Youth Community Art
Classes in San Antonio

(SAN ANTONIO) — UTSA Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE) has named Dr. Marie-Claire Valdez as the new director of Young Artist Programs for Community Art, where she will lead programming that fosters creativity and artistic skills for more than 2,000 young artists annually.

“Our youth art programs have become a beloved part of the San Antonio community, thanks to our incredible faculty and dedicated staff,” said Dr. Melissa Mahan, associate vice provost for Academic Innovation. “In her new role, Marie-Claire will not only uphold the traditions that have made this program so successful but also create new opportunities to engage our community, foster artistic expression for all ages, and enrich the vibrant cultural heritage of our city.”

“My passion is building programming for people who are differently abled and making art readily accessible to them,” she explained. "I’m ready to reach out and work with various organizations, taking everything I love about this place—the amazing programming—and expanding it into new venues and emerging pathways."

As director, Dr. Valdez is eager to introduce and expand initiatives within UTSA's Young Artist Programs. Inspired by her personal experiences with disability and having been a former volunteer and teaching artist at Southwest School of Art, now UTSA Southwest.

Collaboration is the cornerstone of Valdez's plans, as she expands connections between UTSA Southwest and the UTSA Colleges of Liberal and Fine Arts (COLFA) and Education and Human Development (COEHD).

Valdez expressed her enthusiasm for enhancing offerings for aspiring art educators, focusing on pre-service educators, and creating opportunities for clinical teaching experience and youth engagement.

Valdez's vision for Young Artist Programs resonates with a belief in the transformative power of art.

"Art is honestly the most important thing in the world and the more we can share that and create community around art and support each other through the arts,” she said. “That’s where big transformation happens.”

Marie-Claire brings extensive experience and a deep passion for arts education to her role, a journey that began during high school when she volunteered at the Southwest School of Art.

Guided by mentors and her dedication to the arts, Marie-Claire Valdez pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts in mixed media and educational methods at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from Trinity University. She then continued her academic career at the University of North Texas where she earned her Ph.D. in Art Education. Throughout her journey, she maintained strong ties with the Southwest School of Art, frequently returning as an instructor. While reflecting on her new role at UTSA, Valdez expressed that it feels surreal and an incredible blessing to return and work here.

Community members interested in supporting or learning more about the Young Artist Programs at UTSA PaCE can get involved by visiting the UTSA PaCE website or contacting the program directly. Your engagement can help sustain and grow these impactful programs, ensuring that the arts continue to thrive and transform lives in our community.