VISION
The Escuela de Artes Plásticas aspires to become one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the Arts in the Caribbean, dedicated to artistic creation and exploration, in which an education in traditional studio technique is combined at the highest levels with experimentation, new idioms, and the use of technology.
EXPECTATIONS FOR THE 21st CENTURY
At the beginning of the 21st century, the institutional perspective of the Escuela de Artes Plásticas is that of a specialized institution of higher learning, providing a variety of academic offerings. The Escuela will continue to raise the level of institutional quality, focusing on the educational process and the development of the creativity of its student. With a stable enrollment of promising talent, the institution will continue to dedicate its efforts to develop, reaffirm, and transmit the ethical and aesthetic values of the contemporary artistic vision, with special reference to the study of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean and their relationship with universal culture.
HISTORY - ESCUELA DE ARTES PLÁSTICAS DE PUERTO RICO
The Escuela de Artes Plásticas was founded in 1966, to meet the demands of talented young Puerto Ricans who were being trained at the art workshops that the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña had organized, almost since its inception in 1955. In 1971 the Puerto Rico legislature amended the enabling act of the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña and authorized the agency to organize and establish a program for the teaching of artistic technique. From then on, the Instituto was authorized to grant a certificate equivalent to the bachelor’s degree granted by other institutions of higher learning to such candidates as fulfilled the academic requirements.
The Escuela was initially located in the buildings next to the General Archive of Puerto Rico, and in 1976 moved to the recently restored Insane Asylum, on the grounds of El Morro Castle in San Juan, the current main building of the institution.
The Escuela de Artes Plásticas gained autonomy under Public Law 54, enacted on August 22, 1990. Under the autonomy all administrative and fiscal functions were transferred from the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña to the Escuela. This autonomy has strengthened the development of the Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico as a first-class educational institution.
Today, the Escuela de Artes Plásticas is the premier institution of higher learning in the arts in Puerto Rico. The institution grants a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts in six concentrations: Graphic Arts, Industrial Design, Art Education, Sculpture, Image and Design, and Painting. SuperArte, a program for adults, was created in August of 2003.
LOCATION AND FACILITIES
The main facilities of the Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico are located in the former Insane Asylum on the ground of the El Morro castle. The campus also includes the restored Hospital de la Conception, el Grande, in the same Ballajá Quarter. Theoretical classes, the library, the Graphic Arts and Industrial Design workshops, computer laboratories, and some administrative offices were moved to this building.
Mailing address:
Escuela de Artes Plásticas,
P.O. Box 9021112,
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00902-1112
E-mail: 1-787-725-8120
info@eap.edu
Physical address:
Campo of El Morro ,
Barrio Ballajá,
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Telephone: 1-787-725-8120 and 787-729-0007
Fax: 1-787-725-8111 and 787-721-3798
Map Click here to see or print the map
OFFERINGS
The bachelor’s degree program consists of 132 credits, of which 30 are basic studio courses, 54 contribute to the general and comprehensive education of our students, 36 are concentration credits, and 12 are free electives. The elective courses allow our students to develop a greater knowledge in their field of specialization or to explore new academic interests.
The Escuela faculty is composed of a distinguished group of teachers, both in studio and general education courses.
There are 460 students in the bachelor’s degree program and 50 students in the open-enrollment program.
The adult education program was begun in September 2003, under the name of SuperArte, a course of study for adults and artists, 25 years of age or older, who are interested in obtaining a bachelors degree in fine arts with a concentration in graphic arts, industrial design, art education, sculpture, digital image and design, and painting.
In addition, the Escuela de Artes Plásticas offers an Open Study program, in which those who are not interested in a regular bachelor’s degree curriculum may participate.
The Escuela has an Extension Program for the benefit of the community at large, which offers short courses lasting ten weeks, three times a year. Approximately 350 people participate in each of the three sessions. These programs address personal improvement and are not conducive to a college degree.
GALLERY AND EXHIBITIONS
The Escuela de Artes Plásticas has an exhibition hall for showing the work of our students. The exhibition program is coordinated to provide the opportunity to exhibit to students from all concentrations. The Escuela also organizes collective exhibitions at other institutions and at public and private galleries. The institutions encourages and helps its students and graduates to prepare their own exhibitions.
The most important exhibition at the Escuela is the Annual Student Exhibition, where the best work is shown and prizes are awarded. Works are selected and awarded prizes by a jury of Puerto Rico’s most outstanding he artists and critics. The Escuela encourages its students to participate in competitions and exhibitions in Puerto Rico and abroad, as well as promoting national and international competitions. As a result of these effort represent a significant proportion of the work and prizes at major exhibitions and competitions for young artists in Puerto Ricov.
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
The Escuela offers a variety of concerts, lectures, film, video, and theatrical productions. These activities complement academic course work. Students and teachers exhibit their creativity in the costumes they create for the traditional Costume Ball. The Escuela participates in the monthly Gallery Night in Old San Juan, as well as holding an Open House with student and teacher work from the several studio courses.
Every year the Escuela de Artes Plásticas collaborates and advises many public and private organizations on the development of enrichment activities. The institution offers specialized workshops to community and civic organization, which strengthen community ties, increasing an awareness among students of the social responsibility of artist. The Escuela has entered into collaborative agreements with government agencies and private enterprise to hold design competitions among students and to create art objects for these institutions, thereby fostering quality design and providing students with opportunities to work in their field.
In addition to an outstanding faculty, the Escuela de Artes Plásticas makes a great effort to bring in artists and lecturers from Puerto Rico and abroad to enrich the institutional offerings. All departments schedule a special activity once a year to which figures of international prestige are invited to lead special workshops and seminars.
ACCESS TO STUDIOS/WORKSHOPS
The studios/workshops at the Escuela are equipped for work on commissions obtained directly by students or the Life and Career Office. These commissions allow students to have an independent source of income. Commissions and competitions are an initiative directed at development self-management among students and develop their awareness of the market potential of the skills they have acquired.
FRANCISCO OLLER LIBRARY
The primary purpose of the Francisco Oller Library at the Escuela de Artes Plásticas is to provide educational materials that supports the institution’s curricular offerings. The Library staff provides information and orientation on the collections and services at the computerized facility, which allows students to learn to use technological resources in searching for information.
The Library contains 30,000 bibliographical units, largely in the visual arts. The collection is organized in open stacks to facilitate student research. There is a reference section, an audiovisual unit, and three study halls. The collection of 6,000 exhibition catalogues is a very special resource, organized in vertical files by the name of the artist and the title of the exhibition. In addition, students have access to the libraries and museums of the world through the Internet.
SCHEDULE:
Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm
Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.