Welcome

While contributing to the cultural enrichment of the University community, the Art Department promotes the creative development of students whose interests and talents lead them toward careers in the visual arts, fashion design and fashion merchandising. The art and fashion curricula are designed to encourage intellectual and perceptual growth as well as to develop marketable skills. Students may select from programs in general studio art or advertising design in the visual arts. Fashion students follow courses of study that concentrate in either fashion design or fashion merchandising. In addition to offering degree programs, The Art Department also sponsors visiting artists, designers, art directors and fashion industry professionals.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Art Department is threefold. Elements of the mission include: 1) to prepare students for career-oriented experiences; 2) to foster a sensibility for the varieties of human expression in the visual arts; and 3) to be specifically concerned with visual expression in African-American culture.

By addressing ourselves to these themes, we are responding to students who are continually more assertive in taking their places in American society. CAU students want a part in the dynamic and ever-changing international world. Their roles in society, and our responsibility for preparing them for their roles, are not structured by the prevailing corporate culture. By a respect for, and appreciation of African and African-American accomplishments, our students are poised to serve as teacher and role model in a quickly changing multicultural workforce.

The majority of our students express interests in career-related concentrations and degree programs. We do not, however, lose sight of our perceived need to offer more traditional fine art content as well. Students will develop an appreciation of fine art forms and design as an expression of personal and social experience. We believe our strength is in combining a thorough foundation in the liberal and fine arts with practical career skills to prepare a complete graduate.

Vision

The Art Department at Clark Atlanta University will provide the requisite experiences to nurture a predominantly African-American student body with the skills and sophistication to become key players in the fields of design/advertising and fashion design/merchandising. Through established partnerships with University departments and professional businesses and organizations, students will receive state-of-the-art content tailored to their areas of concentration. Finally, we are dedicated to promoting positive and lifelong learning experiences.