New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts

The New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts is an art school that promotes the importance of classical tradition in the visual arts. The school's original focus in Painting, Drawing and Sculpture remains the foundation of our courses, but over the past 40 years, NOAFA has expanded to offer classes in film, photography, ceramics, youth programming, abstraction, and mixed media. The school also operates two gallery spaces on campus and hosts free community events featuring local and internationally recognized artists.

Our faculty are working artists who are passionate about teaching and approach each student at their own level. The faculty share a foundational belief that through learning to see carefully, and crafting skill sets in the foundations of the fine arts, we better ourselves as human beings. 

As we grow, the Academy aims to provide more access to the Fine Arts through programming that is free.

• Academy on Wheels: The Academy launched a mobile art classroom in Fall 2025 to provide free fine arts programming at charter schools and organizations across Orleans Parish. We currently visit 3 locations every week and many more have requested to partner with us. To include more locations, we need more funding to pay for the faculty and supplies

• Free Family Art Days: The Academy plans to host 2-4 events each year (beginning April 2026) where both adults and children can attend free art classes at the Academy. 

• Scholarship Program: The Academy is expanding our scholarship program to provide more need-based scholarships. In the past two years, we have doubled the number of scholarships granted from 14 to 29. We will continue to grow the scholarship program so artists throughout the city can study with us regardless of financial means.

Please join our community of art lovers and art makers and help us bring Fine Arts to many more in the New Orleans community.