Meeting artists, making connections, seeing works-of-art firsthand I’ve only been able to study in books and presentations. Through these experiences, we can exact our entrepreneurial skills to plan and make our careers happen.
Gaelin Craighead, MFA Studio Art Class of 2016
Did you know? FSU’s MFA Program in Studio Art is rated #1 in the state of Florida.
This degree includes focus on career preparation. In addition to mastering our craft, we coordinate exhibitions, teach undergraduate courses, and much more. Our culminating Professional Practice course focuses on rigorous self-evaluation tools to ensure that we thrive in an increasingly complex world after graduation. These tools include how to present work to curators and gallerists, grant seeking and writing, exhibition protocol and other ins and outs of the art world.
Our graduate students have two group opportunities to expand their reach beyond Tallahassee, FL to two of America’s great art meccas – New York City and Miami.
FSU Arts Takes the Big Apple
In mid-October, the MFA Studio Art Class of 2017 will travel to New York City to steep ourselves in one of the world's most preeminent cities for arts and culture, as part of our coursework in Professional Practices.
FSU @ Art Basel Miami
Art Basel - and its many satellite fairs - showcases work from the most significant figures in contemporary art, as well the new generation of emerging stars, represented by leading international galleries. Students may also have the opportunity to exhibit their own work in the satellite fair Aqua, as many did in Fall 2015.
These educational experiences include:
- Visits to professional working artist’s studios
- Guided tours and meetings at major museums and galleries.
- Networking socials with FSU Fine Arts alums
What do these trips mean to you?
Contemporary artists of today are only successful when they are trained to facilitate their careers as creatives, and these trips are a stepping-stone for just that - to help shape our abilities to be the creative problem solvers [contemporary artists] need to be.
Elise Thompson, MFA Studio Art Class of 2016
I had read about and researched Philip Guston for many years. He has been an enormous influence on my maturation as an artist and it was an overwhelming experience to finally see one of his paintings in person [when I visited Art Basel in 2015].
Nathan Hendrickson, Class of 2018
In addition to traveling to Art Basel Miami in Fall 2015, we organized an exhibition at Aqua [a satellite fair] from start to finish, which was an incredible amount of work, but also provided priceless, first-hand experience in a highly active and respected art fair.
Michelle Eccles, Class of 2017
This is a unique opportunity for us to create a lasting relationship with the Fair [Art Basel Miami] for ourselves and for FSU.
Lauren Baker, Class of 2018
Your gift will make these priceless trips possible and prepare FSU graduate students with the tools and experience necessary for our futures as professional artists.
About FSU’s MFA Studio Art Program
The Master of Fine Arts degree is considered to be a terminal academic degree for studio artists and is required for most College and University teaching positions. The Department of Art M.F.A. curriculum offers students the discipline, training and artistic understanding required for life as a practicing artist and professional. It is designed to develop the student’s capabilities for creative thinking and a sense of open inquiry, together with a thorough awareness of the multiplicity of new and traditional principles. Such capabilities may further enable an artist to make a valuable contribution as a professional artist, designer, art instructor, arts administrator, museum staff, gallery owner or other related creative professional. Graduate students are chosen on the basis of artistic accomplishment and potential, evidence of conscientious work habits and sense of commitment.