The School of Visual Arts (SVA) is a place where every creative person can find something new and interesting for themselves. The faculty and the community around you will help you discover your strengths and guide you on the right creative path. Read more on newyorkski.info.
More than 1,100 artists, critics, curators, designers, directors, photographers, writers, and other creative professionals teach students daily, sharing their experience and ideas.
SVA boasts a rich history of producing some of the most influential and renowned artists and designers of our time. Its alumni include luminaries like Keith Haring, Elizabeth Diller, and Milton Glaser—people whose creative contributions have left a significant mark on the art world. This legacy of artistic excellence inspires the current and future generations of SVA students.
One of the greatest advantages of SVA is the diversity of its programs, which cover a wide range of artistic disciplines. Whether a person is passionate about fine arts, graphic design, film, animation, or any other visual medium, SVA offers a curriculum designed to spark imagination and provide the skills necessary to thrive in their chosen field.
Find out more about the school, its founding, and its departments in the material below.
History of the School’s Founding
The School of Visual Arts was founded by Silas Rhodes and Burne Hogarth in 1947 as the School of Cartoonists and Illustrators. From the very beginning, the faculty was small, with just three instructors teaching 35 students, most of whom were World War II veterans whose tuition was largely paid for by the U.S. government.
In 1956, the institution was renamed the School of Visual Arts, and it awarded its first diplomas in 1972. In 1983, a Master of Fine Arts degree was introduced in painting, printmaking, and sculpture.
The school’s current logo was created in 1997 by George Tscherny for its 50th anniversary and was updated in 2013.
In 2024, the school was honored with the name “SVA Way” at the intersection of 23rd Street and 3rd Avenue in recognition of its institutional presence in the area since 1960.
SVA’s Majors
The School of Visual Arts offers aspiring students many creative majors. For example, you can study advertising, branding, animation, or art therapy. If your heart desires even more creativity, you’ll find majors related to filmmaking, such as directing, fine arts, illustration, photography, video, and related media.
In addition to the above, SVA also offers admission to the departments of computer art, computer animation and visual effects, and design for social innovation.
School Locations
The School of Visual Arts has several buildings in the Gramercy Park area on the East Side of Manhattan and in the Chelsea neighborhood on the West Side. There is also a student dormitory on Ludlow Street in the Lower East Side. From 1994 to 1997, SVA had a branch campus in Savannah, Georgia, but it was closed after a lawsuit from the Savannah College of Art and Design.
SVA’s Mission and Core Values
The school’s primary goal is to educate creative individuals who will contribute to cultural and social change while upholding the school’s values and achieving their professional goals. In support of this mission, the college is committed to providing students with high-standard education through an active and purpose-driven curriculum.
The school also recruits and fosters a fully inclusive community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
Another SVA value is encouraging discovery, experimentation, and the realization of bold concepts that challenge all other traditions.
Students at SVA are never bored, as the school hosts countless events every year that create lasting memories. Ensuring a vibrant student life is one of SVA’s missions. For example, the school holds an annual Accepted Students Day.
Event attendees can meet with students from other departments, alumni, and faculty. During the day, students can visit other SVA buildings and dormitories, and they also have the opportunity to consult with representatives from admissions, financial aid, housing, career development, and more. It is also possible to complete the enrollment process and register for classes.
The next event is the SVA Talent Show. The SVA Talent Show is a way for students, faculty, parents, and industry professionals to view the numerous end-of-year exhibitions and events that showcase the work of SVA graduates.
In addition to exhibitions, events include industry reviews, portfolio reviews, and thesis presentations and screenings.
There is also “SVA Premieres”—an annual industry event that showcases the talents of the school’s graduates in animation, film, and visual effects. Over two evenings, an exclusive selection of work from SVA’s best and brightest directors and artists is screened.
The screenings are preceded by a welcome reception and followed by a dessert and champagne reception, allowing graduates to meet with industry insiders invited to the event. Additionally, SVA invites its alumni to visit local studios, including Disney Television Animation, Netflix, and Amazon Studios, so they can network with professionals and other SVA alumni.
