Undergraduate Program

Visual Art Studies: Studio Art and Curatorial Studies

The Studio Art and Curatorial Studies concentration expands on the theoretical grounding of the Visual Art Studies major, offering students a closer interaction with the creative and managerial aspects of the art world. Graduates earn a globally recognized degree, accredited in the US and EU, in just three years.

Accreditation WASC + NABHE
Degree Bachelor of Arts
Duration 3 years
Location Prague, CZ
Tuition EU 31 781 USD
Tuition NON-EU 36 679 USD
Intake Fall / Spring
Deadline Rolling Admission
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Note: This amount represents the total cost for the full degree.

About the program

The Studio Art and Curatorial Studies concentration is designed for students who seek a deeper understanding of the practical aspects of artistic practice and curation. Designed to produce individuals who are well-educated, versatile, and skilled across a broad range of media, it builds upon the critical foundation of art history and theory found in the VAS major, equipping students with both knowledge and skill in the creation and management of art.

“As an alum of Anglo American University’s Visual Arts, I greatly benefited from its emphasis on real-world engagement and small class sizes, which fostered close connections with art professionals and a robust theoretical foundation. This unique environment inspired my career and enabled me to establish a startup that leverages AI to help private collectors inventory their art and streamline processes like art loans, promoting greater cultural exchange.

Maximilian Colloredo-Mansfeld, B.A. in Visual Art Studies

Highlights

  • A comprehensive education combining art history and theory, with a curriculum designed to build hands-on skills in both artistic creation and curatorial work, taught by practicing professionals active in both the local and international art scenes.
  • Studio art skill development through direct engagement with materials and techniques, exploring painting, sculpture, digital media, and installation while refining a personal artistic voice.
  • Exhibition-making and curation, learning to research, select, and present works while managing collections and designing exhibition spaces.
  • Instruction in both classical and contemporary techniques, with attention to the new media and the growing influence of AI on art creation and ownership.
  • Experiential learning through collaborations with leading art institutions in Prague, including UMPRUM (Academy of Arts, Architecture & Design) and AVU (Academy of Fine Arts).

Learn more about the VAS program here.

Career Prospects

Graduates are well-placed for further studies in art history, curatorial studies, and studio art, as well as fellowships in research and curatorship. Additionally, they may pursue global artistic careers in museum and gallery work, curation and management, art criticism, academia, conservation, advertising, marketing, public administration, cultural NGOs, and research.

Cook is inspired by the natural world and where it intersects and cohabits with the human world as well as religion. Her final project at 51interrogated the Book of Revelation, the last in the Bible, where Armageddon and the ultimate destruction of the Earth is prophesied.

“I greatly benefited from its emphasis on real-world engagement and small class sizes, which fostered close connections with art professionals and a robust theoretical foundation. This unique environment inspired my career and enabled me to establish a startup that leverages AI to help private collectors inventory their art and streamline processes like art loans, promoting greater cultural exchange.”

Colloredo-Mansfeld

Example jobs for artists with a Studio Art and Curatorial Studies degree include:

  • Professional artist
  • Illustrator
  • New media producer
  • Graphic designer
  • Art educator
  • Artist-in-residence
  • Curator
  • Exhibition coordinator
  • Collections manager
  • Museum assistant
  • Gallery manager
  • Cultural program coordinator
  • Public art consultant
  • Art auction house specialist
  • Arts journalist
  • Art consultant
  • Heritage protection and conservator
  • And more!

Internship opportunities are likewise available to VAS graduates within organizations such as Kunsthalle, the DOX Centre for Contemporary Art , Meetfactory, and others.

Program Structure

The B.A. in Visual Art Studies: Studio Art and Curatorial Studies is a three-year program. To graduate, students must accumulate 90 US credits (180 ECTS credits) by completing 30 courses. Having passed all the required and elective courses, students complete their studies by taking a state examination covering the contents of the major module and defending their thesis.

For more information on the modular structure and the study program, please contact our admissions team at admissions@aauni.edu.

