Modern art is constantly shifting and transforming its own boundaries. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, in our rapidly changing world, art is no longer exclusively defined - or constrained - by its historical categories. Yet despite, or perhaps because of this, today's education of tomorrow's artists must address, with a renewed commitment, the challenge of tradition. It must involve both the development of specialist creative skills relevant to contemporary art making, and the critical examination of the fundamental principles of art and its context.

The Program
Watkins' Department of Fine Art meets the demand of contemporary art education through dedicated specialized teaching, coupled with a strong commitment to close collaboration with the Departments of Photography, Graphic Design, Film and Interior Design.  Additionally, the General Education program is designed with the artist in mind, focusing on how the student and the discipline fit in historically, culturally and ethically into the global arena.  The goal is to reflect the diversity of current artistic practices and to promote an active exchange of academic and technical expertise.

The richness of the educational opportunities in the Department is paralleled by the College's contacts with other institutions and with the professional community of artists and scholars. This, in turn, encourages a sophisticated, searching and far-reaching application of creative skills, informed and underpinned by awareness of a wide range of critical approaches and attitudes.

The broad aims of the B.F.A. in Fine Arts degree are: to offer students an enriching and intensive education which will enable them to apply their skills with confidence as artists and creative people; to provide students with relevant technical, intellectual and interpersonal skills, both within and across the specialist subjects; to facilitate an understanding of fine art, its practice and its theory, in philosophical, critical and social contexts, both contemporary and historical; to foster the originality of individual vision and the ability to express it; to cultivate a very high degree of visual literacy and awareness, coupled with an ability to formulate ideas in speech and in the written word.

Art History
All students in the Department of Fine Arts are required to take a substantial and thorough series of art history courses. These courses include a strong foundation in traditional art history, as well as extensive additional study in Modern and Contemporary art periods.

The art history courses have been developed to meet the unique goals and needs of the College and Watkins students. Each course is designed with emphasis on the relationship between forms and ideas integrated within a specific cultural context. The goal is to structure curriculum to give students an understanding of the complex social, political, personal and ideological circumstances that give rise to artworks throughout history, so that they may apply this learning to their own life and work.

Links with the Community
The Department of Fine Arts has many links with the community, and students are encouraged to take part in community activities and projects where this is deemed to be educationally desirable. Students are also encouraged to participate in exhibitions or, where appropriate, undertake commissions. Student placements in or exchanges with other institutions occur regularly.

Career Opportunities in Fine Arts
The Department of Fine Arts places great emphasis on providing students with the skills and information that enable them to enter the world as confident professionals. Students are thoroughly instructed and tested in resume, proposal, and artist statement writing; opportunity research; and written and oral presentation.

Fine Arts provides a liberal education leading to a wide range of opportunities. Graduates in Fine Arts may choose to continue their studies and seek the Master of Fine Arts degree at any one of many outstanding programs around the country. Others apply their creative skills and experience to posts with public bodies such as museums, galleries, and art organizations. Some graduates will wish to engage in the vital and rewarding profession of teaching art and design. However, the courses cater largely to those who intend, quite simply, to practice their art, participating in exhibitions and gradually establishing a reputation. Many recent graduates have achieved outstanding success, and their work is represented in exhibitions, collections, and publications both locally and nationally.

To request more information about our Fine Arts program fill out our request form.