The Art Institute of Washington-Northern Virginia is located in Dulles, approximately one mile north of Sterling. A branch of The Art Institute of Atlanta, Georgia, it offers bachelor degrees in graphic design, interior design, media arts and animation, photographic imaging, and web design and interactive media. It also offers associate degrees in graphic design as well as web design and interactive media. All degrees are accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The facilities include classrooms, studios and computer labs with software that supports both Windows and Apple platforms. The library includes multiple-format resources, specialized collections, meeting and study spaces, Internet access and research assistance. The Art Institute also provides students with a Career Services advisor, who can help qualified graduates secure part- and full-time employment.
The School of Art at George Mason University is located in Fairfax, 18 miles south of Sterling, Virginia. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in art with concentrations in eight different areas that include painting, drawing, sculpture as well as other visual fields such as graphic design and photography. All degrees are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. The $25 million, 88,000-square-foot facility offers state-of-the-art studios, galleries and lecture halls, and utilizes Internet2 technology to collaborate with artists around the world. The school also provides students with portfolio preparation for admissions to future schools or employment.
Loudoun Academy of the Arts is located in Leesburg, northwest of Sterling. It is a non-profit organization that provides fine art instruction, workshops, seminars and other special events for students of all ages. Classes are offered in 13 different areas that include drawing; watercolor, oil and acrylic painting; collage and mixed media; pastels; photography; printmaking; sculpture; glass blowing; ceramics; fiber arts; calligraphy; and film. Special sessions include open studio drawing and painting classes, two- and three-day introductory workshops, and a number of art classes specifically for children. The facility also includes regular, rotating open-to-the-public art exhibits by local and national artists as well as studio space for working artists.
The Great Falls Art Center (GFAC) is located in Great Falls, two miles east of Sterling. Founded in 1982, this non-profit community art center offers weekly art classes in drawing, painting, pottery, sculpture and art history for students of all ages. All of the classes are taught by professionals working in the arts. In addition to weekly classes, the center offers monthly classes on art history and individual artists. During the summer, the GFAC offers an eight-week Summer Art Camp for children and teens. The center also offers public exhibitions for member artists to display and sell their works. As of January 2011, the annual dues for GFAC membership are $35, which include free participation in exhibitions and website displays, and reduced admission to special events.
The J Art Studio, founded in 1992, offers art instruction in three different locations in Northern Virginia: Chantilly, Centreville and Annandale. Each full-service facility offers art instruction in illustration, graphic and industrial design, drawing, painting, and sculpture for students of all ages. The studio also specializes in college-portfolio preparation for high school juniors and seniors (with a focus on illustration, graphic design, interior design and fashion) and a three-week summer program for students of all ages. All of the classes are three hours in length and taught by qualified artists.