The short version: Arts House residents lead the Arts Society in its many programs and activities and work with other College entities to advance the fine and performing arts on campus. Arts Housers are chosen by application and interview.
What is the Arts House?
The Arts House is home to a group of students, selected through application and interview, who serve as the leadership for the Lafayette College Arts Society. Right now there are five Arts Houses: 623, 624, 626, 641, and 643 Parson(s) Street, behind the Williams Center for the Arts, housing a total of 15 students. (In 2017-18, we had a sixth house on Monroe Street; this extra house is not guaranteed from one year to the next.) The Arts House residents, as the steering committee for the Lafayette College Arts Society, are each required to chair or organize one Arts Society event or program per year (preferably once per semester). Arts House residents will also organize and administer Arts Society meetings; Arts Society officers will be elected from the group of residents. Arts Houses are gender-neutral, and are open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
What is the Arts Society?
The Lafayette College Arts Society, one of the largest and most active student groups on campus, works with the constituent organizations of the Williams Center for the Arts (Performance Series, Art Galleries and College Collection, Department of Music, Department of Art) and the Williams Arts Campus (Department of Theater, Film and Media Studies Program, Department of Art) to advance the presence of the fine and performing arts on campus. The society sponsors, presents, and manages regular, ongoing arts-related programs and activities, as well as special events open to all students, although members may be given discounts or other privileges as applicable. All members are expected to participate in Society activities, including fundraising, and to frequently attend performances and events presented by the constituent organizations of the Williams Center for the Arts and Williams Arts Campus.
The Arts Society, winner of the Hoff Award for Outstanding Cultural Group, is a recognized student organization of musicians, actors, visual artists, designers, dancers, directors, writers, filmmakers, avid performance-goers, and all the et cetera of enthusiastic, creative people. The whole group meets several times a semester in addition to getting together for programs and activities, which are open to all students (members may receive a discount or priority registration). The steering committee (Arts House residents) acts on behalf of the group to make and implement decisions and to work with the Williams Center administration. Each Arts House resident is required to chair or organize one Arts Society event or program per year. All residents are expected to participate actively in Arts Society events and programs.
A typical year of off-campus adventures might include
A typical year’s on-campus activities might include
How can I get to live in the Arts House?
Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or above and not actively be on any level of disciplinary probation nor have been on disciplinary probation Level II at any time during their Lafayette experience. You should review the off-campus housing study guide and complete the off-campus housing quiz, both available from Residence Life.
Complete the application form and email it to Allison Quensen Blatt, Arts Society adviser. Your application will be reviewed by a committee of WCA/WAC staffers and Arts Housers, and we’ll schedule interviews for selected applicants with the committee. We need to have all acceptances in hand and the roster sent to Residence Life in advance of the housing lottery.
What’s the fine print?
Students living in the Arts Houses pay Tier 4 off-campus housing rates (about $9,000 for the academic year) and must arrange for their own telephone, Internet, and cable television service. Arts House residents, in addition to signing the off-campus housing contract issued by the Office of Residence Life, which all Arts House residents must sign, must also sign an agreement detailing their responsibilities with the adviser of the Arts Society and successfully complete the off-campus quiz administered by Residence Life.
What do I do now?
You’ll find the application and agreement at the Arts Society’s OurCampus portal.
You’re also welcome to contact this year’s Arts Housers to ask about their experiences: