Art Institute of Pittsburgh facts for kids

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh was a private art college in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It focused on teaching design and preparing students for jobs in creative fields. The school opened in 1921 and closed its doors in 2019.

It was part of a larger group of art schools called The Art Institutes. This group of schools also closed down in September 2023.

What Was the Art Institute of Pittsburgh?

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh started in 1921. It was an independent school that taught art and illustration. Many talented artists studied there. These included watercolorist Frank Webb and animation director Rick Schneider-Calabash. The famous science fiction artist Frank Kelly Freas also attended.

Later, the school focused mainly on design and cooking skills.

How Did the School Change Owners?

In 1968, a company called Education Management Corporation (EDMC) bought the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. EDMC then started more schools like it, creating The Art Institutes system.

The number of students taking online classes grew a lot. In 2008, the Art Institute of Pittsburgh became one of the biggest art colleges in the United States. This included its online students.

In 2017, EDMC sold the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and other Art Institutes. They were sold to Dream Center Education Holdings. This company was part of The Dream Center, a non-profit group based in Los Angeles. The sale was completed in October 2017.

A report in 2018 showed that about 29% of students at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh graduated. Also, about 20.9% of students had trouble paying back their student loans.

Why Did the School Close?

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh closed in March 2019. This happened after efforts to sell the school again did not work out. At the time it closed, the school was also facing problems with its accreditation. This means it might have lost its official approval to operate.

Where Was the School Located?

The school first started in an industrial building. This was in an area of Pittsburgh called the Strip District.

In 2000, the school bought a historic landmark building. It was located at 420 Boulevard of the Allies. However, they sold this building in 2014.

On March 27, 2017, the school moved to 1400 Penn Avenue in Pittsburgh. Over the years, it moved several times as it grew. It also added more classes. Later, it offered fewer classes as it became smaller.

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh – Online Classes

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh also had an online division. This part of the school offered degree programs. It also had shorter diploma courses in many creative areas. The online division closed at the same time as the main campus.

Official Approvals and Memberships

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh was officially approved by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. This approval started in 2008.

Famous People Who Studied Here

More than 55,000 people have graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Here are some of the well-known alumni:

• Matt Bors, a cartoonist and editor of an online comics publication.
• Shane Callahan, an American film and television actor.
• Stig Asmussen, a video game developer and designer.
• Julian Michael Carver, an American science fiction and horror writer.
• Frank Kelly Freas, a science fiction and fantasy artist. He was known as the "Dean of Science Fiction Artists."
• Paul Gulacy, an American comics artist. He worked for both DC and Marvel Comics.
• Leon Levinstein, an American street photographer. He was known for his photos of New York City life.
• Garrett Mason, an American Republican politician.
• J. Howard Miller (1939), an American graphic artist. He painted posters during World War II, including the famous "We Can Do It!" poster.
• John Prentice, an American cartoonist. He was known for his work on the comic strip Rip Kirby.
• Martha Rial, a photographer based in Pittsburgh. She won a Pulitzer Prize in 1998.
• Jennifer M. Smith, former Premier of Bermuda from 1998 to 2003.
• Roman Verostko (diploma in illustration, 1949), an American artist and educator. He created art using computer code.
• Frank Webb (1946), an American watercolor painter.
• Tom Wilson (1955), an American cartoonist. He created the Ziggy comic strip.
• Rick Schneider-Calabash, an award-winning animation producer, writer, and director for Walt Disney Studios.