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ART & FASHION DEPARTMENT CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY’S REDEFINING CREATIVE EDUCATION
Photography by Barri Jones Written by Pia Forbes
When Assistant Professor Mrs. Billi Arnett arrived at Clark Atlanta University in 2014, the Department of Art and Fashion had approximately 100 students, six professors, and a budget of approximately $6,000 to cover the costs of providing industry exposure to its students. Today, however, with an infinite amount of dedication and commitment from the faculty, staff, and students, the department is in a different space. With approximately 300 students majoring and minoring in creative disciplines, 12 professors—each of whom is a leader in their respective fields, and a million dollars dedicated to funding industry experiences, CAU’s Department of Art and Fashion is graduating professionals who are not only competitive, but they are setting standards in their respective disciplines. Recognized nationally and internationally for fashion merchandising and fashion design, the department also offers majors in studio art and advertising design, with minors in art, fashion design, and fashion merchandising.
Now department chair and special assistant to the dean of Arts and Sciences, Arnett (nicknamed “B.J.” by her college classmate Vanna White) says, “The beauty of a scholar’s matriculation at Clark Atlanta’s Art and Fashion Department is that they’re not only getting the bachelor of arts degree, but they’re also getting an experience that matches industry.” Asked to expound upon what that looks like from a student’s perspective, she adds, “If you are studying fashion design, for example, you’re going to meet with designers. You’re going to have Zooms. You’re going to have designers who are working in the industry come in the building. You’re going to be able to be mentored and to mirror. You’re going to have professional experiences that align with the industry that you are looking to walk into.” And that is a promise the department has delivered on, with students traveling the globe to explore and work while learning, as well as being given opportunities to shine. Among those opportunities is Art and Fashion Week, the departmental showcase of their students’ excellence through exhibitions,
32 Clark Atlanta Magazine
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