The B.A. in Visual Art Studies: Studio Art & Curatorial Studies concentration expands on the theoretical grounding of the Visual Art Studies major, offering students a closer interaction with the creative and managerial aspects of the art world. The program is taught by a diverse faculty of artists, academics, and art professionals active in both the local and international art scenes. Students first develop skills in the traditional art genres of drawing and painting combined with new media forms that they can later apply to managing collections and designing exhibition spaces.

Class of 2022 graduate and Manager of the Colloredo-Mansfeld Art Collection, Maximillian Colloredo-Mansfeld, emphasized the positive impact AAU’s pedagogical style had on his career:

“I greatly benefited from its emphasis on real-world engagement and small class sizes, which fostered close connections with art professionals and a robust theoretical foundation. This unique environment inspired my career and enabled me to establish a startup that leverages AI to help private collectors inventory their art and streamline processes like art loans, promoting greater cultural exchange.” – Colloredo-Mansfeld

Colloredo-Mansfeld was fascinated by how humans view time and history, dedicating his final curator’s project to the concept: moving away from linear ways of thinking and towards a more conceptual approach to exhibiting collections that span different styles. This idea was embodied in the group show with artists Tomáš Kurečka, Štefan Tóth, Tereza Zelenková, Martin Pondělíček, Šárka Koudelová, Dana Sahánková, and Roman Štětina. Colloredo-Mansfeld found that placing older works by contemporary works opened them up to new critique and/or admiration.

“It is no longer valid to portray eras into different rooms because it does not build a relationship between the viewer and the work of art,” Colloredo-Mansfeld said. “Contrast helped spark questions about how we see history and how contemporary art can offer new ways to think about the past.”

Colloredo-Mansfled’s current project lies in caring for his family’s art collection and building a business to digitalize art collections, called Kollektor, with the goal to make private collections more accessible to the public.

The B.A. in Visual Art Studies is delivered by a diverse faculty of artists, academics, and art professionals active in both the local and international art scenes. The program offers a unique synthesis of art history, curatorial studies, and studio art, laying a solid foundation in the theory and practice of the visual arts. Students develop skills in the traditional art genres of drawing and painting combined with the new media, photography and film. By the time they leave, graduates will have experienced and understood the full spectrum of artistic creation, from theory to practice.

Class of 2024 graduate Anna Cook exemplifies the strong portfolio students can build at AAU:

Cook is inspired by the natural world and where it intersects and cohabits with the human world as well as religion. Her final project at AAU interrogated the Book of Revelation, the last in the Bible, where Armageddon and the ultimate destruction of the Earth is prophesied. Cook’s art explored the conflicted feelings she has with her own beliefs and the fact that “some Christians feel that the Second coming will precede environmental catastrophe, leading them to lack the urgency needed to address environmental issues.”

What does it take to tell a compelling story with nothing but a camera, an idea, and a journalist’s curiosity? In the Video-Storytelling course at Anglo-American University, students from the School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences spend a semester answering that very question, not with words, but with film.

Using semi professional DSLR cameras, wireless audio gear, and techniques drawn from leading media, and taught by our distinguished lecturer: Bjorn Steinz. This blog showcases their final projects: original, nonfiction short films that explore real people, real places, and real issues through their lens.

Before students hit record, they dive into the theory and craft of video journalism. Weekly lectures introduce them to technical fundamentals such as, lighting, framing, sound, editing alongside powerful examples from award-winning media outlets. Each week builds on the last, combining skill-building assignments with in-class feedback sessions that challenge students to improve, adapt, and grow.

Unlike many media courses, smartphones aren’t allowed. Why? Because this course is about learning how to tell stories with more professional tools instead of a just smart phone (which is what everybody uses nowadays). A smart phone can be a valid tool but students need to understand how to tell a visual story going further from simply pressing the record button. This focuses on the kind used in real newsrooms and documentary production. For many students, it’s their first time working with a DSLR camera, yet by semester’s end, they’re producing pieces worthy of publication.

The second half of the semester is dedicated to the students’ final projects, 4-minute nonfiction films that each tell a unique story. From the first idea to the final cut, students are responsible for everything: filming, editing, interviewing, and refining. They submit rough cuts mid-way, receive feedback, and shape their work into polished journalistic videos by semester’s end.

The results speak for themselves. Below you’ll find a selection of the final projects created in this year’s Video-Storytelling course. These films represent the students’ hard work, creativity, and commitment to telling real stories that matter.

The result? A diverse and thoughtful collection of short films exploring real people, places, and issues, all produced by students, many of whom had never used professional equipment before this course. These projects reflect not only the technical skills gained throughout the semester but also the personal investment and journalistic curiosity that each student brought to their work and most of all, what stories they are interested in to tell and what has meaning for them.

Watch the Students Videos here

Whether exploring hidden corners of Prague or shedding light on untold personal stories, these student filmmakers are doing more than learning, they’re creating. Through hands-on practice and critical feedback, they’ve taken on the challenge of visual journalism and produced work that reflects the world around them with clarity and heart.

This is storytelling in motion, and it’s just the beginning.

1. A City Steeped in Art and History

Prague is often described as an open-air museum, and for good reason. From Gothic cathedrals and Baroque palaces to modern street art, every corner of the city is a source of inspiration. The Astronomical Clock, Charles Bridge, and the iconic Prague Castle are just a few examples of the architectural beauty that makes this city a masterpiece.

