INSPIRED TO CREATE

The Ashley Hall Visual Arts program provides every student with a firm foundation of artistic skills through a student-centered, sequential program of instruction that includes art production, history, and criticism.

All visual arts students, from pre-school through twelfth grade, will explore a wide range of art production, process, and media exploration through drawing and both two-dimensional and three-dimensional design. Activities are often selected to make an interdisciplinary connection with other subject areas.

Explore how Visual Arts looks in each division:

Early School (Ages 2-5)

Atelier Studio

The Atelier in the Early School is a special studio space where children are exposed to a wide variety of creative materials, including clay, paint, wire, pastels, sculpture, chalk, crayons, pencils, paper, fabric, yarn, and recycled items. The studio is guided by the Atelierista, an educator with a background in the arts, who encourages students to express their unique ideas and experiment. As a space that honors process over product, the Atelier invites children to think critically, explore abstract concepts, and make meaning through hands-on, multi-sensory experiences that reflect their inquiries and imagination.

Learn more about Ashley Hall's Early School program

Lower School (Kindergarten - Grade 4)

Lower School students in kindergarten through fourth grade attend weekly visual arts classes. These sessions focus on developmentally appropriate exploration of media and materials in an experiential setting to develop artistic behaviors.

Learn more about Ashley Hall's Lower School program

Middle School (Grades 5-8)

Middle School visual arts courses are designed to allow for an experiential, student-centered approach to further artistic endeavors. Seventh and eighth-grade students can select from 2D visual art or 3D visual art and are required also to take one semester of performing arts. Each year, Nautilus 3D artists team up as models and designers to construct a piece of wearable art. Their final exhibit is a fashion show for their peers and teachers.

Learn more about Ashley Hall's Middle School program

Upper School (Grades 9-12)

With dedicated studio spaces, the Upper School’s Fine Arts program is known for its excellence and innovation. Coursework includes 2D drawing and painting classes, 3D Honors, and AP opportunities, including sculpture. Artwork can be seen exhibited on campus throughout the year for all to enjoy.

Learn more about Ashley Hall's Upper School program

Art Programs at a Glance

PERFORMING ARTS
The Ashley Hall Performing Arts program provides students with a curriculum that nurtures talent from a young age. Through intense study in vocal, dance, and theatrical programs, students learn an appreciation of performing arts and gain the ability and knowledge needed to continue performance arts study.
VOCAL MUSIC
Vocal music at Ashley Hall begins in Kindergarten and finishes with the oldest established ensemble at Ashley Hall, the Red Choir. Young vocal students receive musical training encompassing a wide variety of genres and cultures.
THEATER
Drama at Ashley Hall, offered to students in grades six through twelve, begins with an introduction to the fundamentals of theater and culminates with each student’s conducting a thorough study and performance of a prominent American playwright. Through acting exercises, students learn reliable vocal control, increase body awareness and flexibility and improve concentration, attention and listening skills. Productions of Shakespeare and contemporary plays, as well as the rich humanities curriculum allow for a well-rounded and thorough introduction to theatrical performing arts.
DANCE
Dance at Ashley Hall promotes body awareness, coordination, core strength, and flexibility. The students strive to find a balance between hard work developing technique and the more playful activity of creating expressive movement. Students will experience movement, develop and nurture respect for theater decorum, and gain appreciation of performance art.
VISUAL ARTS
The Ashley Hall Visual Arts program provides every student with a firm foundation of artistic skills through a student-centered, sequential program of instruction that includes art production, history, and criticism. All visual arts students, from pre-school through twelfth grade, will explore a wide range of art production, process, and media exploration through drawing and both two-dimensional and three-dimensional design. Activities are often selected to make an interdisciplinary connection with other subject areas.