How would you go about finding the best art school for your needs? by Tahlia Lil

If you intend on making a living out of it, it is probably advisable to pursue extensive training in your craft. You may be talented and have a great portfolio but work in the art world is highly competitive and to have a degree tells people that you also have aptitude for theory. A degree will also ensure that you have learned from those who have made a living from art before.

Should you wish to learn art for your own enjoyment, a degree may not be necessary. It may be helpful however to get some learning on the particular areas of art where you feel you are most drawn. This way, you can learn the vocabulary, the techniques and the medium which will further enhance your experience of it. There is no use in learning painting when you really enjoy making sculptures.

Essentially, art school is about the knowledge you will gain and the techniques you learn, not so much about the qualification itself.

Some more questions to consider are the following:

Does the school you are considering have the course that you need. If so, will that course enable you to pursue the art direction that you want? Does that institution have the right accreditation to enable you to attain the certification requirements for licensing you practice?

Are you able to avail time and financial resources to your education? Will you have to study or full-time or are there part-time options? If you have to study full-time, how will you pay for your studies? Most institutions have scholarships and financial aid programs to make access easier for students who can’t pay their own fees and study at the same time. It would be great to find finance for all your years of study so you have to be prepared to achieve above-average grades every year.

What reputation does that institution’s art school hold in the art world?

Is the campus and its students inspiring for what you want to study? Is the campus in a small town or a big city? Which of these is better suited to you?

Will you be starting afresh at the school or will your portfolio be recognised at prior experience? How long a college experience is you looking for?

Who will be teaching you? It’s a good idea to do research on the institution’s staff to see what they’ve published, where they studied and how well regarded they are by their peers. It’s sometimes helpful in your CV to state that you studied under a highly esteemed academic. It also gives you an indication of the standard of education you can expect from that art school.

What is the size of the classes? A small class means that you may have more personalised attention from the lecturer which may be very good for your progress. But a class too small may deprive you of the opportunity to interact with other students who are at your level.

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