COCA (Center of Creative Arts)

No matter your age or skill level, COCA has a place for you! Visit the link below to join us for the Fall semester. Not sure where to start? Contact our registration office to learn more. https://bit.ly/4p86ugm

Our Princess Sea Party brought fairy tale dreams to life with an afternoon of fun, imagination, and ocean-inspired magic before COCA’s performance of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. From smiles and sparkles to mermaid-worthy memories, this special event was the perfect way to make a splash. Thanks to everyone who celebrated with us and special thank you to COCA Board member, Carolyn Brown, for hosting! 💙🧜‍♀️👑

Disney’s The Little Mermaid is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

Our COCA alumni network is stronger than ever. ❤️

Thank you to all the alumni who returned for our Alumni Reunion to reconnect, reflect, and celebrate the creative journeys that began here at COCA. It was inspiring to hear stories spanning decades and see the many ways our alumni continue to make an impact in the arts and beyond. We are grateful to everyone who joined us and look forward to continuing these connections for years to come.

COCA’s Allegro performers bring the energy as they prepare for the St Louis CITY SC Tina Turner tribute night on Saturday, Aug. 22! Every seat in the house is Simply the Best.
Tickets available at https://www.stlcitysc.com/tickets/theme-nights/2026/

St. Louis City SC's Tina Turner Tribute The tribute night will be held on Saturday, Aug. 22 featuring a performance from COCA students

(3/13) 𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡’𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢? 𝐷𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑙𝑦 𝑜𝑟 ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢?

“The hardest part is finding a way to fund your practice and your life because making art takes so much time, resources, and labor. Then you have to promote yourself. You have to wear all these hats all the time. So how do you manage all these things? And a big complaint my artist friends and I have is that we don’t have time to actually make our art. We spend so much time trying to get opportunities and applying to things, and when we get them, that’s great. But dealing with all the logistics can be tricky. So, for me, it’s a little frustrating thinking about how much time I’m really making art. It doesn’t feel like that much. But, you know, it’s part of the game. When I was in school, in this bubble, I was making art all the time. Once I got out, it was like, ‘F**k. I have to make money doing this.’ Most artists I know have two jobs and then squeeze in bits of time to make art. The questions are, ‘How do you build that ratio of doing other work to fund your practice? And then how do you reverse that so the practice is funding your life?’

I found that murals and commissions are the easiest ways to make a living from my work. Because people intrinsically understand there’s a lot of labor and cost in mural making. People see the public good in beautifying a space with art, especially if it’s outside or in a commercial space. In school, students are asking, ‘How do I make a living being an artist?’ But schools rarely teach that. In part because so many professors primarily make their living in academia. That’s where they get their paycheck, which then opens up their lives to do art in the time they find. Back in the day, being a professor was a good deal, though. You’d maybe teach one or two classes, then you had the rest of the time to make art. But now, my friends who are adjuncts have to teach four or five classes a week just to get by. So academia is becoming less of a good deal for artists. Plus, there are only so many galleries that show art. I have friends with gallery representation who sell their paintings or sculptures. But there are a very limited number of spaces and opportunities. So if you can’t get into the gallery system, what do you do? You have to find another way. With a combination of public and private commissions, I can kind of cobble together a living.”

Edo Rosenblith

Don't forget to nominate an outstanding COCA Teaching Artist for the Lee Nolting Students First Award! 🏆

This annual award recognizes a teaching artist who embodies Lee Nolting's lasting legacy of putting students first. The recipient will be honored at FLAME, COCA's celebration for the Richard Baron Leadership Circle.

💻 Submit your nomination today: https://bit.ly/3yEOBzX, nominations close AUG 17 at 11:59PM!

🕸️STUDENTS: Don't miss out on $5 tickets!
Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis and COCA are teaming up for a fully inclusive presentation of The Addams Family: Young@Part®. Get your tickets today at https://bit.ly/4oOLxac !

🌟COCA Summer Musical Presenting Sponsor is Mary Strauss. COCApresents Season Presenting Sponsors are Amy, Sacha, & Gray Lefton.

The Addams Family: Young@Part® is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide. 1180 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 640, New York, NY 10036. www.theatricalrights.com

Nurture your budding artist and register for fall classes today! Sign up for Fall 2026 and Winter/Spring 2027 today. Sliding scale scholarships are available.
There’s No Place Like COCA!

https://bit.ly/4p86ugm