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Central Arizona College: Visual and Performing Arts Division

Posted at 8:02 AM, Jul 24, 2018
and last updated 2018-07-24 13:24:02-04

Central Arizona College is a paid advertiser of Sonoran Living.

Central Arizona College's Visual and Performing Arts Division advances student creativity and prepares them for university transfer or for careers in exciting and growing fields. Core learning disciplines include: Graphic Design & Digital Video and Photography, Entertainment Industry Technology (EIT), Studio & Fine Arts.

Graphic Design and Digital Video and Photography students can earn an Associate of Applied Science in Digital Media Arts-specializing in Graphic Design or Digital Photography and Video. Faculty include award-winning instructors who directly work in the fields taught. State-of-the-art Mac labs provide students the opportunity to train extensively in the Adobe Creative Suite, learning technical skills required to work professionally. There are growing opportunities for careers in these fields, and CAC provides the hands-on training necessary to excel. The AAS in Digital Media Arts transfers directly to ASU's Graphic Information Technology program at the Polytechnic campus, where students will enter the program as Juniors and choose one of four tracks: Front-end Web Design and Development; Commercial Photography and Video; Digital Design; Print; and Publishing; 2D/3D Animation. The CAC Graphic Design Club offers students the chance to further improve their skills and showcase their work. Through fundraising, students were able to travel to New York City for inspirational visits to design and art museums.

The EIT program is CAC's "School of Rock" where students can learn both the technology and business of making music in a well-rounded, comprehensive program that provides the foundation needed to compete in the music industry. Accredited Associate of Applied Science degrees include Artist and Venue Management, Live Audio and Lighting, Recording Engineering, and Popular Music Performance. Professors are industry professionals who have first-hand knowledge of the challenges students will face. Students are seeing success through the program, with EIT-educated band "Go Ask Alice" signing a record deal with Legend Recordings and seeing their debut album reach number one on the Billboard Heatseekers Southwest Region Chart. Their first nationwide tour launched soon after. "French 57," another EIT band, recently received radio airplay on three stations and is near completion of their own debut album. These achievements were made possible by a program built with student success in mind that allows them to hit the ground running.

Aspiring artists can learn to express their artistic talents and learn art history (available at every campus and online) through the Studio & Fine Arts department. Classes offered include a variety of studio art classes, including several levels of painting and drawing and several fine art history courses. Our offerings go beyond the fundamental classes with a wide assortment, including ceramics at many levels, printmaking, two-and three-dimensional design, jewelry making and metal working. Students display their work throughout the year in CAC's art gallery and contribute their ceramic work to CAC's popular Empty Bowls charity drive. The majority of the courses offered fulfill AGEC requirements and transfer to all Arizona state universities.

For more information about the Visual and Performing Arts Division and how you can begin, visit centralaz.edu/creative-arts-division or contact Susan Tatterson, susan.tatterson@centralaz.edu or 520-494-5049.