Recognized as an innovator in the arts since its inception more than 100 years ago, and internationally esteemed as a school of art and design, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago offers a comprehensive college education centered in the visual and related arts. The School of the Art Institute of Chicago's primary purpose is to foster the conceptual and technical education of the artist in a highly professional and studio-oriented environment. Believing that the artist's success is dependent on both creative vision and technical expertise, the School encourages excellence, critical inquiry, and experimentation.