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The Creative Student's Guide to Atlanta Art Education and Careers

...for students of art, design, fashion design, photography, film/video, advertising, interior design and other creative fields.

Visit our Complete Directory of
Atlanta Art Schools and Art Colleges

by C.J. Gustafson
ArtSchools.com Contributing Writer

Atlanta Art Schools Founded in 1837, Atlanta has grown from its beginnings as a railroad town into a center of culture and commerce, sometimes referred to as the "New York of the South." The Atlanta metropolitan area (made up of the city itself and over 100 suburbs) is the 10th largest in the United States, with over 3.8 million residents. The city includes at least 19 art schools and departments, numerous art museums and galleries, and is the home of Stone Mountain -- which features the largest bas-relief carving ever made. It also has wonderful buildings in a variety of classic styles that are of interest to those pursuing architecture careers.

Dance to Your Own Drummer

Like many other southern cities, Atlanta is known for its graciousness and hospitality, but there also is a vibrant pulse of energy and culture that underlies life in this major U.S. metropolis. According to David Dombrosky, Contemporary Arts Manager at the Southern Arts Federation, Atlanta is different because it provides more opportunities for individual tastes and expression. "Some cities thrust their pace of life upon you," he explained. "Atlanta allows you to choose which drummer you'll dance to." This atmosphere is very welcoming to artists who are often more original and creative in their approach to life.

Arts Education

The city offers a broad range of arts schools to accommodate those seeking visual arts careers and degrees. The Atlanta College of Art (ACA) is the Southeast's oldest private college geared toward art and design students. ACA shares its campus with the High Museum of Art, and offers public programs through the ACA Gallery. The Art Institute of Atlanta and Bauder College also have programs specifically created for those students interested in graphic design careers, fashion careers, architecture, and other art fields.

Atlanta Art Student The American Intercontinental University, Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)- College of Architecture, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Art Department, Spelman College, Art Department and Georgia State University's School of Art and Design are four-year colleges that offer a less specialized range of schooling. These programs allow students to attend more traditional schools while still focusing on visual arts degrees working towards advertising careers, art and art history, web design and numerous other areas of the visual arts.

The Portfolio Center, Atlanta Artists Center Classes and Workshops, Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, Crazy Moon Art Room and Ichiyo Art Center (which focuses on Japanese art) all offer classes and workshops in a variety of areas that appeal to students interested in visual arts. A sampling of classes includes general art, painting, ceramics and workshops for those interested in photography careers.

Atlanta - Fine Art In general, annual tuition for Atlanta's visual arts degree programs ranges from around $4000 at public facilities to over $16,000 at the private arts schools. A variety of financial aid options are available. Most campuses offer housing, and some include meals. Costs for off-campus housing start at about $475 per month for a shared house or apartment. Workshop, certificate and non-degreed programs are less expensive but still afford students the hands-on art experience.

Other Arts Resources

In addition to a wide range of educational opportunities, Atlanta boasts many groups and organizations geared to artists. From umbrella groups designed to benefit all artists and bring their work to the public eye, to collections of artists in a variety of niches, there is a support network to fit each artist's style and vision. For example, as the name implies, a pARTicular group of women is comprised of women artists living around metro Atlanta, and the Underground Art Project is described as "…the core of the new creative reactor fueled by those with street vision, unbridled talent, and passion for media as expression."

Atlanta's large number of galleries and studios provide entertainment and career options that appeal to visual arts students. As Mr. Dombrosky noted, one can take in a van Gogh exhibit at the High Museum of Art, go gallery-hopping during the monthly Downtown ArtCrawl, or intern with Art Papers, an arts publication based in Atlanta.

The Arts in Atlanta website contains extensive lists of artists associations, events, and educational and employment opportunities. The site also links to the Arts in Atlanta cable TV show.

Atlanta is a large, fast-paced city that serves as the cultural hub of the Southeast. In addition to warm weather and Southern hospitality, this New York of the South has many other facets that appeal to students of the visual arts.

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