Creative Industries
Creative Industries
Creative Industries
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Creative Industries–Visual Art

Creative Industries–Visual Art

Creative Industries–Visual Art

Creative Industries–Visual Art

Creativity is a special gift from God—one that can make a difference in the world. Northwestern’s creative industries–visual art major is designed to help you build skills in the visual arts while also giving you the business knowledge you'll need to succeed, whether you want to work for someone else or run your own show. You'll be ready to jump into exciting careers like production designer, illustrator, art director, curator, gallery manager, creative director, or studio artist. Plus, your business skills will open doors to leadership positions in management, entrepreneurship, and even nonprofit organizations.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Why NWC?

Why NWC?

The creative industries–visual art major is an innovative collaboration between Northwestern’s art + design and business departments. In addition to core art courses, you’ll choose one art track: image making and design, which focuses on drawing, painting and graphic design, or object design and expanded media, which explores the art of sculpture and ceramics. Areas of emphasis in business include two of five tracks: innovation, management, marketing, nonprofit, and public relations. A required internship and community outreach projects provide the opportunity to connect knowledge with experience.

Related minors in arts administration, entrepreneurship, leadership studies, multimedia, nonprofit management, and project management are also available.

CONTACT
Phil Scorza
Phil Scorza
Department Chair
ARTISTS + PROFESSORS Art faculty have exhibited work at Hush Gallery in Seattle and CICA Museum in South Korea.
FREE ADOBE ACCESS Students receive free access to a Mac lab fully equipped with Adobe Creative Suite.
BUILD YOUR BUSINESS The creative industries–visual art major gives students essential tools for running their own business.
FIRST-CLASS ARTWORK Northwestern students' work has won design competitions and been accepted into art exhibitions.
Career Outlook

Career Outlook

Career Outlook

Career Outlook

The creative economy includes a wide range of industries, such as film and TV, publishing, museums, music and the performing arts, computer programming, fine arts, and architecture and interior design. According to Forbes, the global market size for creative industries is expected to reach $3.43 trillion by 2032, evidence of a growing demand for creative talent. Deloitte, a global business consulting company, studied the economies of nine countries and reported that the creative economy could grow 40% by 2030.

Experience

Internships

Internships

An internship is built into the program requirements for the creative industries–visual art major, so you'll graduate with practical, real-world experience. Your professors will work with Northwestern's Compass Center for Career + Calling to connect you with internship experiences in urban centers like New York City and Washington, D.C., or with a gallery, museum, or business like an interior or graphic design firm. Past internship placements have included the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Caliber Creative, and Holland House.

Where you'll create

Where you'll create

The Korver Visual Arts Center is fully equipped to help you experiment with new mediums, expand your portfolio, and present your work to others. You'll have access to studios, including:

  • Ceramics room with 17 wheels and 4 kilns
  • Drawing studio with 17 drafting tables
  • Mac lab with 21 computers set up with Adobe Suite
  • Painting studio for oil, acrylic and watercolors
  • Darkroom for processing film photography
  • Sculpture lab with professional-grade power tools
  • Printmaking studio with 4 presses

Upcoming exhibits

Upcoming exhibits

Te Paske Gallery in the Korver Visual Arts Center hosts up to six art showings each year, featuring the work of both professional and student artists. Check out exhibit dates here.

Study abroad

Study abroad

Study abroad opportunities will introduce you to another country’s art and culture. Recent students have studied art, history and philosophy at the University of Oxford, taken courses in fashion in Italy, and analyzed theatre productions on London’s West End.

Creative success

Creative success

Art students have had their work selected for a juried undergraduate exhibition at the University of Nebraska, won a logo competition sponsored by the Higher Learning Commission, and contributed design work to local businesses and nonprofits.

NWCore Create

NWCore Create

Introduce your fellow students to the joy of creativity through a variety of drop-in activities offered throughout the year.

Internships

An internship is built into the program requirements for the creative industries–visual art major, so you'll graduate with practical, real-world experience. Your professors will work with Northwestern's Compass Center for Career + Calling to connect you with internship experiences in urban centers like New York City and Washington, D.C., or with a gallery, museum, or business like an interior or graphic design firm. Past internship placements have included the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Caliber Creative, and Holland House.

Where you'll create

The Korver Visual Arts Center is fully equipped to help you experiment with new mediums, expand your portfolio, and present your work to others. You'll have access to studios, including:

  • Ceramics room with 17 wheels and 4 kilns
  • Drawing studio with 17 drafting tables
  • Mac lab with 21 computers set up with Adobe Suite
  • Painting studio for oil, acrylic and watercolors
  • Darkroom for processing film photography
  • Sculpture lab with professional-grade power tools
  • Printmaking studio with 4 presses

Upcoming exhibits

Te Paske Gallery in the Korver Visual Arts Center hosts up to six art showings each year, featuring the work of both professional and student artists. Check out exhibit dates here.

Study abroad

Study abroad opportunities will introduce you to another country’s art and culture. Recent students have studied art, history and philosophy at the University of Oxford, taken courses in fashion in Italy, and analyzed theatre productions on London’s West End.

Creative success

Art students have had their work selected for a juried undergraduate exhibition at the University of Nebraska, won a logo competition sponsored by the Higher Learning Commission, and contributed design work to local businesses and nonprofits.

NWCore Create

Introduce your fellow students to the joy of creativity through a variety of drop-in activities offered throughout the year.

related majors

Art Art Art Therapy Art Therapy Business Administration Business Administration Business-Management Business-Management Business-Marketing Business-Marketing Graphic Design Graphic Design Public Relations Public Relations Theatre Theatre Worship Arts Worship Arts Writing + Digital Media Writing + Digital Media