The Visual and Performing Arts at Russell Sage College

Room to Explore

We give our students the room to explore their creativity and bring their unique selves to the artists’ studio or stage. But what makes Russell Sage stand out among visual and performing arts programs is how we also prepare students for careers in the field.

Engaged Learning

We build into the curriculum the learning opportunities, internships, and other forms of professional exploration that set students up for employment in the creative economy.

You will study both art and the business of art, how to see, and how to communicate.

Accreditation

Russell Sage College’s Visual Arts programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), 11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21, Reston, VA 20190. 703-437-0700.

NASAD - National Association of Schools of Art & Design

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Visual Arts Majors

We offer four undergraduate programs in the visual arts as well as a master’s degree program in art education. And our programs are both cutting-edge and well-established.

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Performing Arts Majors

The best way to be prepared to work in the theatre industry is to participate in productions, and with up to 70 performances through our Theatre Institute at Sage a year, you’ll have built up quite a resume before you even get to outside internships at Shakespeare & Company, the Williamstown Theatre Festival, and Proctors to name a few.

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ARTS IN ACTION

You’ll have easy access to equipment like 3-D printers, a laser cutter, large format printers, Wacom Cintiq displays, scanners, audiovisual equipment, a vacuum former and more at the Art + Design Technology Center.

Two on-campus galleries — Opalka Gallery and the Little Gallery — attract prestigious exhibits and provide a professional venue for students’ work. You may also serve on the editorial board or publish your work in Vernacular, a student-run art, design and literature publication and campus tradition for more than 50 years.

And you’ll have plenty of opportunities to network with members of Troy and Albany’s creative communities at department-sponsored artist lectures, portfolio reviews and special events held in conjunction with professional organizations like AIGA.

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Meet Your Mentor

Our faculty are practicing artists and designers who are invested in your success and are eager to see you find your voice in the arts and professional world.

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experience outside the classroom

Graphic + Media Design students are doing amazing things in the “real-world” thanks to our well-established internship program. Sage students have done internships in Boston, New York City, London, and throughout the greater Capital Region of New York. Students cite the program as one of their best experiences at Sage, and many of our alumni have been hired as a direct result of their internships.

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Careers in the Creative Sector

No matter what your specialty, as a Russell Sage graduate you’ll emerge with a portfolio suitable for a career in the creative industry, or for pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree. You’ll develop an authentic, original voice and learn to redefine what’s possible in the visual arts, your community, and beyond.

Explore Outcomes

MAJOR DISCOVERY. Art + Extended Media (BFA). Expressive Arts in Mental Health (BS). Graphic + Media Design (BFA). Interior + Spatial Design (BFA). Musical Theatre (BS). Theatre (BA). Art Education (MA).

Visit Us

Learn about the exciting opportunities Russell Sage College has to offer with a campus visit, open house, or virtual program information session.

Ways to VisIt