Memphis College of Art

Memphis College of Art was a private college of art and design in Memphis, Tennessee, with a history that began in 1936. The institution operated in Overton Park and served students seeking undergraduate and graduate education in studio art, design, and art education. Its academic offerings included Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees, a Master of Fine Arts program, a Master of Arts in Teaching, and graduate work in art education, giving it a role that extended from professional studio training to teacher preparation. The college’s work centered on specialized arts instruction and public cultural engagement in the Memphis region. Its programs included majors such as animation, graphic design, illustration, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and filmmaking, reflecting a broad commitment to visual arts practice and design disciplines. Memphis College of Art also maintained galleries and presented exhibitions and events that connected student and faculty work with the wider community. In 2017, the board voted to close the college, citing long-term financial pressures and declining enrollment. The institution ceased degree-granting operations in 2020. After closure, stewardship of records and legacy functions continued through arrangements involving local partners, including the transfer of student transcripts to the University of Memphis. Memphis College of Art remains significant in the history of arts education in Tennessee because it trained generations of artists, designers, and educators in Memphis and contributed to the city’s cultural life for more than eight decades.