Letter from the Dean

PrattMWP College of Art and Design prepares students for culturally relevant, cutting-edge, creative careers by providing the highest quality art and design foundation program in America. We add value to Pratt Institute’s world-acclaimed curriculum through small class sizes and state-of-the-art studio spaces, where we emphasize personal mentorship by our faculty of practicing contemporary art professionals. After completing their first two years in Utica, PrattMWP students possess the skills and self-confidence necessary to thrive during their junior and senior years when they relocate to Pratt Institute’s main campus in Brooklyn, New York. Any student who completes the two-year program at PrattMWP is guaranteed admission to the Brooklyn campus to complete their degree as long as they are in good academic standing.

In addition to the advantages of our small class sizes and focus on mentorship, students also enjoy access to the entire Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute. This includes the famed Museum of Art collection and archives, where art history and practice come alive through close study. The Museum boasts an incredible collection of 19th- and 20th-century American art and compliments those resources through avant-garde exhibitions, which tackle contemporary issues and engage with the diverse community. Complimentary admission to the weekly art-house independent film series and discounted admission Performing Arts series help round out the cultural experience for PrattMWP students.

The rigorous curriculum provided by both Pratt and PrattMWP consistently place the program in the top echelon of art schools in the world. This includes top 10 ratings for individual programs in art, design, and architecture, as well as graduate pay scale and employability. Inspired and challenged students graduate to become successful artists, designers, curators, educators, communication designers, journalists, and filmmakers to name a few careet options. Our graduates transform their communities through work in museums, universities, galleries, and creative businesses and agencies across the globe. The curiosity and drive necessary to complete a Pratt degree provide the impetus for entrepreneurship, and many graduates create successful start-ups in diverse creative fields, running the gamut between advertising to non-profit arts organizations.

Technological advances in media, materials, and processes open exciting career possibilities for creative, inventive individuals. The foundation you will receive at PrattMWP will allow you to nimbly move into an array of careers that demand original thinking and creative problem-solving. Artists and designers spearhead changes in visual communication and product invention, utilizing the innovative training they gain in aesthetics and materials within our programs. These students go on to impact society by shifting perceptions through the expression of ideas and a reflective examination of our world.

Now in its 20th year, the affiliation between Pratt Institute and PrattMWP continues to grow and thrive through a carefully integrated curriculum, communication between the two campuses, and cooperation between administration, students, and faculty. Always considered to run at the forefront of arts education, Pratt Institute remains the gold standard for education in visual and creative fields of study.

I urge you to visit PrattMWP and meet our community, see our studios, and experience first-hand the quality of work being created by faculty and students. You will quickly see why completing your foundation years at PrattMWP is an excellent choice for students interested in an education at one of the world’s premier art and design institutions.

Steve Hansen Dean of School Art