AHS Media Arts Program

The Media Arts Program teaches students to use elements and tools of current and emerging technologies to create works that express feelings and ideas. Students are challenged to appreciate, analyze and create works through the moving image, stop-motion animation, sound, photography, digital arts and interactive media.

Junior students are introduced to a variety of genres and approaches to subject matter, basic technology, and criticism in an historical and cultural context. Students develop critical and creative thinking skills by creating works that convey their own ideas. Senior students learn advanced skills and techniques, history and theory, career planning and portfolio development, and work on an independent senior project of their choice as they develop a personal vision.

Students learn through hands-on assignments, lectures, readings and technical demonstrations. Work is evaluated through self-assessment, peer-assessment and teacher-assessment during class critiques, projects, portfolio interviews, class discussions, exhibitions, observations, technical tests and technical demonstrations.

Media Arts students are involved with the community both regionally and nationally, in a variety of venues. Students have won over 200 regional and national awards for their work through competitions such as Scholastic Art Awards Program and National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. Arts High School students have worked on a variety of community projects with other institutions including the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Minnesota Film Board, and cable access centers.