About ECA and the Visual Arts Department
ACES Educational Center for the Arts' mission is to provide high school students with the experience of studying the fine arts with practicing professional artists, stimulating a life-long curiosity for learning and a passion for the arts. ECA is located in the heart of New Haven’s Audubon Arts District and since 1973 has been a leader in fostering the education of emerging artists as they develop their unique voices. High school students from over twenty-five school districts attend ECA in the afternoon to study creative writing, dance, music, theatre and visual arts with professional artists.
The ECA Visual Arts Department offers high school students the opportunity to work with professional artists in a studio setting. Thirty-two foundation and special topics courses are offered each year in a variety of media, including sculpture, printmaking, video, darkroom photography, digital photography, painting, interdisciplinary media, new genres, and drawing.
The Visual Arts Department cultivates the exchange of creative ideas with critiques, lectures, gallery and museum trips and visiting guest artists. Our students expand their critical thinking and problem solving skills, craftsmanship and technical abilities, and visual and cultural literacy while making personally expressive artwork.