Studio Art Schools in Rhode Island

A typical studio art program combines the study and practice of painting, printmaking, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, and digital media. The major allows students to develop advanced technical skills, aesthetic judgment, and historical understanding. This means, talented studio art graduates will enter the career world with the skills needed to become an art director, art administrator, animator, illustrator, set designer, assistant curator, gallery owner, photojournalist, web designer, mural artist, courtroom sketch artists, cover artist, cartoonist, display painter, art consultant, and more.

In the State of Rhode Island, graduates can expect to find plenty of opportunities in these areas. Just a few employment options include the Newport Art Museum, Museum of Art of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), the Warwick Museum of Art, RDW Group, Glad Works, and Trinity Repertory Theater. Many studio artists also teach at art centers, galleries, museums, community colleges, secondary schools, extension centers, and four-year colleges. The Community College of Rhode Island, East Side Art Center, Museum of Art at RISD, Blue Door Studio, and Rhode Island College are just a few suggestions.

Although only Alaska, Delaware, and Wyoming have fewer schools, Rhode Islands small collection of colleges strongly support the arts, so many of them offer competitive programs for artists of all kinds. Just a few top schools for aspiring artists and designers include Roger Williams University, University of Rhode Island, and New England Institute of Technology. Continue reading to learn more Rhode Island’s best schools for studio artists and where to find them.

Rhode Island Studio Art Schools

According to the most recent report by the Institute of Education Sciences (NCES IES), the state of Rhode Island is home to 13 Title IV colleges and universities. More than 72,000 students attend, with more than 2,500 enrolled in the state’s top art programs alone. Scroll through the list below to find out which Rhode Island schools are tops for aspiring studio artists, and what they have to offer. 

Kingston
University of Rhode Island - Degrees Offered: B. A., B. F. A. Art Studio with Concentration in Digital Art and Design

Newport
Salve Regina University – Degrees Offered: B. A. Studio Art with Concentration in Graphic Design

Providence
Rhode Island College - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Studio Art with Concentration in Graphic Design

Employment and Salary Trends for Rhode Island Studio Artists

According to the latest report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (March 29, 2012), the state of Rhode Island is home 6,110 artists and designers, up from 5,470 in 2002. They average $52,030, up from 39,810 in 2002. "Fine artists," which includes painters, sculptors, illustrators, are members of this group. Rhode Island is home to less than 100 salaried fine artists, and possibly hundreds of independent artists. The most recent report for Rhode Island fine artists was published in May 2009. At this time, the state’s salaried fine artists averaged $45,840, up from $42,790 in 2002.

Because studio artists work in a variety of areas, average salaries should be taken with a grain of salt. Individual salaries vary based on industry, experience, job title, company, geographic location, and more. For example, an art director working in a major city such as Providence, RI may average $81,410, while a studio artist working as an illustrator in Rhode Island’s animation industry may average $57,380.

While jobs for studio artists can be found all over the state, many Rhode Island artists settle in principal cities such as Providence, Pawtucket, Warwick, and Cranston. Some artists even make the easy commute to Boston (50 miles) to at advertising or other creative agencies, gaming studios, animation studios, museums, art centers, community colleges, courtrooms, and more.