Our Mission
Visual Art Institute (VAI) has a 46-year legacy of delivering world-class, visual art programming across the Wasatch Front. Visual Art Institute nurtures creative expression teaches imagination and fosters artistic development through in-depth study and experimentation, inspiring confidence, and individuality regardless of age and ability.
Our Vision
We are a leader in providing a life-changing experience for more than 2,600 individuals each year. Our renowned faculty believes that an introduction to a strong art curriculum at an early age is profoundly beneficial to children, and that art will be a positive reflection throughout their life. Our objective is to improve the technical art skill sets, critical thinking ability, and overall well being of our students.
Our Values
As business professionals, we bring our talents to the workplace daily. We exercise influence, get things done, and move our sector forward. Our professional toolkits are full of the latest and greatest in new ideas and strategies – we are brokers, leaders, educators, artists, and individual producers. Underneath these worthwhile endeavors are our core values that fuel the process. These values are the foundational principles that shape our motives and impact our decisions. The programs, products, and services we deliver will change from time to time, but our core values remain steadfast and permeate every facet from strategy, to people, to progress:
CREATIVITY - The ability to experiment unencumbered by judgment, lack of experience, or conditional support. We champion the ability to transcend traditional ways of thinking or acting, and develop new and organizational ideas, methods, or pedagogy. We recognize and uplift every person’s artistic potential. We embrace ourselves as innovators – people who understand that forward thinking and planning is essential to future growth. We actualize the conditions of others to creatively flourish.
IMPACT - Imparting on those who have taken our classes, a permanent and lasting feeling of belonging and nurturing, as well as the inspiration to continue honing one’s artistic skills. We demonstrate the immeasurable power of our shared values and collective effort to effect positive, ground-breaking change and deliver excellence for our students, colleagues, and community.
COMMUNITY - A sentiment of comradery among one’s own peers, where an individual feels free to learn, make mistakes, and reach their artistic and creative potential. We place priority on providing a safe and welcoming space where creative minds can flourish regardless of culture, race, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, or economic status. Additionally, we believe that organizations can only be successful when we are engaged in making our communities a better place. We value the people and organizations around us and are committed to collaborate with other partners. We actively give back through teaching, mentoring, volunteering, discounted services, and donations. Our personnel and engaged Board of Directors are our greatest asset. Great success only comes from committed and inspired individuals. We acquire the best people we can, foster their passion, and empower them to make decisions.
INTEGRITY - We conduct our business in accordance with the highest standards of professional behavior and ethics. We are transparent, honest, ethical in all our interactions with stakeholders, employees, benefactors, donors, students, and the community. We hold uncompromising standards where incredible performance leads to extraordinary results. We constantly evaluate ourselves and engage in conversations to continually improve.
ACCOUNTABILITY - We measure, monitor, analyze and improve class rigor, productivity, processes, tasks, and ourselves to satisfy students and stakeholders. We work with enthusiasm and intellect. We are driven to surpass what has already been achieved. We understand that fiscal accountability makes us better partners with our donors and a better non-profit organization. We understand that the path to sustainability is paved with responsibility and diligence.