Center for Visual Arts

The Center for Visual Arts offers students a four-year sequenced program of study in art disciplines. Students develop their style in Ceramics, Computer Art, Drawing/Painting, Jewelry and Fiber Arts, Traditional Photography, Digital Photography or Sculpture. Students work with local and national artists, museum and gallery programs, and participate in field trips to create works of art and exhibit their work.  Students graduating the Visual Arts program explore careers in art, complete for scholarships and grants, and apply for placement in college art programs throughout the United States.  

 

Why Study Art & Design?

ARTS MEAN BUSINESS
The Creative Industries are arts businesses that range from nonprofit museums, symphonies, and theaters to for-profit film, architecture, and design companies. A 2015 analysis of Dun & Bradstreet data counts 702,771 BUSINESSES in the U.S. involved in the creation or distribution of the arts that employ 2.9 MILLION PEOPLE—representing 3.9 percent of all businesses and 1.9 percent of all employees.

ARTS STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMY
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that the arts and culture sector is a $699 BILLION industry (2012), which represents 4.3 PERCENT of the nation’s GDP—a larger share of the economy than transportation and agriculture. The nonprofit arts industry alone generates $135 BILLION in economic activity annually (spending by organizations and their audiences) that supports 4.1 MILLION JOBS and generates $22.3 BILLION in government revenue.

ARTS ARE AN EXPORT INDUSTRY
U.S. exports of arts goods (e.g., movies, paintings, jewelry) grew to $75 billion in 2012, while imports were just $27 billion —an arts trade SURPLUS OF $47 BILLION.

ARTS SPARK CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION
The Conference Board reports that creativity is among the top five applied skills sought by business leaders—with 72 PERCENT saying creativity is of high importance when hiring. The biggest creativity indicator? A college arts degree. The Ready to Innovate report concludes, “The arts—music, creative writing, drawing, dance—provide skills sought by employers of the 3rd millennium.” Nobel laureates in the sciences are 17 TIMES MORE LIKELY to be actively engaged in the arts than other scientists.

http://www.americansforthearts.org/