Classes — About

Teaching Approach • Curriculum • Locations • Class Times • Class Sizes & Age Groups • Classroom Climate • Holidays Observed • Make up Classes • VAI's Liability • Parents Guild • Portfolio Development

Teaching Approach

Teaching at VAI is done through a non-directive teaching method. Students are provided with specific learning objectives without dictating step-by-step instructions, maintaining their individuality and unique creativity. Students are encouraged to generate their own original ideas from their imagination, observation, memories, and experience. We teach them skills, techniques, and experimentation in a variety of media. Students learn skills in independent thinking, problem solving, and critical assessment.

Curriculum

VAI's comprehensive curriculum is designed to give deep learning in a broad variety of art concepts, media and techniques. Each course is designed to dovetail with the other courses to give students a strong visual language, resulting in award-winning portfolios. Alumni report that their experience at VAI has improved their ability to think creatively and learn in all areas of education.

VAI teaches 60 different art courses rotating every few years. Depending on the semester each course runs for 10-15 weeks. Classes are divided by age group, Studio Arts I (Elementary) classes are for ages 5-10. Studio Arts II (Jr. High) classes are for ages 11-14. Studio Arts III (High School) classes are for ages 15-18.

Examples of classes include:

Elementary Courses - Studio Arts I (Ages 5 - 10)

Animation
Architecture
Art Appreciation (Art History)
Color I, II
Drawing I, II, III, IV, V
Film Making
Computer Media
Illustration
Painting I, II
Sculpture I, II, III
Zoo Drawing & Painting Summer Workshop

Jr. High Courses - Studio Arts II (Ages 11 - 14)

Animation
Book Making
Drawing I, II, III, IV, V
Film Making
Computer Media
Illustration
Painting I, II, III
Photography
Printmaking I, II, III
Sculpture I, II
Figure Summer Workshop

High School Courses - Studio Arts III (Ages 15 - 18)

Drawing I, II, III, IV, V
Film Making I, II
Computer Media
Painting I, II, III
Portfolio I, II, III, IV
Printmaking
Sculpture I, II, III, IV
Independent Study
Figure Summer Workshop
Mural Painting

Locations

Visual Art Institute operates from two locations:

Sugarhouse--This is the flagship location for VAI.

2901 South Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84106

Sandy--We now offer select classes from the current schedule at our new Eastmont Middle School location in Sandy.

10100 South 1300 East, Sandy, UT 84094

Class Times

Sugarhouse

Each class is held once a week. Currently, at our Sugarhouse location, classes are offered Monday through Thursday. All elementary classes are 1 1/2 hours from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. All Jr. High and High School classes are 2 hours from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Sandy

Each class is held once a week. Currently, at our Sandy location, classes are offered Monday through Thursday. All elementary classes are 1 1/2 hours from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. All Jr. High and High School classes are 2 hours from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Class Sizes & Age Groups

Class sizes are generally no larger than 12 students. Classes are divided into age groups in the following manner: ages 5 - 10 year olds are in the Elementary classes together. When possible we separate students into smaller groups, placing 5 -7 year olds together and 8 - 10 year olds in the same class. Students ages 11 - 14 are in Jr. High classes together. Students ages 15 - 18 are in High School classes together. Depending upon class size and interest, Jr. High and High School students are sometimes combined.

Classroom Climate

VAI's classes are highly stimulating, creative environments for the purpose of focused artistic and creative learning. Every part of a class is organized to enable students to expand their creativity and skills. While students do find a creative peer group, these classes are not intended as playtime or a social hour. Some of the values they must uphold include:

Punctuality - be on time to class, students who are late disrupt the class.
Respect - show respect to other students and faculty by being quiet during work time.
Listening - listen carefully and follow instructions.
Participation - participate in class activities in a positive manner.

Students showing a lack of respect for other students or staff may be asked to call their parents to come pick them up. Parents are asked not to go into the classrooms while students are in session; this disrupts the focus of a class. The faculty is responsible for instruction only. Administrative questions are answered in the office. Early release of any student must be cleared with the administrative office.

Holidays Observed

VAI observes the following holidays: Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. A make up day will be provided for classes that fall on any of these holidays.

Make up Classes

Missed classes are generally not made up or reimbursed. During Spring and Summer terms we understand that vacations, etc. may interfere with normal class scheduling. Upon registering for spring and summer terms, it is possible to subtract the cost of days that will be missed from the overall cost of tuition; however, a schedule of the specific classes that will be missed must be given to the administrative office by the end of the first week of classes. This policy does not apply to Fall and Winter semesters, however, written appeals maybe addressed to the Executive Director for review if you have special circumstances.

VAI's Liability

While every precaution is taken to ensure the safety of your child, VAI is not responsible for personal injury, damage to or loss of property during, before, or after class, at the school, at off site locations, or in transit.

Parents Guild

As a non-profit organization, VAI relies on volunteers to help make it the dynamic learning experience that it is. The Guild is the group of volunteers that meet these needs. When a child enrolls in a class, their parents automatically become Guild members. Members contribute 4 hours per semester serving in various ways, such as: driving for field trips, cleaning, making phone calls, modeling for a class, fund-raising, helping with student art shows, etc. $50 may be substituted for each semester's time commitment. For more information about volunteering in the Guild visit: Volunteer Opportunities.

Portfolio Development

The Visual Art institute has been helping students obtain entrance and scholarships to over 25 institutions of higher education for over 30 years. VAI encourages its students who wish to pursue an education in the visual arts are to attend classes each semester at VAI, attend a national Portfolio Day, and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better. For more information about preparing for college visit: College Preparation Program.

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