{"id":8778,"date":"2026-02-09T15:56:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T20:56:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/?page_id=8778"},"modified":"2026-10-19T11:53:24","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T15:53:24","slug":"art-and-visual-culture","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/art-and-visual-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"Art and Visual Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Visit the full Art and Visual Culture site<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The Department of Art and Visual Culture balances creation and critique, providing foundations in studio practice and in contemporary and historical analysis. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The major offers two tracks: one in history and criticism and the other in studio art. The history and criticism courses focus on images, objects, and architecture made by people from different periods and places, which students situate in historical and social contexts, while the studio art courses concentrate on making, including animation, ceramics, drawing, film, painting, photography, and print. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Contact Us<\/h5>\n\t

Marisa C. Wickersham, Academic Administrative Assistant
\n75 Russell St
\nOlin Arts Center
\n Phone: 1-207-786-8212\n<\/span>mwickersham@bates.edu<\/a><\/span><\/p>

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What You Will Learn<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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To develop an independent voice, either through critical analysis or creative production<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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To think alongside a broad range of authors and artists<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A diverse set of approaches to studying media and representation that will ground the creative practice<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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To explore the sociohistorical context of works of art and visual culture<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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How to examine art and visual culture through the lens of power and privilege<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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To develop an experimental attitude and a tolerance for risk as it pertains to art and visual culture<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Life After Bates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The visual arts field is broad, and we prepare our students to find their place in it. Graduates have pursued careers in a variety of fields, including museum and curatorial studies, architecture, art therapy, education, film, and art conservation. Many alumni have pursued MFA and Ph.D. degrees, building on the foundations that they gained at Bates to become museum directors, arts policy leaders, professional fine artists, corporate consultants, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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94%<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

of 2020-2024 Bates graduates are employed and\/or attending graduate school \u2014 settled into their next opportunity within 6 months of graduation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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I really loved the breadth and depth of the art and visual culture department and how it taught me the ability to think across time and geography. In particular, a museum studies class I took is really what sparked my entire career in the museum world.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014Rachel Ferrante \u201810<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Selected Places of Employment\/Service<\/h6>\n\n\n\n