Paier College of Art
Paier College of Art (visited 10/12/16)
One of the art displays
Paier (pronounced like the fruit “pear”) is a very small art college located in New Haven. It only offers 5 majors, all housed in about 3 buildings. This allows students to get highly specialized education and an amazing hands-on preparation for a career in the arts or an arts-related field. They offer Fine Art, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Photography, and Illustration. Students in most majors take a common foundation studying color, drawing, and composition. The idea is that they need to draw on a range of skills as they move forward.
The library
“It’s small here, but we’re like family.” There are usually fewer than 150 students at any given time (about 2/3 of whom are women). The classes are small and they get a lot of individual attention. Students should interview as part of their portfolio review during admissions. Their process means that close to 90% of freshman return for sophomore year. They want to be there. It doesn’t hurt that tuition is a bargain.
Interior Design drawings
Students usually get individual studio space, and often work in town on art shows. There are plenty of art galleries in town for students to intern with or do research. There are no sport, and almost no on-campus activities or clubs (student government and the yearbook seem to be exceptions to this).
Photo lab
This is very much a regional school, mostly because there is no campus housing. However, there are some apartments nearby that cater to students, and the school will assist in helping students find housing. Students from outside the area looking for intensive art instruction would be served as well – or better – at another institution.
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