Why more and more kids are looking for art schools

Indeed, in recent years there has been an increase in the number of art-oriented schools. And this is due in large part to the growing interest in different and new artistic facets, and to the demand for specialized educational programs”, confirms Cecilia Raville, a visual arts teacher at SG High School in Los Angeles, where enrollment grows year after year.

in fact registrations there mark an increase of 78 percent in the last decade. Its students come from 21 other states in the country and four Latin American countries, they boast of being 100% admitted to universities in the field. “Many educational institutions constitute the importance of art in the integral development of students and have achieved the inclusion of art-related programs and courses in their curricula. But these schools and programs provide a more complete and accessible training in visual and performing arts”, adds Nadia Alexander from the Walnut School in NY.

And everything is marked by a growing culture and entertainment industry: Technological advances have given rise to new forms of art, such as digital art, virtual reality and animation, areas where the search for human resources is constant, which has led to the appearance of specialized schools in these emerging areas.

If Fine Arts (including painting, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, and photography), graphic design, fashion design, and architecture were already careers with a highly sought-after artistic vein, the last decade has seen an explosion in enrollments in Performing Arts (theatre, dance and music are the new queens, even in high schools too), Cinema and Audiovisual Production, and Animation (for 3D animation, visual effects and character design in for video games or series).

“Without a doubt, art has gained greater recognition and value in today’s society. Your ability to convey unique ideas, emotions, and perspectives is valued. And thanks to the internet, young people have broader access to different forms of art. they can discover and explore different artistic disciplineswhich marks an awakening to study them”, argues Raville.

And in Argentina, which already had fine arts schools (such as the Prilidiano Pueyrredón and the Manuel Belgrano National School of Fine Arts), Music Conservatories (the Carlos López Buchardo and the Manuel de Falla Superior Conservatory of Music), Film Schools (the FUC and ENERC), in addition to the Design Schools of the UBA and UP, Dozens of art-oriented secondary schools are now addedwith a strong presence of theatre, acting and music.

“The school I go to has an artistic orientation that is growing a lot. In the kindergarten and primary years, the artistic part is more focused on set up of the concerts in English, traditional Spanish acts and also has tap classes. But then, in high school, specialized groups are set up for kids who want to delve into actingand even two years ago he joined the International Baccalaureate program, the specialty of Theater ”, explains Josephine Binaghi.

An aspiring adolescent actress and singer, like many other young people, she set her course through local references in teen and children’s entertainment, such as cris morena. “At the age of 7 I felt that I didn’t want my extracurricular activity to be playing hockey like my three sisters, but something more artistic. I told my parents and they took me to a musical comedy school, and I had a bad experience. My uncle who knows more about the genre got my dad to take me to the school of Nora Moseinco. And then I added guitar classes, dance and intensive acting courses in Buenos Aires and London. In 2021 I entered Otro Mundo, Cris Morena’s school. I would spend 24 hours a day there to study theatre, act and read”, says Josefina.

And his case is repeated in so many others. Education specialists find several for the phenomenon. Among them the influence of successful artists boosted by social networks, which has inspired many young people to pursue an artistic education. Role models that proves that it is possible to be successful and achieve recognition in the field of art. Especially since the internet facilitated the projection of their own work, where young actors and actresses, and musicians of all genres, managed to make the leap to the big leagues based on followers, but without the filter of producers and record companies.

“I think that the networks are an excellent channel for each one to make themselves known, to connect with people they have never met and to provide information quickly and dynamically. Watching IG or Tiktok learning a lot too since the access to information about art that one can find there is impressive”, supports the young actress.

“As the creative and cultural industries expand, more career opportunities are being created in art-related fieldssuch as graphic design, illustration, animation, fashion and advertising. Young people can see art as a viable and exciting career path”, says Benjamin Floria, from the Escuela de Artes Creativas de México.

“I know it’s a tough environment, with a lot of competition, but at the end of the day, if I manage to be a mega star or a low actress, I will be doing what I like and that is priceless. I dream of participating in big productions, but not for fame but for being able to work with the best”, says Josefina.

“Art provides a form of self-expression and empowerment. Young people can use art to communicate their ideas and perspectives, express their identity and find their own voice in an increasingly complex world”, Raville concludes about the benefits of an artistic education, which endorses the boom in schools in the field.

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by RN