The Art Guild of Southeast Missouri State University is making changes, following some introspective surveys, in hopes of gaining more student involvement.

One of the next steps is reaching out to the community with events outside of Southeast such as working with the Art Council of Southeast Missouri.

Art Guild, a student organization, is a group for art enthusiasts looking to collectively better themselves by pursuing interests in the arts.

Thomas Hall, the vice president of the Art Guild, said that one of the changes that they have considered is an "emissary" to classes to inform people about the organization.

The surveys demonstrated a need to appeal to a wider audience and inform less experienced students on the opportunities that Art Guild provides.

"People that we were targeting were some of the newer kids -- some freshmen, a little bit of the sophomores," Hall said.

Hall said some of Art Guild's current members are not art majors. There was a significant portion of surveyed students that wanted to see more specialized representation of their art disciplines as well, such as speakers that are experienced in pottery.

"Not many people as a freshman know what they want to do right off the bat. However, it makes it a little easier because, say, we want to get a visiting artist or we want to have somebody in that field come down, we can actually pull some of our funds together," Hall said.

Hall made it clear that the issue is directing the Art Guild's resources. The fresh goal of Art Guild is to expand on community involvement after gaining more members.

"Art Guild can only survive if there's people there," Hall said. "Ultimately, yeah, we are an organization that's built around art, but we wouldn't mind having the musicians or the dance people or the theater people come in and have a say in what we do, too."

Joshua Newth, a faculty adviser to the group, echoed this sentiment.

"I think we want the students to develop it each individual semester to allow it to morph to what the students expect it and want it to be -- something that could benefit them but also the university as a whole," Newth said. "But I think the most important thing about Art Guild is that students learn what it means to work in or outside of the classroom, to set up exhibitions, to work with individuals that come from diverse backgrounds, to work on their resume in general."

Hall gave an estimate of five active members within the Art Guild. Art Guild may have to charge for future events in order to fund activities that go beyond the Southeast campus.

"We are thinking about doing more outside art events like going to artist talks that might be held off campus," Hall said.

Regardless of what they do, Art Guild tries to maintain an emphasis on individual growth.

"It's kind of up in the air, but mostly we are an organization to help promote yourself," Hall said.

Art Guild is in the process of putting together a Halloween event called "Haunted River Campus," which is set to be held at the Southeast River Campus on Oct. 30. The event incorporates some of the central disciplines outside of graphic art.

"Some of these ideas include a haunted art gallery, which plays on the fact that people go to an art gallery look at an image, stare at it for a little bit and move on. What we're thinking about is incorporating some of the dance members to get in there space a little bit-something creepy," Hall said.

They may do a photoshoot to liven the mood as well.

From dancers that scare to musicians that set the score, they intend to create an event that has something for everybody. Art students will have a chance to showcase their work, and they plan to have pumpkin carving or smearing fake blood.

The event is a part of the effort to branch out.

"The only expectation I have, personally, and this is my first year being a part of Art Guild, is the hope that they expand, the hope that they grow their numbers and can expand beyond the visual arts," Newth said.

The Halloween event is projected to cost $1 per ticket. The Art Guild meets at 7 p.m. Wednesdays in the Serena building.