Art school can be a wonderful place if you’re trying to find your voice and your style and your taste.
-Abbi Jacobson
Whether you’ve dreamt of being an artist since you were young, or you only recently became enamored with Caravaggio’s use of light, Banksy’s illicit contour drawings, or any number of the fascinating ways that art conveys the inarticulable in our world, attending an art program can be the first step toward becoming an artist.
But first, you have to decide whether to attend an art program at a traditional university or an art school. A university provides the opportunity for a wide range of studies (from science to language to mathematics) in addition to art, whereas art schools are dedicated almost exclusively to artistic practice, theory and technique. For many aspiring artists, especially those still uncertain about their path as an artist, this can be a daunting and confusing decision. The most important factors to consider when choosing which type of program to attend are your current experience with art and your desire for your future. See Post 3 for a deeper dive into factors to consider when applying to either type of undergraduate art program.
Art school, which we cover in Posts 4 and 5, provides a rigorous atmosphere that supports self-exploration, develops a critical eye, teaches technique, and emphasizes the development of an artistic practice. Artistic practice is what sustains a working artist. It is the repeated and daily exercise of being an artist and of making art. Everyone’s practice looks different, but art school is where you discover what works best for you – your creative process – and begin to implement it.
On the other hand, a BFA or major in studio art at a traditional university, which we cover in Posts 6 & 7, will immerse you in a wide variety of experiences and subjects. Sometimes this is a more useful setting for those still deliberating about their future as an artist or those who are just beginning their exploratory journey. Having an array of inputs from areas outside of art can help you come up with ideas and spark creativity. You might even discover that you prefer another subject. Receiving your degree from a university allows you to pursue art alongside other disciplines, choosing a minor or a double major for example. A university is also a great place to connect with other academically oriented artists and potentially gain teaching experience with your minor (UCLA, for example, offers students a Visual & Performing Arts Education minor), if that’s something you’re interested in pursuing after graduation.
Yet another option is combination programs, which we cover in Post 8. These exciting and unique programs allow students to graduate with two degrees: one in art and one in another subject. In combination programs, you can experience the best of both worlds. For example, the unparalleled art program at RISD combines with the highly regarded Brown University to provide students with both an art school degree and a university degree, if they so desire. Similarly, the School of Museum of Fine Art teams with Tufts University to create a rigorous and prestigious dual degree program, which we feature in Post 8. Like a traditional university art program, a combination degree program can set you up for more career options upon graduation.
If you are certain that you want a future as a working artist and you’re seeking a specialized focus on technique and theory, then an art school might be the best choice for you. In our post on the country’s top art schools, we cover the ins and outs of schools like Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), or Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), which are rigorous in their dedication to students’ thorough understanding of artistic practice and its practical application in daily life. In other words, they are serious about the business of actually being an artist.
In an interview with the New York Times, multidisciplinary artist, Mariko Mori, said of her time in art school, “When you’re in the art school environment, you have time to look at yourself, to build your confidence, to be nurtured by other artists and talk with them about your work sincerely.” This is the goal of any good art school – to take your natural talents and inclinations, as well as your opinions about the world, and help you shape it all into a singular artistic style.
For some, though, such a rigid focus on art can feel claustrophobic or too limiting. Universities offer the safety net of academic exploration while also honing your skills as an artist. Where an art school’s entire four year program is dedicated to artistic study and practice, BFA programs require a smaller percentage of your four years to be dedicated to art – often around half to two-thirds – while the rest of your time is spent studying a variety of other subjects. This is particularly true if you choose to add a non-art-related minor or double major, or if you attend a combination program, as we mentioned above.
Ultimately, whether you attend a university or an art school, art education is essential for every artist, as is the community you make in the process. According to the renowned American postmodern painter, David Salle, “It’s where you meet practicing artists, and also where you come into contact with other aspiring artists of your generation, some of whom will form your cohort in the art world.”
The college admissions process can be overwhelming, and it may feel difficult to know where to start. At Collegiate Gateway, we are eager to share our expertise and guide you on your admissions strategy and the path to your “best fit” college. Please feel free to contact us! As always, we’re happy to help!
