Jacksonville Art Schools

Without question, the city of Jacksonville is Florida’s best kept secret. Listed among Good Morning America’s "Five Hottest Real Estate Markets", Jacksonville offers affordable living with simply wondrous amenities. The city itself is split by the St. John’s River and surrounded by the ocean, offering waterfront on three sides and miles of beautiful beaches. Any art student considering school in this area will not only enjoy the beautiful surroundings, but also an up-and-coming art scene settled in theheart of Jacksonville’s downtown area, where museums and galleries abound. The Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art (JMoMA), offering the largest exhibition of contemporary and modern art in the entire Southeast, as well as the Cummer Museum of Art, known for its expansive collection of Messien porcelain and beautiful gardens, serve as the must-see places to visit for any art lover. Another area that evidences Jacksonville’s growth is the Springfield neighborhood in the northern part of the downtown area, once known as "Pornhouse Row" for its somewhat seedier offerings, now serves as an active center for the art community. Additionally, the Haskell Gallery, Pedestrian, R. Roberts Gallery, and Creative Glassworks, are engaging points of interest that are best enjoyed on Jacksonville’s First Wednesdays, an open walking tour of the downtown galleries occurring on the first Wednesday of every month. Other events that highlight the arts include the San Marco Art Festival, the Madarin Arts Festival, and, most notably, Art After Dark, a yearly exhibition of twelve local, rising artists that often include art students from the area colleges! According to one local resident and art lover, Rebecca Weaver, "From its seascapes to its landscapes, Jacksonville is absolutely beautiful, and I happen to think there is no better place for artistic inspiration."Art students who choose to study in Jacksonville are sure to agree.