Art Schools in California
Hollywood. Sun. Do these words ring any bells for you? Well, it should, if you are thinking about California, where art sustains life and life imitates art. After all, the Golden Gate Bridge is not “golden” for no reason. The state is a breeding ground for all different types of artists, from animators to makeup artists who pack up and leave for the West for new opportunities, just like the men who were keen to strike gold in the mid-19th century, and like those aspiring actors and actresses who lined up in offices struggling to get parts in glamour-making Hollywood. To match these dreams and make them happen, the art schools in California are providing some of the best education in the nation and beyond. Indeed, California art schools are what every aspiring artist should consider.
First of all, California itself is an education haven. The California Community Colleges System (CCCS) is the largest post-secondary education system in the world, with over 2.5 million students enrolled. Meanwhile the California State University (CSU) system is the largest university system in the United States and comprises of over 400,000 students. Phew, talk about immensity. Of course, the two-year institutions of the CCCS offer up to Associates’ degrees, so the four-year state universities would be ideal for those seeking Bachelor’s degrees. The four-year studies system is also offered by the University of California (UC) system, which consists of the some of the most-acclaimed research universities in the world. Private universities are also abundant, the most prominent being Stanford University and the University of Southern California (USC). These latter types tend to be more expensive, but if you’re a California resident, be thankful, because the overseas and out-of-state students have to pay a lot more. On a brighter note, all of these colleges operate under various financial aid programs, so consider doing some thorough research.
Now we’ve talked about the general institutions which offer solid art classes and majors. However, if what you’re looking for are specialized art colleges, there’s no need to fear. The state of California practically overflows with those. The California Art Institute, commonly referred to as CalArts, is one of them, and here is some good news for students weak in the academic arena: they neither look at your GPA, nor your SAT scores! Instead, they judge you based on your art, whether it be architecture or fashion. If you can whip up an impressive portfolio, you’re in! And speaking of impressive, it’s certainly not surprising that 3 of the top 5 graduate programs in film take place right in the heart of Hollywood, or just a few miles away. The aforementioned University of Southern California, with its School of Cinema-Television, is located in Los Angeles, as well as the University of California – Los Angeles, whose title is self-explanatory. The other prestigious program is the one offered by the American Film Institute (AFI) Conservatory, which is built on the grounds of Griffith Park in Hollywood. Filmmakers, make the most of it. You can’t get any higher! If not filmmaking, there’s always room for cinematography, graphic design, animation, blah, blah, blah. You name it, you get it. There’s a golden state for ya.