicly available gas-fired kiln and are planning a new ceramics facility on the LUX campus to meet growing demand.
Diverse Artistic Disciplines
The LUX remains committed to offering diverse artistic disciplines in our classrooms – including printmaking, metalsmithing, and more – by adapting to the evolving interests of our community. New printmaking fellowships and partnerships with artists like Printmaker Karen Kunc at Constellation Studios extend our reach.
Artists-in-Residence
Our Artists-in-Residence program brings four emerging artists to Lincoln annually, offering them studio space, materials, and solo exhibitions in exchange for teaching classes. This program enriches our community with diverse talent and reinforces LUX’s commitment to quality instruction.
Outreach
Our outreach progams expand our community impact. The LUX has retooled our 14-year-old United Way outreach program to four Title 1 after-school programs through small group trauma-informed mentoring. The LUX has collaborated regularly with community organizations, offering bilingual classes with El Centro de las Americas, art programs with Hope Spoke, LPS’ Family Literacy program, Big Brothers and Sisters, Mourning Hope, and also providing classes to St. Elizabeth’s cancer survivors group.
Fellowship Opportunities
At the LUX, we believe fostering talent at every level. Our work-exchange fellowships for ceramic and printmaking students create a nurturing environment for artists to thrive and share knowledge.
Exhibition Programs
The LUX holds a sterling reputation as a place to view and experience challenging, stimulating art. Visitors can view for FREE up to 30 exhibitions annually across five galleries, showcasing professional, community, and student art, including the LUX Print Collection.
Community-Wide Arts Activities
LUX remains active in the community by participating in and organizing festivals, including the Emerge LNK Mural Festival and Winterfest, bringing the joys of art to everyone in our community.
Public Art Projects
In August 2021, we invited national, international and local artists to create seven new murals and one temporary art installation, encouraging people outside to look anew at University Place and see how art can be transformative in their own lives. Since then, our bank of murals has grown to ten and provide a perfect backdrop for the newly formed and state approved Uni Place Creative District, the first creative district in Lincoln. This designation allows the LUX and its partners to bring even more arts activities to University Place – expect more murals, more music, more theatre, and more creative businesses. These efforts intend to revitalize and strengthen 48th Street and the diverse neighborhood surrounding the LUX.
