By Mark Hallum
Queensborough Community College in Bayside announced its art program will soon carry accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, joining the ranks of only 19 other community colleges in the nation to be recognized for excellence.
QCC says it now offers credentials on the level of Cooper Union, School of Visual Arts, Parsons School of Art and Design, Pratt and Fashion Institute of Technology.
Bob Rogers, chair of the Department of Art and Design, said QCC’s new status as one of the leading institutions comes down the abilities of the students, teachers and the resources available to them.
“It is a great honor to be acknowledged by the accrediting agency,” Rogers said. “It speaks to the commitment and hard work of the faculty and their dedication to students and learning, as well as the ongoing support from the administration that has allowed us to build first-class art programs.”
NASAD was established in 1944 to set a standard for art and design classes nationwide. There are about 360 institutional members, now including QCC, and is recognized as by the U.S. Department of Education as a credible organizationfor granting this level of certification for schools. But the process is rigorous and evaluates not only the curriculum, but the school itself and the support programs which contribute to a well-rounded educational experience, according to the QCC.
“Students can now come to Queensborough and enroll in an exceptional two-year associate’s degree art program that, upon completion, can offer them a wide range of transfer opportunities for a fraction of the cost of the private institutions,” Rogers said.
The Queensborough Art Gallery and Kupferberg Holocaust Center each offer world-class exhibits for visitors and are viewed as an opportunity for students to develop the comprehensive understanding of the arts.
An exhibit called “REWOVEN: Innovative Fiber Art,” which closed in June, took the talents of 24 Taiwanese and New York artists to create cross-cultural expressions of life experiences. QCC Art Gallery’s own Faustino Quintanilla showcased his artistic ability with the “Innovative Fiber Art” concept to build sculptures using materials woven into shape.
The Kupferberg Holocaust Center also recently closed another exhibit called “The Jacket from Dachau,” which compiled clues detailing the experience of one Holocaust survivor whose prison jacket, complete with the Star of David, was found at a Long Island estate sale after the man’s death.
Reach reporter Mark Hallum by e-mail at mhall