2. A Thriving Contemporary Art Scene

While the historical landmarks are breathtaking, Prague is also home to a growing contemporary art movement. The DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, MeetFactory, and the National Gallery Prague showcase some of the best modern works from both Czech and international artists. As a student, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with this thriving creative community.

3. Affordable Cost of Living for Artists

Compared to other European art capitals like Paris or London, Prague offers a much more affordable lifestyle. The cost of rent, food, and transportation is significantly lower, allowing students to focus on their art without financial strain. This makes it easier to invest in materials, attend exhibitions, and travel for inspiration.

4. A Hub for International Collaboration

Prague is a truly international city, attracting artists and students from around the world. Studying here means you’ll be part of a diverse creative network, collaborating with peers from different cultures and artistic backgrounds. This exposure broadens your perspective and enhances your artistic voice.

5. Opportunities to Exhibit and Gain Exposure

One of the biggest advantages of studying visual arts in Prague is the opportunity to showcase your work. The city hosts numerous student exhibitions, open studios, and gallery events where young artists can display their creations and gain recognition. Whether you specialize in painting, digital art, or photography, there’s a space for you to share your vision with the world.

6. An Inspirational Natural and Urban Landscape

Beyond museums and galleries, Prague’s charming streets, lush parks, and scenic riverbanks serve as a constant source of inspiration. Whether sketching in Old Town Square or photographing the mist-covered rooftops at sunrise, the city itself is a living canvas.

7. Access to Leading Professors and Mentors

As a visual arts student in Prague, you’ll have the chance to learn from accomplished professors and industry professionals. Many art programs in the city emphasize mentorship, offering guidance from artists who have made their mark in the international art scene.

8. Gateway to the European Art World

Prague’s central location makes it an ideal base for exploring Europe’s most influential art hubs. A short train or plane ride can take you to Berlin, Vienna, or Paris, allowing you to visit world-renowned museums, galleries, and art fairs that will further enrich your artistic education.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a city that blends history with innovation, tradition with modernity, and affordability with world-class opportunities, Prague is the place to be. As a visual arts student, you’ll find endless inspiration, invaluable connections, and the perfect environment to develop your craft.

Ready to turn your passion into a career? Discover more about our Visual Arts program and apply today!

In broad terms, visual arts include disciplines like painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, digital art, graphic design, and more. In many educational settings—especially when people ask what is visual arts in high school—the subject serves as an introduction to artistic techniques, creative thinking, and art history. But at the university level, and particularly at AAU, visual arts become a platform for critical inquiry, professional growth, and interdisciplinary innovation.

At Anglo-American University, the Visual Art Studies (VAS) program is more than a place to learn. it’s a vibrant creative ecosystem shaped by some of the most influential figures in Central Europe’s contemporary art world. With a curriculum that seamlessly integrates classical foundations with cutting-edge practice, the real heartbeat of the program lies in its faculty: a group of renowned curators, artists, and historians who don’t just teach art, they live it.

AAU’s VAS faculty aren’t just educators—they’re active players in the global art conversation. Many come directly from the institutions that define Prague’s artistic identity: the National Gallery in Prague, Kunsthalle Praha, DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, MeetFactory, and the Jindřich Chalupecký Society, among others. Their involvement ensures that students are not only exposed to the theory and history of art but are also immersed in the evolving realities of the contemporary art world.

Classes often take place in the galleries and museums themselves, placing students in direct contact with major collections and exhibitions. This approach turns Prague into an extended classroom, with students engaging in real-time with the spaces where art is created, curated, and consumed.

What is special about the VAS program is the ongoing mentorship students receive, not just through structured coursework, but through close collaboration on final projects and theses. Whether students are mounting their first exhibition, developing a curatorial proposal, or experimenting with new media, they’re supported by mentors who’ve done it all, often on the international stage.

In this program, students don’t just learn about art, they experience it as practitioners, collaborators, and emerging professionals. Thanks to a faculty whose work is shaping museums, galleries, and cultural discourse both in Prague and around the world, the Visual Art Studies program at AAU offers a creative education that’s as ambitious and alive as the city it calls home.

So, what is visual arts at AAU? It’s a hands-on, interdisciplinary experience where the gallery becomes the classroom, and the faculty are active practitioners who shape the field every day. Whether you’re coming from a high school background in the arts or transitioning from another discipline, AAU’s program offers a launchpad into the professional art world, grounded in both tradition and innovation.

The B.A. in Visual Art Studies: Studio Art & Curatorial Studies program is delivered by a diverse faculty of artists, academics, and art professionals active in both the local and international art scenes. Students develop skills in the traditional art genres of drawing and painting combined with the new media, photography and film. This well-balanced synthesis, in concert with a focus on curatorial studies and art management, is built on a classic model that has stood the test of centuries By the time they leave, graduates will have experienced and understood the full spectrum of artistic creation, from theory to practice.

In this section we would like to showcase the latest students’ art. Enjoy!

Interesting Alumni recent exhibitions:
2024 graduate Anna Cook
Graduate and Manager of the Colloredo-Mansfeld Art Collection

Students’ Work:

M(other) Earth

is a student-curated group exhibition exploring the intersection of ecology and feminism through contemporary art. Organized by Visual Art Studies students as part of their curatorial practice, the exhibition brings together both emerging and established voices from the Czech art scene. Through diverse media and perspectives, M(other) Earth invites viewers to reflect on the ways environmental and gender issues intertwine — and how artistic expression can offer new ways of seeing both. From concept development to artist selection and installation, the entire curatorial process was led by students, offering a hands-on experience in shaping a public-facing exhibition with real-world impact.