In the heart of Springville, Utah lives a little-known art school that rivals the famous classical art academies of New York, Florence, and Barcelona. The Masters Academy of Art, which meets a growing need for art students seeking out traditional art instruction, teaches the same classical techniques of drawing and painting that were taught in the schools of 19th century Paris. They are one of only six schools in the world that teaches this curriculum, and the goal of Ryan Brown, director of the academy, is to make this unique education accessible to more art students.
The school offers a regimented studio environment in which students learn to observe nature and become intimately familiar with the methods of seeing and interpreting a subject. Students receive daily critiques of their work from experienced instructors, which allows them to progress quickly in their craft. The school provides training for all skill levels, from new and mature artist training to supplementary training for experienced artists, to atelier placement for students who want to train with a network of working masters. Students receive instruction from award winning artists who have studied and shown in galleries all over the world.
Clyde Companies, because it owes much of its heritage to Springville, Utah, has stepped in to help the academy in that goal with a donation that will be used as a half scholarship to fund one art student. Promoting the arts locally is one of Clyde Companies’ priorities and is in line with its initiative to Build Better Communities. To have such a significant artistic resource in Springville is an exciting opportunity for the community and the state of Utah, and Clyde Companies is proud to foster this type of growth in the arts.
Brown is hopeful that the school will continue its upward trajectory as more members of the community recognize the school’s importance to the arts in Utah and are willing to support it.
“The school is experiencing significant growth,” says Brown, “and the only way we can continue to grow is with this type of community support.”
According to Brown, the donation from Clyde Companies was the first in a list of 15 businesses from which the academy is asking donations. In leading the way, the Clyde Companies’ donation will help encourage local businesses to lend their support as well.
