Welcome to 'The Rita!'

Welcome to the electronic gateway to the region's new 'hub' for creativity and culture - the incredible new Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for Arts and Humanities!

'The Rita' officially opened in spectacular fashion in January 2012 and has already welcomed thousands of campus and communities members to many of the over 300 cultural events and performances featured in our 2012 Year of the Arts and Humanities at UW-Parkside. Truly, the Rita and the newly-created College of Arts and Humanities are alive and thriving with creativity and cultural opportunities!

Through the Rita and the College of Arts and Humanities, UW-Parkside continues to build upon our excellent reputation as a regional educational leader and community partner for the arts and humanities, supporting and promoting academic and artistic programs that contribute to the cultural vitality and economic growth of Southeastern Wisconsin and Northeastern Illinois.

Inspired by our shared campus and community vision, each and every day we strive to create and sustain vibrant and dynamic academic and artistic programs through a regional center for the arts and humanities that promotes educational achievement, artistic expression, community engagement, and economic vitality between the campus and diverse region we serve.

If you've not yet visited the Rita to attend a concert, art exhibit, performance, cultural presentation, or class in the arts and humanities, we invite you to do so soon! We look forward to welcoming you to our incredible new cultural home!

Enthusiastically,





Dr. Dean Yohnk, Ph.D.
Founding Dean and Professor
UW-Parkside College of Arts and Humanities