Students at the College of Visual Arts (CVA) in St. Paul, Minnesota, have just begun their final semester: The four-year school, which offers BFAs in fine arts, photography, illustration, fashion design, and graphic design, will close in June, Minnesota Public Radio reports. According to CVA president Ann Ledy the school was forced to close for lack of funds, particularly from charitable donations. “it takes many, many years as a fully accredited four-year college to establish the deep roots that attract donors,” she told MPR.
“Although CVA’s tuition is one of the lowest in the state,” Ledy noted in a statement yesterday, “students have found it more and more difficult to pay their way. With declining federal and state financial aid support, and the challenges surrounding private loans, students cannot afford the college of their dreams.”
Though the college experienced a 21 percent decline in enrollment in the past year, it currently serves 170 students. In addition to 29 full-time staff, 45 adjunct professors teach there. The institution was founded in 1924 in St. Paul’s Ramsey Hill neighborhood, became a four-year college in 1996, and gained full accreditation just two years ago.
Now its students are faced with having to switch schools in the midst of their studies. Those who would have been seniors in the fall will be enrolled at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) thanks to an agreement brokered by CVA’s vice president and general council Sue Short. The rest will have to apply for transfers, but MCAD admissions staff will take their circumstances strongly into consideration. “If they’re in good academic standing with CVA they will be accepted at MCAD,” Short said.
“We are saddened by the closing of CVA and what a loss it will be for the Twin Cities art and design community,” MCAD president Jay Coogan said in a statement. “MCAD stands ready to assist CVA students in finishing their educations and launching their creative careers.”
— Benjamin Sutton
(Image via College of Visual Arts/Facebook.)
Tags: Art school, Benjamin Sutton, College of Visual Arts, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, News
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It’s a very sad day indeed when an Art College has to close.
My grandfather and his brother grew up in St Paul, Minn. Both became well know artists in their time. My grandfather was Carl Bohnen and my grand uncle was Aloys Bohnen..Reading this causes me great grief. The worst part is, there is nothing I can do. At 76 and without a dime, I sit here and look at this wonderful building and pray loudly that some angel will hear my prayer. Carl, Are You Listening?
Nameste’, Marina Bohnen Pratt
It’s really sad. I went to CVA in 1982 (when is was The School of Associated Arts). My daughter is currently a student at CVA. What nobody is saying and seem to be ignoring is the fact that although MCAD is willing to make admissions exceptions for the CVA students to apply, they are not however waiving any tuition costs. If, as the President of CVA states, “students have found it more and more difficult to pay…” does anyone really think that the current students are going to have the ability to pay the higher tuition at MCAD? My daughter was accepted at MCAD as a freshman, but without any financial aid package. She chose CVA because it was a small, intimate setting in a beautiful neighborhood, AND CVA awarded her academic scholarships and a decent financial aid package. What is really sad is there will many students that will not be able to afford to go to MCAD, or any other art school for that matter. How many students will be forced to give up their dreams? Finally, what about the faculty? The faculty at CVA is made up of working artists, and now they are also casulties of the “economic downturn” as well. It’s sad for everyone.
My Father taught life drawing class back in the 1960s.
He spoke highly of the school .
His name was C.R. Zaccardi went by Zac Zaccardi.
Very sad to see this Collage close .