About
School of Visual Arts
has been a leader in the education of artists, designers and creative professionals for more than seven decades.
With a faculty of distinguished working professionals, dynamic curriculum and an emphasis on critical thinking, SVA is a catalyst for innovation and social responsibility.
over
1,100
faculty
educating
7,000
students
throughout
30
programs
to join our
43,000+
alumni
Mission
Values
CITIZENSHIP
We recognize that communication is the cornerstone of community. Accessible leadership and minimal hierarchy breed a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
We value our differences. An SVA education is informed by multiple approaches to learning and making, and by the presence of diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, perspectives and experiences.
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
The freedom to take risks is vital to art-making and arts education. We celebrate divergent opinions as participants in the world’s largest community of creative professionals.
PROFESSIONALISM AND INTEGRITY
We believe in accountability. As we adapt and innovate, our institutional commitment to ethical conduct, community service and outreach and financial responsibility remains steadfast.
James Jean (BFA 2001 Illustration)
ALUMNI
Frank Ockenfels 3 (BFA 1983 Photography)
SVA has graduated
more than 43,000
artists, designers,
writers, filmmakers,
photographers and
other creative
professionals.
Their work can be found in the collections of the world’s leading museums, including The Museum of Modern Art and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Future
SVA was established by co-founders Silas H. Rhodes and Burne Hogarth in 1947, as the Cartoonists and Illustrators School.
The school began with three teachers and 35 students, most of whom were World War II veterans who had a substantial part of their tuition underwritten by the
G.I. Bill.
The college was renamed the School of Visual Arts in 1956. The first degrees
were offered in 1972, and by 1983, the college had introduced its first graduate offering,
a master of Fine Arts in painting, drawing and sculpture.
