Why Study Art at Vermont State?
- Access to everything you need: As a Vermont State art student you will have access to studios for printmaking, painting, sculpture and ceramics, drawing and multi-purpose space, a photography darkroom, as well as a woodshop, welding area, carving benches, outdoor space for sculptural installations, and studio space specifically for art majors. Students also have access to a state-of-the-art computer lab for graphic design and digital photography.
- A professional portfolio: If you choose the B.F.A. path, you will establish a regular studio practice that will enable you to create a professional portfolio. Once you’ve graduated, you can carry that artistic discipline and career-ready work directly into a visual arts career.
- Become a teacher: Graduates can gain licensure to teach art in elementary and secondary schools when combining their art degree with additional coursework in education.
- Exhibit your work: Students exhibit their artwork in art centers around our campuses and will have ample opportunities to showcase work in local and regional galleries stretching from Rutland, Vt. to Boston and New York. Gallery shows provide opportunities for group and solo exhibitions of student work, including annual Senior Exhibitions.
- Professional knowledge: Learn the ins and outs of the professional art world by exploring a diverse array of career options, including exhibition venues, graduate school, and grant opportunities.
Concentrations in Fine Arts
Financial Aid for Fine Art Students
Vermont State University is providing a high-quality, affordable degree in Fine Art to students across Vermont and beyond. More than 80 percent of Vermont State students are awarded financial aid, including new students, transfer students, international students, out-of-state students, and first-generation students. Our financial aid team is here to help you explore all your options.
Internships & Opportunities for Fine Art Students
We offer several opportunities for you to build your CV and network within the art community through exhibitions, trips, internships, student-run events, and more.
- Students showcase their work at regional galleries such as The Castleton University Bank Gallery, the Christine Price Gallery, the Student Gallery on the Castleton Campus and the Visual Arts Center on the Johnson Campus.
- Our students frequently visit major cities to soak up arts and culture. You might travel to Boston or New York City for lessons in art history with your senior seminar.
- The Art Students League, a student organization, sponsors visiting artists, film series, studio visits, and collaborative projects as well as trips.
- Engaging with world-class art is within easy reach at venues such as the Hood Museum, Williams College Museum, Clark Museum, Mass MOCA, Middlebury College Museum, and Fleming Museum, to name a few.
- Vermont State Art students work as assistants for local and regional artists and intern in galleries, museums, art organizations, public relations firms, graphic design firms, and professional studios.
Degree Paths in Fine Art
B.A. Degree
The B.A. in Fine Art will give you a solid foundation within a community of creative faculty, staff, and peers who will help you hone your skills and learn to assess your work and express yourself. It even gives you the opportunity to simultaneously pursue a secondary degree in education, or continue your studies through the B.F.A. or M.F.A. level.
B.F.A. Degree
To enter the B.F.A. in Fine Art program, you’ll submit your portfolio of creative work. As a B.F.A. student, you’ll take on self-designed studio work and really flex your creative muscles while working in a small, tight-knit community of other artists and faculty. The program culminates in your thesis presentation, senior exhibition, and gallery talk.
Minors Available in the Fine Art Program
Interested in adding a minor to your degree program? See minors available in the Fine Art program below.
- Art History
- Fine Arts
- Photography
Student Stories
“The art program was the perfect environment for me to grow as a person and into my own as an artist and educator. Being part of a community art project was life-changing and helped me meet a lot of area artists.”
Kristen Partesi, ‘12
