School Of Visual Arts

SVA was born of change. Founded in 1947, just as television and computers were being introduced, SVA has responded to innovation, both in art and technology, from its earliest days.

Originally the Cartoonists & Illustrators School, the institution expanded its curriculum in the 1950s to include Humanities and Sciences, Advertising, Photography and Fine Art, and became the School of Visual Arts — no longer a single-purpose trade school, but an art college with the mandate to educate artists in a variety of disciplines.

Since then, we have consistently stayed ahead of students’ needs with many innovative new programs; among them are Television Art (now Broadcast Design), Film and Video, Animation, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Art Therapy, and Computer Art.

One of the main reasons we are so in tune with the times is our faculty. All faculty members are working professionals with thriving careers in the visual arts. They keep us in touch with what is going on in the real world, what the current thinking is in each discipline, and what skills employers are looking for in graduates.

SVA has always been receptive to change and innovation in the interest of fostering creativity and risk-taking. Now in our sixth decade, we remain committed to staying on the cutting edge of thinking and teaching.