Why is Art Education important in Schools?

What art schools would you recommend that teaches fantasy and conceptart with a good level of education?

• I heard that the school of visual arts in new york is one of the best art schools in America. I have a great passion for fantasy, nature and conceptart ( check this site www.elfwood.com if you want to know what I mean) and I would really like to draw such things from my imagination. I really wish I would create visual storyboards for films, character and landscape designs. Unfortunately, I cannot access the internet site for the school of visual arts in new york and I keep getting this error message: Oops this link might be broken. Are there any other good schools out there you would recommend? Could you atleast tell me why do I keep getting this message?

• Answer:

  Works fine http://www.schoolofvisualarts.edu/ if you ever get that error, search on the name and follow the link given - you may have a typo or have used .com instead of .edu. As for wanting to deal with a specialized area - the strength or focus of a school in a particular area depends very much on the instructors. Ideally, an arts school with a good reputation will provide the training needed for any interest and not inhibit students nor force them into a mold. But it is always true that the instructors are human and if the school gains a reputation in one area, it may be because there is one astonishingly talented or adept teacher with that focus. If that instructor leaves, it may be much more difficult to work well in that area. For an art school, you should always use internet, e-mail and visits to see what professors' and students' work looks like via on-campus exhibits and student or instructor profiles. If none of the work shown is similar to what interests you, then your chances of getting finely tuned instruction in that area are much reduced. Look at some of the artists producing what you want and see what their schools were and, if you can, e-mail them and ask whether they thought their school helped with their current art or discouraged it and who their favorite instructor was.