GUIDED AND SHAPED BY OUR

Purpose & History

Our Purpose

The New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts opened its doors at 5256 Magazine Street in 1980. Since its inception, the school has promoted the importance of classical tradition in the visual arts. The school’s original focus in Painting, Drawing and Sculpture remains the foundation of our school. Over the course of more than 40 years, NOAFA has expanded and now offers classes in film, photography, ceramics, youth programming, abstraction, and mixed media. The school also operates two gallery spaces on campus which host essential community building events featuring internationally recognized artists.

Our faculty are passionate about teaching and approach each student at their own level. The faculty share a foundational belief that through learning to see carefully, and crafting skill sets in the foundations of the fine arts, we better ourselves as human beings. This core philosophy endures through the growth of the school. The New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts is proud of its current faculty, students and alumni who fill our studios with moments of joy and artistic thought.

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The Academy

As a non-profit, it is our goal to enrich lives, encourage creativity, and help others to appreciate art by providing a nurturing environment for engaging education and personal enjoyment. We believe our work will preserve, sustain, and enhance the legacy in the visual arts for New Orleans and beyond. We need your support to make it so.

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