FORT LAUDERDALE/DAVIE, Fla. – Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) is providing its art students with a real-world edge by teaching them the business of art. Students in the Methods & Materials class, as part of the winter 2020 semester curriculum, will paint sculptures that will then be sold through FromHeart2Art, an online art gallery and boutique that supports emerging artists and social causes.
“Our students have a unique opportunity to experience working on a client-based project prior to graduation,” said Kandy Lopez-Moreno, MFA, associate professor of Art + Design and course instructor. “By partnering with FromHeart2Art, our students are able to create a piece of professional art that will be sold and teaches them the business side of our industry.”
This project will give students a business understanding of the art world and the experience of completing a client-based project. Students will be provided with the sculptures, which were generously donated by Finesse Decor, and materials and have three weeks to work and transform them into a “self- portrait.” Once finished, they will learn how to professionally photograph 3-dimensional pieces and share them with their “client”.
The pieces will then be sold through FromHeart2Art with a percentage of the profits benefiting NSU’s visual arts program. In addition, each art student participating in the project will receive a $250 scholarship as momentum to continue their pursuits in the art world.
The curriculum for this course coincides with NSU’s Experiential Education & Learning (ExEL) initiative. Through this program, students gain hands-on, real-world work experience, help with goal setting and career planning, and are provided with a separate transcript for employers to showcase their portfolio of work while earning their degree.
“When the opportunity to partner with FromHeart2Art came about, I knew that the Art + Design course would benefit by gaining that real-world experience and edge that sets NSU apart,” said Shanti Bruce, Ph.D., assistant dean of CAHSS’s School of Communication, Media and the Arts. “I am excited to see how our students will interpret the sculptures and am appreciative of the organization’s support for this project and our program.”