Art Academy of Cincinnati needs your support to thrive | Opinion

The sudden closure of Philadelphia’s University of the Arts comes as a shock. Just six months ago, the oldest art school in the country, Philadelphia Academy of Fine Art also announced it would cease to exist as an accredited college. These events have left Philadelphia and the surrounding region reeling. The City Center has been anchored by the dynamic presence of these schools for more than two centuries. Moreover, Philadelphia’s reputation as one of the country’s leaders in art education and the creative cultural economy is now in jeopardy.

I served as director of the Graduate MFA Program at UArts from 2009-2012, and the closure of this beloved institution has hit me on a deeply personal level. Only a city like Cincinnati could have inspired me to leave Philadelphia and relocate my family on a leap of faith. Cincinnati's commitment to the arts, equity and access to education drew us here in 2012, and its creative community has welcomed us with open arms ever since.

Unfortunately, our country has witnessed the closure of several prominent art colleges throughout the past decade. The reasons for these closures reflect a myriad of factors affecting higher education today.

Those of us who have committed our careers to the advancement of art education remain steadfast in our belief that Independent Art and Design schools deserve and require the support of our communities now more than ever as they continue to provide essential, high-quality college degrees to creative students of all backgrounds.

The Art Academy of Cincinnati has been a key creative catalyst in our region for 150 years. Our graduates have gone on to create work that imbues our everyday lives with a sense of civic pride and collective identity. Our alumni put Cincinnati on the map with work featured in art history books, prominent museums and public spaces worldwide.

Our faculty, staff, students and alumni contribute significantly to the region’s economic impact. Their work is featured at large-scale events, including Blink and FotoFocus, and their entrepreneurial spirit graces the street-level businesses that make Cincinnati unique and vibrant. Truly, the foundation of creativity in Cincinnati is rooted in the Art Academy’s tremendous legacy in this region.

As a city, we have the opportunity to keep our art school protected and thriving, but we need the community’s continued support. The Art Academy has recently completed a strategic plan that sets a course for continued sustainability and growth. It addresses the headwinds facing higher education, and it keeps us focused on our mission to deliver a transformative educational experience to aspiring creative professionals.

The long and beautiful story of the Art Academy of Cincinnati continues. We continue to ask for much-needed support to strengthen our plans for sustainability as we prepare to celebrate 20 years in Over-the-Rhine and plan for a bright future.

I invite all who believe in the power of creativity to visit the Art Academy of Cincinnati, so we can show you why our cherished institution deserves your continued support for the betterment of our students, our city and the world.

Joseph Girandola is president of the Art Academy of Cincinnati