The educators’ team from Nagaland and North East at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), the University for Creative Careers, Atlanta during their visit held from October 8-14.
Vishü Rita Krocha
Atlanta | October 18
Imagine a learning environment where every piece of decor inspires you and instantaneously brings out hidden potentials. This is exactly what Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), the University for Creative Careers, offers students from all over the world, who choose to pursue the often undervalued careers in art and design. With 98% employment rate of the students who graduate from SCAD, they go on to work in giants like Apple, Google, Pixar, Coca Cola among several others.
These are places where young creative Nagas can also choose to work in and make a thriving career out of their love for art and design.
The recent visit of educators from Nagaland and Northeast to SCAD, Atlanta from October 8-14, 2016 explored areas where young people from the region can excel in as well as prove their creative potentials. Issues relating to this were also discussed wherein the educators from Nagaland brought out how many Naga parents discourage their children from pursuing artistic careers, citing the perceived lack of employability in these creative fields.
Executive Director of International Recruitment and Relations, SCAD, Maken Imcha Payne said they have followed the principle of introducing the university to design oriented markets such as China, Korea, Latin America and India. She said, “we started getting students from the North Eastern part of India - Meghalaya, Assam and Mizoram - at this time it became very clear to me that we needed to introduce SCAD to the Nagas and the most strategic path was to bring a group of key individuals to SCAD so that they can personally experience the SCAD environment, the facilities and the quality of our students and alumni.”
An advocate of experiential learning, she felt that the educators’ retreat was the best route. “I feel it was extremely successful for various reasons - they have a new profound understanding of what creative careers mean and especially what that means at SCAD - Being able to acquire a world class education and a dream job. Our alumni go on to work for companies like Apple, Google, Pixar, Coca Cola just to name a few - this is something people only dream of - but at SCAD that is something that happens all the time. 98% our alumni within the first ten months have gotten employment within their field of study or are pursuing further education.”
Stating that Nagas can thrive in many of the creative disciplines at SCAD, Maken Imcha Payne said, “here is a great opportunity and we have such talented people from Nagaland - so it just seemed quite natural and obvious that this opportunity needed to be extended to our Nagas.” She further stated that digital programs like animation, interactive design, gaming, industrial/furniture design, fashion, film and TV, interior design, architecture would be a good fit for Nagas.
Associate Director of International Admission, SCAD, Pelesino Ane Kevichusa emphasized that there are not only careers that can be made out of art and design but that, they are paid well and a perfect fit for people inclined towards creativity.
The SCAD Atlanta, USA visit was an eye-opening experience for the 5-member educators’ team from Nagaland and the North East, comprising of Sashila Ozukum from The Hope Academy School; Priyanka Joshi from The Assam Valley School; Khrienuo Moa from G. Rio School; Zubeni Lotha, a Photographer and a Journalist from The Morung Express.
They were given an educational tour of the university in different centers by Chelsea Tench, Community Engagement Associate; Rachel Evans, SCAD Fash; Catherine M Ramsdell, Associate Chair, Liberal Arts, Professor of writing; Susan Krause, Chair of Sculpture; Steven Jarvis, Professor of Sculpture and Pooja Khandelwal, Student docent.
Naga educators’ retreat visit to SCAD Atlanta
The five member team had a first-hand experience of the top-notch education facilities and experience how students were taught. The centers of the University that the team visited included the SCAD Digital Media Centre, SCAD Show, SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion, Ivy Writing Centre and ACA Sculpture Studio of SCAD.
SCAD Digital Media Centre
The SCAD Digital Media Center houses academic majors within the School of Digital Media and the School of Entertainment Arts, including animation, interactive design and game development, motion media design, visual effects, and television producing. The expansive 60,000-square-foot facility enables students to work and train in a real-world studio environment, creating experimental, immersive and interactive pieces using the latest in technology, both practical and digital.
SCAD Show
SCAD Show features two stages with a total of 560 seats. Built in 1986 as the Academy Theater, SCAD Show serves as home to a TV fest and other SCAD Atlanta events. The main stage has a 375-seat capacity and stage 2, a capacity of 185.
SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film
SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film focuses on the future of fashion design, connecting conceptual to historical principles of dress whether ceremonial, celebratory or casual. Fortified by the university's strong global presence and worldwide connections to renowned contemporary fashion designers, filmmakers and creative professionals all over the world, SCAD FASH is an integral part of the SCAD educational experience. SCAD FASH offers diverse exhibitions, films, installations, performances and events to enliven and inspire the greater community year-round. Each program is designed to engage and appeal to visitors with varied backgrounds and interests, from textiles and jewelry to photography and film. ACA Sculpture Studio of SCAD ACA Sculpture Studio of SCAD was designed by the world-renowned architect Renzo Piano, and houses 22 individual student studios; 24-hour graduate student studio space; a visual studies classroom; a wood and metal shop with band saws, radial saws, welders, mixers, disk sanders, grinders, a spray booth; a foundry for bronze and stainless steel; a computer lab with a 3-D rapid prototyping printer and laser cutter; support equipment and an exhibition gallery. Ivy Writing Centre Ivy Writing Hall was formerly the Peters House, and designed by the noted architect Gottfried L. Norrman. The National Register of Historic Places listed it in 1972, and it now serves as a hub for distinguished visiting scholars-in-residence, lectures, the Ivy Hall Writers Series and literary salons for SCAD Atlanta. SCAD received the donated building in 2007 and extensively rehabilitated it before its opening in the fall of 2008. Since then, SCAD and Ivy Hall have received various awards including an American Institute of Architects Georgia Honor Award, the Shutze Award for craftsmanship and the Georgia Trust 2009 Preservation Award for Excellence. (With inputs for SCAD Centres from the website- www.scad.edu)
