Why Art Schools Keep Closing

Art schools keep closing, and I was way too intimately tangled in their web. So let’s discuss. To be clear, this video isn't anti-college. My college education was valueable and gave me meaning in life. This video is meant to question the runaway train of tuition costs at private art schools, and how curriculum should change to better support students outside the traditional "Art World" You can critique something and at the same time want it to be better. Expecting more is an act of love. NOTE: I didn’t mention this explicitly in the video, but there are amazing online programs for learning art outside of traditional institutions like Warrior Art Camp, Penn Studio School, and many others under the umbrella of Ateliers! Also, you can affordably learn directly from artists (like me!) through their courses, retreats, and downloads. ✨SUPPORT MY WORK✨ Explore my website https://melmitchelljackson.com/ Learn with me, explore Creative Retreats: https://melmitchelljackson.com/book-a-retreat Snag my DIY Creative Retreat Zine turned PDF! https://melmitchelljackson.com/diy-creative-retreat INPRNT Shop https://www.inprnt.com/gallery/jackmitchmel/ ✨LET'S CONNECT✨ SUBSTACK https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com FREE DISCORD https://discord.gg/qZTUxQ24J7 BLUESKY https://bsky.app/profile/melmitchelljackson.bsky.social ✨INSPIRATION & RESOURCES FOR THIS VID✨: Why Are Art Schools Closing? by James Gurney https://substack.com/home/post/p-146578451 Student Loans Calculator: https://smartasset.com/student-loans/student-loan-calculator#kuuuyUs2Z6 The unacceptable actions surrounding the closure of University of the Arts: https://www.onstageblog.com/editorials/2024/6/1/the-unacceptable-actions-surrounding-the-closure-of-university-of-the-arts Enrollment Declines Threaten Small, Independent Art Colleges https://www.insidehighered.com/news/institutions/specialized-colleges/2024/04/08/enrollment-declines-threaten-small-independent MOMA Layoffs in 2020: https://hyperallergic.com/551571/moma-educator-contracts/ How to Read International Art English: https://hyperallergic.com/55500/how-to-read-international-art-english/ vbg9o0jm ✨CHAPTERS✨: 0:00 Intro 0:23 Defining Art School and the Closures 1:41 The Tuition is Too Damn High 6:25 The Math isn’t Mathing 9:26 I learned NOTHING about Business 10:00 Art World Delusion 12:50 I Drank the Kool-Aid and I Failed 16:07 My Contagious Delusion 19:51 “Is there an audience for my work?” 21:18 Stop Teaching How to “Art World” 24:44 Funding Disconnect 27:00 The Cliff 28:43 SO… What Now?! 32:38 A DOSE OF HOPE 🎹 Like the music in the background? It’s by my amazing partner Wesley Jackson. I used clips of his instrumental work in this video. Wes is working on finalizing a new record right now but check out his archive of great stuff. 🎶 Check out his music on Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/artist/lentil-famine/1458078142 And on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/3gLfWigabS5K7lu1CXYDpA