Examples of Student Work

  • 240 Hours – Alejandro Perez Perez’s diploma exhibition was the result of his deeply personal journey through 240 sleepless hours that reshaped his perception of himself and the world around him. Through an evocative mix of photography, installation art, video, sound, and performance, the exhibition invited visitors to step inside Alejandro’s experience—offering an intimate look at the delicate boundary between chaos and clarity, madness and recovery. Curated by Jen Genn, sponsored by Reluvotion, with mentorship from Björn Steinz and support from Tony Ozuna. Dates: May 21–22, 2025, at Meetfactory. .
  • – Curated by the Ba/nana Mxn collective working under the leadership of curator Karina Kottová as part of their curatorial studies, the student-curated group exhibition explored the intersection of ecology and feminism through contemporary art. The exhibition brings together both emerging and established voices from the Czech art scene. Through diverse media and perspectives, M(other) Earth invites viewers to reflect on the ways environmental and gender issues intertwine — and how artistic expression can offer new ways of seeing both. From concept development to artist selection and installation, the entire curatorial process was led by students, offering a hands-on experience in shaping a public-facing exhibition with real-world impact. Artists: Darina Alster, Daniel Baráčko, Milena Dopitová, Pavla Dundálková, Emilie Fňukalová, Yeh Fuyu, Liza Libenko, Kateřina Olivová Natalie Perkof, Afra Suna Plessing, Erika Velická Dates: May 15–16, 2025 at Viadukt Karlín – Oblouk 36. .
  • – a group show featuring both current and alumni VAS students alongside lecturers, curated by EDGe Collective (Jen Genn, Elena Coake, Dominika Dudys). Artists: Jana Babincová, Aliya Bakisheva, Anya Blanka, Veronika Šrek Bromová, Nadine Bryla, Dorota Čičatkova, Yuechen Cui, Alena Foustková, Alina Kornuttii, Alejandro Perez², Helana Shoushanian, Joshua Shultz, Sofiia Situkho, Ján Tompkins. Dates: May 10, 2025, at Studio Bubec in Řeporyje. .
  • residency/exhibition featuring VAS student Anya Blanka’s mixed media installation “Do You Still Love Me?” (2024) and works by lecturer Jana Babincová, Dates: 28 September – 31 October 2024 at Galerie Klatovy / Klenová.
  • Beyond Waste – a final art project exhibition with students Anna Cook, Helana Shoushanian, and Joshua Shultz. Date: May 25, 2024 at AAU Studios.
  • . Curated by AAU student Dorota Cicatkova for completion of studies Fall 2023. Artists: Darina Alster, Kristina Bukovcatkova, Veronika Cechmankova, Eva Macekova, Martin Pondelicek. Dates: January 3-5, 2024 at the Slovak Institute in Prague
  • Last Stand: Navigating the Digital Abyss: AI, Dystopia, and the Uncertain Horizon Curated by the students of Intro to Curatorial Studies, the exhibition tells a compelling story of eight seeds venturing on a journey to safeguard art for future generations. The ark they inhabit becomes a stage for humanity’s last stand, symbolizing both an end and a new beginning. Artists: Darja Lukjanenko, Max Lysáček, Matyáš Maláč, Lucie Rosenfeldová, Stach Szumski, Mark von Rosenstiel, Erika Velická, Stanislav Zábrodský. Dates: December 8–9, 2023, at (A)VOID Floating Gallery. .
  • Untraditional Childhood. Painting exhibition by AAU student Annushka Litchie (invited to be part of the 8th annual Lednice-Valtice Music Festival). Dates: September 28-October 30, 2023 at Havlicek Villa, Breclav-Postorna (South Moravia)
  • . Curated by AAU student Klara Mahoas for completion of studies Spring 2023. Artists: Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939), Piotr Lencki, Olivier Brut, Hugues Mahoas, Adela Oliva, Siegfried Herz, Nepheli Barbas, Matous Hasa, Michaela Fenkl, Payo Sanf, Ewa Zurakowska, based in 2095, Jules Roux, Henrique, Sey, Dorota Cicatkova. Dates: May 20-June 8, 2023 at the French Institute of Prague, Gallery 35
  • The Hybrid Canvas: AI versus Humans. Curated by AAU student Nicole Slusser for completion of studies Spring 2023. Artists: Alexey Shahov and David Čáp. Date: May 29, 2023 at Reunion Gallery, Prague 2
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Qualification Awarded

The Bachelor’s degree awarded is concurrently recognized as a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in the United States, per AAU’s accreditation by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, and as a Bakalář (Bc.) in the Czech Republic, per AAU’s accreditation by the National Accreditation Bureau for Higher Education (NABHE). Graduates may select whether to use the U.S. post-nominal or the Czech pre-nominal title.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

We provide a wide range of scholarships, tuition discounts, and financial aid options to help make quality education more accessible. To learn please visit our dedicated Financial Aid and Scholarships page.

Additional information

See what our students have to say

  • It's a great opportunity to study art in such a cultural center as Prague. The professors, often artists or important theoreticians on the Czech contemporary scene, take advantage of the vast possibilities and make their lectures outside of the classrooms. Earning the merit-based scholarship also motivates me to do my best. No other English university in Prague offers its students an education like AAU.

    Marketa Hrehorova
    Visual Arts Studies, Czech Republic
  • 51is more than a university, it’s a very special community that helps create special bonds with teachers and classmates. It doesn’t put you into the box but rather teaches you to be yourself and choose your own path. It gives you just enough autonomy and support to achieve your goals.

    Katherine Dedukh
    School of Journalism and Media, Student

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