The Flatiron Project Space, VCS’ very own storefront gallery, plays an important role in the program. Functioning as a learning incubator that expands traditional classroom boundaries, the gallery allows students, faculty, and industry experts to collaborate on exhibitions and other projects, supporting the personalized learning, critical thinking, and entrepreneurship that define the program.

Every year, students have the opportunity to submit curatorial proposals for the gallery. Departmental staff and faculty mentor the students in their curatorial projects, providing the support, feedback, and resources for them to successfully complete their projects. These student projects include an annual experimental performance incubator, two senior exhibitions, and several group shows curated by students. In addition, faculty are often invited to curate shows that include student work. Exhibitions are often paired with lectures and other public events that are run or organized by students.

The Art & Politics lecture series invites activists, scholars, politicians, artists, critics, historians, curators, and scientists, to address, discuss, and debate politics, art, and the delicate filaments that tie them together.

We start from the premise that humanity is living through an interlocking series of tremendously urgent crises. Students, faculty, the general public, and esteemed guests then ask together: How do these conditions impact the arts? Does art have resources that might come to our aid in these serious times? What are our responsibilities to our time? What is to be done?

Visual and Critical Studies boasts its own exclusive facilities that provide students with the resources they need to fully integrate their academic goals and interests with their studio practice.

In addition to our private facilities, VCS students are eligible to register for studio courses in any other program, along with studio access to SVA’s state-of-the-art multimedia facilities.

BFA Visual & Critical Studies is uniquely positioned to address the challenges and opportunities of AI. Unrestricted by the technical requirements of more traditional art programs, our focus on building critical thinking skills - something that AI cannot replicate - extends from the seminar to the studio. Concurrently, our instructors address the uses, and limitations, of AI in the classroom and across different media. Our aim is to support the development of creativity and adaptability for students who wish to enter creative fields as they are transformed under AI.