Bachelor of Fine Arts programs in various disciplines, offering intensive studio practice and academic coursework.
Engaging camps for youth and adults, focusing on hands-on projects like quilting, mixed media, and group art.
Monthly showcases of student and faculty work, open to the public to explore contemporary art and design.
Hosting exhibitions, lectures, and interactive events that connect artists with the Cincinnati arts scene.
On-campus studios and housing for students, with resources for creative development and campus life.
My 11 year old son just finished up a week long camp here. He had such a wonderful experience. We have done other art camps in the past and many feel more like a babysitting experience without a lot of clear instruction. This is the second time he participated at the Art Academy (first in 2023). He made a small patchwork quilt that he sewed by hand, played around with different mediums to create art and learned to work well in a group setting to make some larger pieces. He was a bit disappointed by the ratio of boys (4) to girls (20), but that is not something the school can control and moreso just a reflection of interests for kids his age. The communication from the school was informative and timely. Would definitely send him again.
I’m a current student at AAC and while the classes offered are amazing and the environment is mostly good there are some issues. For one in my current dorm, they did not change the upstairs air filter which caused my roommate to be sick. The air filter was caked in dust and had not been changed for over a year probably. Also the way they handle Covid 19 is horrible. They give out misinformation to those impacted by it. They treat their isolated students like prisoners with some staff being snide, rude, or downright disrespectful to those students. The isolated students are not given adequate housing or enough resources to quarantine. I love AAC but I am disgusted and disappointed with their actions. If I could complain to the city or sue AAC I would in a heartbeat. Do better AAC.
You never know what new, dynamic things their students are going to come up with, far more exciting than your average art school. Great location as well, right in the middle of Cincinnati arts. Stop by to check out one of their Final Friday exhibitions.
As a graduate of the Art Academy of Cincinnati, and now its Academic Dean, I couldn't be more proud of what this small college of art and design has been able to give to so many artists. As a private, not-for-profit art college in Ohio, the AAC continues to teach young artists and designers to follow their hearts and engage the world on their own terms through their creative work. What makes the Art Academy of Cincinnati so powerfully vital, not just in Cincinnati, but in the respective worlds of contemporary art and design, is the commitment to provide what our mission statement calls for “To create and sustain radical, forward-thinking, contemporary visual artists and designers whose creative contributions make a substantial difference in all the lives they touch. ” We make artists who delight in imaginative expression because we know that imagination makes the world. MAKE ART, MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
The Art Academy of Cincinnati is THE Best SCHOOL. I graduated class of 2015 with my BFA (bachelors in fine arts) - easily the best four years of my life. The city of Cincinnati is an awesome place to be a college student there is incredible historic architecture and new friends around every corner and its on the rise, there are always new restaurants (great for students who need employment or who are hungry) and lots of cool bars if youre into that. I went to the art academy knowing a wanted to be an artist and graduated with skills and confidence.

Where imagination meets impact—shaping radical artists and designers for a creative world.
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The Art Academy of Cincinnati is a private, not-for-profit art college dedicated to fostering forward-thinking visual artists and designers. Located in the heart of Cincinnati's arts district, we offer BFA programs, workshops, and community events that empower students to make a difference through creative expression. With a focus on hands-on learning and contemporary practices, we provide a dynamic environment for aspiring artists to develop their skills and engage with the world.
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