Academy of Art University, Private art school in South of Market district, San Francisco, United States.
The Academy of Art University is a private art school in the South of Market district of San Francisco that occupies numerous buildings throughout the downtown area. The institution offers programs in fine arts, design, fashion, and digital media, with degrees available at the associate, bachelor's, and master's levels.
Richard S. Stephens founded the school in 1929 as the Academy of Advertising Art, training professionals for the advertising industry. Over the following decades, the curriculum expanded to cover all creative fields, turning it into one of the largest private art schools in the country.
The school changed its name in 2004 and remains a place where creative work happens across studios, from fashion workshops to animation labs. Students complete their assignments in real city spaces and turn course projects into shows and public presentations.
The buildings sit scattered across the downtown area, so visitors should check locations before planning a tour. The institution also offers online courses that allow access without being physically present.
The institution owns over 200 historic cars displayed in its own automobile museum. Since 2005, the school has also presented student fashion designs during New York Fashion Week.
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