Community School of the Arts

About the Community School of the Arts

The Community School of the Arts (CSA) has a long history of providing community based programs to the greater Mansfield area. The CSA began as the Community Music School (later renamed the Community School of the Arts) at the University of Connecticut (UConn). UConn administered the program for over 35 years, primarily at it's Depot Campus in Storrs. In 2014 the University partnered with Mansfield Parks and Recreation to continue offering an array of high quality instruction in the arts. 2016 marked a new era for the CSA, as Mansfield Parks and Recreation began to independently administer the CSA program. The program maintained operations out of several facilities including UConn's Music Building, the Mansfield Community Center, and E.O. Smith High School.

The fall of 2019 marks a very special time for the Community School of the Arts with the opening of Lenard Hall; new home to music, visual arts, and performance instruction in Mansfield. Through the generosity of principal donors John and Jean Lenard, and others including the Jeffrey P. Ossen Family Foundation, the Lenard Hall facility was made possible. Mansfield Parks & Recreation is eager to continue to grow the program in this new location by expanding on program offerings on a regular basis.

Participants can be reassured that Mansfield Parks and Recreation remains committed to providing high quality instruction and facilities to individuals partaking in CSA programs. The core mission of CSA will not change. CSA will continue to offer students of all ages and ability levels with professional, affordable instruction in the performing and visual arts. Mansfield Parks and Recreation has retained the services of many instructors who have been teaching with the CSA under UConn and will continue to employ highly qualified professionals, many whom have already achieved or are actively pursuing advanced level degrees in Fine Arts at the University of Connecticut. We look forward to serving you with the CSA and other invite you to explore the numerous other recreation and leisure services provided by the Town of Mansfield. 

To request the scheduling of individual lessons please click here and fill out the request form. Forms must be printed and submitted to the Mansfield Community Center or Lenard Hall Reception desks.

For additional Private Lesson information, please click here.

For information on our Suzuki guitar program, please click here.

For instructor biographies, please click here.

For information on our upcoming Winter 2020 programs, lessons, and classes click here.

For information about the Nutcracker Production, click here.

Registration for activities is available online here.