Program areas at NYAA
Master of fine arts - the master of fine arts program at the Academy offers sequential courses that provide extraordinary instruction in painting, drawing and sculpture. Students at the Academy proceed through the sequence of courses developing their skills and their knowledge of Art history and contemporary discourse, simultaneously. Instruction at the Academy is provided by some of the most prominent leaders of the contemporary figurative and representational Art world. Class size is limited and contact with instructors is direct with technical demonstrations and active critical discourse. Graduates of the Academy are uniquely capable of applying the lessons of Art history to contemporary artmaking, guaranteeing that technically rich and conceptually aware Art will continue to flourish.
The New York Academy of Art's exhibition and events program promote the Academy's community and support students, alumni, and faculty by providing exhibition and career development opportunities, creating occasions to engage with donors, collectors, and the general public. Both departments raise funds for scholarships, educational programming and general operating, and these departments also increase the audience and enhance the profile of the school. The Academy's events/exhibitions team is responsible for the creative and budgetary production of nearly 50 unique and noteworthy special events, exhibitions, and cultivation-related projects from concept through completion. The Academy's events and programs include major Art fairs, exhibition openings, gatherings for patrons, collectors, dealers, drawing parties to further cultivate higher-profile artists and New donors, our annual holiday party, and two major fundraising events deck the wall and take home a nude.
The continuing education program at the Academy offers the opportunity to study painting, drawing and sculpture to individuals not interested in pursuing a master of fine arts degree or hoping to build the skills needed to successfully apply to our graduate program. Learning to draw, paint or sculpt in the studio of a master artist is a time-honored tradition through which knowledge and skills are passed from generation to generation. The "atelier" of the Academy is a continuing education program that offers the serious student and passionate beginner an opportunity to study with accomplished artists. Here, students acquire the skills necessary to invest their work with sound draftsmanship, convincing technique and visual authority. The continuing education program offers classes during the weekdays and evenings, as well as during the day on saturday and sunday. Classes average 11 students. All classes are instructed. Average total enrollment per semester for all classes is 300 students. The Academy servces on average 1600 students each year. Typical classes meet once a week for 3 hours. Fall and spring semesters are 12 weeks in length. Summer semester is 10 weeks in length.