Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts

CECA brings both emerging and prominent artists from around the nation to Clarksville each year to present concerts and lectures, work directly with students in master classes and workshops, and introduce innovative ways of making or exploring art. All events offered by CECA are open to the community unless otherwise advertised.

CECA offers over 100 events per year featuring more than 75 guest artists

Click here to visit the Events Calendar

Since 1985, the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts (CECA, or "seek-ah") has been providing students, the Clarksville community, and the middle Tennessee region with engaging experiences through the Art + Design, Music, Theatre & Dance, and Creative Writing programs at APSU.

Students work with professor in art classroom

CECA offers experiences in the creative arts year round

From inspiring visiting artist lectures to impressive performances, CECA has something for everyone. All events offered by CECA are free and open to the community unless otherwise advertised.

Events Calendar

Creative Arts Departments at Austin Peay

CECA provides students with access to professional-level artists and arts experiences as well as internships that prepare them for the workplace or graduate school. In addition, CECA provides the talented faculty of the arts departments at APSU with research opportunities to enhance their professional growth.

Department of Art and Design

APSU's art & design program offers studies in drawing, digital media, graphic design, illustration, painting, photography, ceramics, printmaking, sculpture, and art education.

Creative Writing minor

As one of the university's largest departments, Languages and Literature offers students small classes and a diverse, experienced faculty including many award-winning teachers.

Student plays with ensemble in Mabry concert hall

Department of Music

The Austin Peay State University Department of Music is an active and highly-visible component of the Clarksville Community. Composed of approximately 180 music majors and 32 full-time and adjunct faculty, the Department of Music is the largest producer of cultural events in the Clarksville area.

Department of Theatre and Dance

Theatre and Dance at Austin Peay offers a world-renowned department, in a state-of-the-art facility, fostering artists, scholars and professionals who positively impact our world.

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Austin Peay This Week: Environmental artist Eliza Evans to perform 'Time Machine' outside Art + Design building

On Earth Day, April 22, environmental artist Eliza Evans will be on campus from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. to perform a reiteration of her piece Time Machine, a duration and interactive work where she will spend several hours “living” in a mass-produced greenhouse on the lawn of the Arts Quad.

Happening tonight: APSU's David Walker joins virtual discussion 'Conversations on Design & Race'

Austin Peay State University's David Jon Walker is one of 12 graphic design educators of color included in a new book titled "Black, Brown + Latinx Design Educators: Conversations on Design and Race." A series of events - including one tonight - is helping to bring the book's educators to the public eye.

APSU Department of Art + Design celebrates student work with 53rd Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition

The Department of Art + Design is celebrating the end of the 2020-21 academic year with the 53rd Annual Juried Student Exhibition. The professionally juried exhibition opened in The New Gallery on April 5 and runs through April 28. There will be a reception + awards ceremony on April 28, via Zoom beginning at 5:30 p.m. All are invited to attend.