The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), founded in 1805 by the artists Charles Willson Peale and William Rush as the first art school in the United States, is closing its college at the end of the next academic year. The institution’s museum will remain open.
Eric Pryor, the president of PAFA, revealed the college would close after the 2024–25 academic year, in an open letter https://www.pafaforward.org/presidents-letter in which he cited rising costs and low enrollment as the causes. The decision had been approved by PAFA’s board of directors after attempts to salvage the college were unsuccessful.
"The higher education environment has become increasingly complicated by rising costs, expanding requirements, and dwindling enrollment. Colleges and universities in our own region and across the country are struggling with these trends. PAFA, unfortunately, is no exception. Despite our best efforts to address these challenges, we have determined that the only path forward is to wind down our BFA and MFA programs at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year. This change affects our degree-granting programs only. Our certificate programs, commitment to K-12 arts programs and continuing education will remain in place."
Main Image :Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia, courtesy of PAFA.
Anna Melnykova, "Palace of Labor (palats praci), architector I. Pretro, 1916", shot with analog Canon camera, 35 mm Fuji film in March 2022.
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