CWI Launches Career-Centered Photography Program with Small Business Coaching

College of Western Idaho (CWI) has launched a brand new Digital Photography program designed to assist college students flip their artistic expertise into sustainable careers proper right here within the Treasure Valley.

“We really wanted to create something unique that wasn’t duplicating what other schools in the valley were already offering,” mentioned Brenda Fisher, Chair of the Art Department at CWI. “This is about creating opportunities that didn’t previously exist for students and for our local workforce.”

Shawna Donahue is main and instructing the brand new program. An internationally exhibited artist, she brings experience in images, artist’s books, and encaustic collage. Her work is included in collections such because the New York Public Library and UCLA. Prior to Donahue becoming a member of CWI she was an teacher at Boise State University. She is now coming into her tenth 12 months of training college students at CWI. Visit shawna-donahue.com to discover her portfolio and inventive tasks.

The program was developed from the bottom as much as meet workforce demand and scholar curiosity. While different establishments focus solely on advantageous arts images, CWI’s program takes a extra utilized, career-focused strategy. Students achieve hands-on expertise in editorial, portrait, occasion, and business images, and learn to construct a contract or small enterprise with real-world coaching. The program continues to be a fantastic match for college kids occupied with advantageous artwork, nevertheless it additionally opens the door to a wider vary of profession alternatives. Students may even develop a portfolio throughout their research, offering an superior technique to illustrate their expertise and exhausting work after commencement.

“There’s a misconception that if you pursue the arts, you’re destined to struggle financially,” Shawna shared. “But the arts are everywhere in our world, and this program proves you can build a sustainable, rewarding career with the right training.”

Until now, college students occupied with images had restricted choices after highschool. With greater than 1,500 highschool college students collaborating in Career Technical Education (CTE) images programs throughout the area annually, CWI’s program fills a long-standing hole for native, career-ready coaching after highschool.

“There was a real need for a local program that would allow students to build on what they started in high school,” mentioned Donahue. “Now, we can be that next step.”

To give college students flexibility primarily based on their targets and timeline, CWI provides two pathways: a one-year Basic Technical Certificate (BTC), very best for working professionals or these seeking to construct marketable expertise shortly, or a two-year Associate of Applied Science (AAS) diploma designed for these in search of a deeper, extra complete schooling. Along the way in which, college students can earn an extra Small Business and Entrepreneurship Certificate with out including time.

A key characteristic of this system is its gear-inclusive mannequin. Equipment charges are constructed into a number of images programs, permitting college students to construct an expert equipment over time and use monetary support the place eligible. For those that already personal gear, opt-out choices can be found on a case-by-case foundation.

“This program is about showing students that a career in the arts can be both creative and sustainable,” Shawna added. “We are giving them the tools to succeed on day one.”

Flexible scheduling, stackable credentials, and powerful neighborhood partnerships make this program accessible to a spread of learners, from current highschool graduates to working professionals.

Beyond the classroom, this system is actively constructing relationships with native artistic businesses to offer college students with real-world expertise by internships and collaborative tasks. For instance, college students in this system have photographed CWI’s new Health and Science and Simplot Agriculture Building, and their work will probably be displayed as large-scale artwork inside these areas.

The curriculum additionally consists of basic schooling programs comparable to private finance, design, communication, and movie and video manufacturing to assist college students develop into well-rounded artistic professionals.

This mixture of sensible expertise, enterprise coaching, and real-world expertise makes CWI’s Digital Photography program a beneficial choice for college kids who need to remodel their artistic ardour right into a lifelong profession.

Ready to show your creativity right into a profession? Learn extra in regards to the Digital Photography program at College of Western Idaho.