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Vermont College of Fine Arts

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Vermont College of Fine Arts
TypeAffiliated College
Established1831; 194 years ago (1831);
independent fine arts institution in 2008;
became part of
California Institute of the Arts
in 2024
PresidentAndrew Ramsammy
Location
United States
CampusLow Residency at
California Institute of the Arts
ColorsGreen and white
AffiliationsNew England Commission of Higher Education
Websitevcfa.edu Edit this at Wikidata

Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA) is a private graduate-level college affiliated with California Institute of the Arts. It offers Master's degrees in a low-residency format. Its faculty includes Pulitzer Prize finalists, National Book Award winners, Newbery Medal honorees, Guggenheim Fellowship and Fulbright Program fellows, and Ford Foundation grant recipients. The literary magazine Hunger Mountain is operated by VCFA writing faculty and students.

History

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The focus of Vermont College has changed since its beginnings as Newbury Seminary in 1831. After existing in several forms including a Wesleyan Seminary and a Methodist Seminary, using the name Montpelier Seminary,[1] it became Vermont Junior College in 1941.[2] In 1958, it became Vermont College. In 1972, Vermont College merged with Norwich University.[3] Union Institute & University acquired Vermont College in 2001.

In 2008, the MFA programs separated from Union Institute & University, and Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA) was formed as an independent institution.[2] In April 2024, VCFA began a long-term affiliation with the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), which will host its residences on the CalArts campus near Los Angeles beginning in January of 2025.[4]

Academics

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All programs feature writers-in-residence, artists-in-residence, and artist/scholars who give lectures, readings, and workshops. Artists- and writers-in-residence have included Jean Valentine, Richard Russo, Claudia Emerson, M. T. Anderson, Andrew Blauvelt, Susan Cooper, Meredith Davis, Gregory Maguire, Holly Black, Jane Yolen, Wu Tsang, and Stephen Drury.

Approximately 60 authors, designers, filmmakers, composers, artists, and scholars teach at Vermont College of Fine Arts. All have terminal degrees in their specialty.[2]

Programs

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The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Writing program was established in 1981 and the MFA in Visual Art in 1991. The MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults, the first "MFA program in writing for young readers," began in January 1997. In 2011, it launched an MFA in Music Composition program and an MFA in Graphic Design program[5] The MFA in Film program was established in 2013. In 2014, the residential MFA in Writing and Publishing began, and the Graduate Studies in Art & Design Education Program was established in 2015. The newest program is the International MFA in Creative Writing & Literary Translation, which enrolled its first students in 2018.

Low-residency

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In the low-residency structure, students earn their graduate degrees through brief on-campus residencies at CalArts, self-designated study, flexible scheduling, and personalized attention through one-on-one guidance with a faculty mentor. The on-campus residencies consist of workshops, lectures, readings, panel discussions, student-teacher conferences and critiques, and presentations of works in progress."[2] A faculty member works with five or fewer students through written correspondence and electronic/video/telephone communication in between residencies.

Notable alumni

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Vermont College of Fine Arts

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Notable alumni of Newbury Academy

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References

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  1. ^ "History". Vermont College of Fine Arts. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Vermont College of Fine Arts, Progress Report: January 2007-January 2008 (Montpelier., Vermont, 2008)
  3. ^ "History". Vermont College of Fine Arts. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  4. ^ Writer, David Delcore Staff (2024-04-02). "VCFA poised for new partnership". Times Argus. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  5. ^ Bell, Shannon. "College Hall". www.nps.gov.
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