UPDATED 09/24- important question for all current & upcoming art students

[citrusfrukt]

I would really like to know how you are going to decide who gets in as well.
Until now i've been thinking of applying to the Florence Academy of arts, however, reading about this whole thing has given me doubts though, seeing as this kind of education seems nothing short of perfect for me.

[Jason Manley]

Just keep drawing and painting and when the school is announced soon you will have your options.

It is of note that there is not a capacity problem. This is a full program with a host of instructors and enough bandwidth to take on the major art schools head to head...the only difference is we are offering a complete program with the deepest professional and creative connections on the planet...not to mention all the other things like being as low as a third of the cost of the big schools.

We know what we are doing. The instructors involved have been doing this a long time and for once, the faculty are going to run the show instead of some board of who to do's that care more about business than education. The simple fact is 90 percent of students going to art school fail at really making a significant contribution to the art world. It does not have to be that way. Students are not cash cows and the language of art is something that will be shared in its entirety.



Jason

Indeed, that sounds good at least in principle.

I just hope we will still have individual assignments with specific duedates. If we didn't, wouldn't it be hard to have periodic critiques, because a big chunk of the class isn't done yet, and another chunk has totally moved on?



But if there are no entrance portfolios, how are you going to decide who gets in?
I ask because it appears that the number of people interested at least seems to outweigh the capacity of the school, (at least the capacity I would be guessing at).

I'd just really hate to be at the mercy of random chance when it comes to whether I can get in, especially if I work my arse off on a good portfolio.

I mean, I suppose a portfolio will be needed in order to bypass the foundation section, so in that case it will be like an entrance requirement... I find comfort in that, at least.

[Jason Manley]

Looks good, I've been following this thread for quite a while now.
Jason, when you say it is a program where everyone can follow at his own pace, does it means that, for instance, person A can finish it in 2 years, whereas person B can finish it in 5? Because a "at your own pace" program sounds cool (not to disadvantage both skilled and beginners), but hard to put in place.


We will have more info soon. Currently the program is designed at 30 months and will be handled in a way that keeps the students who are slower to understand from being passed out of it for no reason. We are going to have a fast pace but slow enough for even the talented beginners to leave with a fully professional portfolio. We are are all disgusted with the state of art education in the big private schools, and so are most if not all of the students. We are going to solve that. That much I am sure of, after mind boggling the instructor list that is coming. Yum!

[Wanna]

Wow, looks just great. thanks Jason
it is true private art school are abusing their prices and all. I'm in one right now, and it costs me more than 10k a year. I'd love to cut that down for my parents sake.
This whole thing would just be too good to be true

[Jason Manley]

10k a year is a very fair price if you have good teachers. the top art schools are charging 100-120k for tuition on average for the full program. 40k is where full education would be considered more than a decent price as most schools would not even break even at that tuition price. If you check the Ringling tax returns you can see the cost of their program vs. profits and they couldnt even operate at 40k for the four years. Same goes for SCAD, Art Center etc...priced to operate fairly is fine...priced to gouge students is another. 120k is gouging students. It is not cheap to run an art school. That does not mean that it should be super expensive and put students into indentured servitude. I would say any art school with a decent program that is under 50k for the four years is fair, given that your education is going to make you a load of money and opportunity if you work hard to nail it down and it costs a LOT to run an art school. When it approaches 100k or more it is obscene...and offensively unfortunate. Honestly, I think when it is that high it has a negative impact on art history, and that is one of the biggest problems of all. The language of art should not be limited to only the rich.


Jason

[Wanna]

Let's just say I'm lucky. Our US campus reaches 100k+ for 4 years. The Singapore campus is cheaper due to exchange rate. But it's still 110k Sing dollars for the whole program. It's not cheap that's one thing.But i know there are more expensive school than mine, and those are going too far. They are basing their price on their reputation and not their craft and knowledge. SAD.

[Zirngibism]

Wow, sounds bigger than I thought! (I guess I assumed you would start small).

And I can't wait to see the instructor list!



Anyway, thanks for the continuous info updates.

[Raúl.Arbeloa]

There has to be a lot of students for which would be very interesting getting financial aid or kind of scholarship.

[Jalc]

I know this would be for usa obviously but i think its a brilliant idea no degree could offer you proffesional advice and development in key areas.
Financial aid is a must even for collages in general due to expences etc.
But if this went through my by god id be applying and moving over to us quicker than you can say fruitpastels!lol

[Alisa]

How can you learn art online?

[citrusfrukt]

I know this would be for usa obviously but i think its a brilliant idea no degree could offer you proffesional advice and development in key areas.
Financial aid is a must even for collages in general due to expences etc.
But if this went through my by god id be applying and moving over to us quicker than you can say fruitpastels!lol

Why would it be for USA only when it's online?

[ROCKNROLLA]

Can't wait for the instructor list! But I think the deciding factor for me will be the school's real world components. Can you leak anymore info on this? :)

Also Jason are you going to be doing any instructing? I must say that your color theory and composition classes were some of the best artistic experiences I have had.

[Beavotron]

when this happens i will be applying and hopefully leaving my university art program.
it sounds like the absolute perfect program that i've been waiting for :)

[Dose206]

I don't know if this has already been said but the lack of a degree will be prohibitive for US veterans going to school with the GI Bill. Certainly other financial aid is great but the thought of absolutely not having to pay or repay a dime for school is too good to be passed up. I'm sure you boys (and wonderful ladies) have taken onto deep consideration the pros and cons if not having to become accredited but I can't help but point out the veteran's plight.

[EccoXile]

Yes. Please.

The only immediate downside I see right now is not having daily in person interactions, and not having a degree. Both I am sure are made up for, but both I currently have from ringling.

But anything that is half the price of ringling and would give me (a better) education and jump start into the industry, I wouldn't care about financial aid and scholarships...because half my education was in loans! I would dive into the same insane amount of loans if I had to, espcially if the venture is what we should expect from CA, invalueable.

Of course, saying I could afford it right now is laughable as I get to pay off those loans! But I would love to see other people benefit from an online program like this instead of money sucking private schools.

[Polina]

Oh that sounds so exciting. Besides no interactions with others, which i see for myself as a problem. Online classes are great but i really like going on campus and interacting with other students and faculty. But i guess the whole fact that it is online cuts down the costs, no?
Also i am planning on taking an Classical or Painting and Drawing Atelier at Gage Academy of Art for next few years (since Classical is a four year Atelier program and Painting and Drawing is two years but i have not decided for which i should apply) i will probably be ready with my drawing skills by the time the program has started. Is conceptart.org Atelier will be part of the program? Because i think it would be a wonderful add on to those who want to develop even further. How hard is it to get accepted into conceptart.org Atelier? Since i am planning to live in Seattle for few more years i figured Gage is the next best thing.
I am fairly new here so i hope this is not a repetitive question.

[Jason Manley]

It is going to be a hybrid program where students study on site at points during the year, with all key faculty in person...imagine the CA workshop for weeks straight, multiple times per year and a full online program to keep the students growing and moving forward...with the whole thing about a third of the price of the big art schools offering about ten percent of the information the soon to be announced instructor group has.

More info to come soon.


Jason

[breistift]

Thanks for the update! I have two questions:
Do you know when you're going to accept applications? (approximately)
How often would students have to be on site?

[Taven]

Psst, it says it was last updated 9/24, or September, instead of 10/24, or October.

Also, this does sound like an incredible program.

--Taven