STORIES FROM PAFA

Photos from Motion for Industry Class

The animation program aims to prepare students for three of the many branches of possibilities—independent film making, commercial animation, and fine art related to the moving image—and how to fit them together into infinite career paths. Notable in PAFA's animation curriculum is the chance to gain industry-oriented experience while still a student. The course Motion for Industry connects students work with a real client to pitch ideas, receive feedback, meet deadlines, and complete work for market. “We’re going to tell you what the landscape of the industry is like and what you need to do to prepare for it,” says department chair Amy Lee Ketchum. In the spring of 2022, students delivered work for manufacturer FMC to showcase the company’s net zero environmental goals.

two students smiling at computer
student drawing on laptop screen
two students working at computer
two students working at computer
two students working at computer
group of students in computer lab

About PAFA

Founded in 1805, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is the United States’ first school and museum of fine arts. A recipient of the National Medal of Arts, PAFA offers a world-class collection of American art, innovative exhibitions of historic and contemporary American art, and educational opportunities in the fine arts. The PAFA Museum aims to tell America's diverse story through art, expanding who has been included in the canon of art history through its collections, exhibitions, and public programs, while classes educate artists and appreciators with a deep understanding of traditions and the ability to challenge conventions. PAFA’s esteemed alumni include Mary Cassatt, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, William Glackens, Barkley L. Hendricks, Violet Oakley, Louis Kahn, David Lynch, and Henry Ossawa Tanner.