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The Case for an Art School in Louisville

Art schools have a positive and energizing impact on the cities they serve. Throughout the U.S., elected officials and business leaders recognize the important role that art schools can play in transforming urban landscapes. Kentucky School of Art aspires to be precisely this kind of catalyst for Louisville, drawing a highly skilled and creative population, adding a rich new dimension to the existing arts and cultural attractions, and becoming a magnet for businesses that support a rich arts culture.  An influx of talented and motivated students and professionals will propagate galleries, public art installations, lectures, art classes, and other cultural programs. These new residents will further boost the economy by attracting upscale businesses and services, while maintaining and adding to the city’s urban neighborhoods.

Louisville Mayor, Greg Fischer, shows support for KSA

An Extraordinary Opportunity and a Challenge

Since the inception of the concept in 2008, The Kentucky School of Art has been able to generate considerable interest and support for an eventual new art college in Louisville. Passion for this project has been expressed through monetary and in-kind donations, including that of Spalding University, which has entered into an affiliation agreement with KSA. Now located in historic Teilhard Hall in the heart of the Spalding campus, this affiliation agreement expands the range of educational opportunities for Spalding, its students, and KSA.

Spalding University is fully accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award degrees at the associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist’s, and doctoral levels. The Kentucky School of Art is not accredited by SACS and the accreditation of Spalding University does not extend to or include the Kentucky School of Art.

Although Spalding University accepts certain coursework in transfer toward a credential from Kentucky School of Art, or collaborates in other ways for generation of course credits or program credentials, other colleges and universities may or may not accept this work in transfer, even if it appears on a transcript from Spalding University. This decision is made by the institution subsequently considering the possibility of accepting such credits.