ACADEMICS ADMISSIONS STUDENTS FACULTY ALUMNI ABOUT COVID-19 EXPLORE APPLY About > About SVA About Overview History Leadership Annual Events Strategic Plan SVA Archives Working at SVA 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 31 PROGRAMS TO JOIN OUR 40,000 ALUMNI OUR MISSION To educate future generations of artists, designers and creative professionals. core 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 E X P R E S S I O N 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 notable ALUMNI Frank Ockenfels 3 BFA 1983 Photography SVA has graduated more than 40,000 artists, designers, writers, filmmakers, photographers and other creative professionals. Among them are Academy-Award winners, Emmy-Award winners, Grammy winners, MacArthur Fellows and Guggenheim Fellows. 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. HISTORY & 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. HISTORY STRATEGIC PLAN PRESS ROOM School of Visual Arts 209 East 23rd Street New York, NY 10010 212.592.2000 Jump In Apply Working @ SVA Hire SVA Talent Reach Out Contact & Map Request Info Visit Connect Events Subscribe Donate Accessibility Notice Policies & Guidelines Colophon