The best art schools in St. Petersburg for 2022

A person savvy in the field of art and culture always commands respect and admiration. This is especially true for St. Petersburg, which has long been considered the cultural capital. The city has a huge number of art schools, studios, courses, where everyone, regardless of age, can receive primary classical and academic education. After studying, you can become, if not an artist or sculptor, then acquire the skills of professional painting, graphics, and modeling. However, not everywhere is taught equally qualified and high quality. Below is a ranking of the best art schools in St. Petersburg for 2022 with a description of the characteristics and benefits of studying in them.

How to choose an art school

Many people dream of learning how to draw, sculpt, and paint professionally. To realize this dream, you need to choose a good art school.

What are art schools

Main types of art schools:

• state (budgetary): exist only in our country, basic primary academic education is given completely free of charge, upon completion, graduates receive state-recognized diplomas for admission to secondary and higher educational art institutions; many schools become self-sufficient when the state partially finances them, but the bulk of the funds used for repairs, staff salaries, and the purchase of materials and equipment are made through the introduction of paid courses and classes.
• private (author's): institutions of a commercial nature, provided paid services.

Art schools can be conditionally divided into two types:

• for children and adolescents: curricula are designed for a children's audience, most often these are classical methods in budget art schools. Classes for children and teenagers are also opened in private copyright institutions, but on a paid basis.
• for adults: private schools, studios, courses that involve short-term training in certain techniques, styles of drawing and painting.

Main selection criteria

To get into a good art school, it is advisable to study the following criteria:

• Teaching Staff;
• learning programs;
• professional equipment;
• workshop;
• promotion and development of students.

Teaching Staff. Creative natures are often too vulnerable, touchy, impulsive. First of all, it is appropriate to study the reviews of students, graduates of the art school about teachers. When choosing, it is important to take into account not only the qualifications, but also the human qualities of the future mentor.

The ideal ratio is:

• passion for the subject;
• Teacher Education;
• high level of artistic skill;
• experience with a specific age group;
• benevolence, attentiveness;
• the ability to create a friendly, calm creative environment in the group;
• respect for the personality of each student.

It is better for a child to learn from a teacher with many years of experience who loves children and is passionate about his subject. With such teachers, students study with great pleasure, not burdened by heavy loads.

For a teenager who dreams of purposefully honing his artistic skills, a specialist with a narrow focus is suitable: painting, painting, drawing from life, graphics.

For an adult who wants to get an art education, the personality of the teacher is important, having found a common language with whom, it will be comfortable and easy in the learning process. If communication is burdensome, classes will not bring pleasure and results.

A simple tip: whenever possible, be sure to go to trial classes, Open House Days, to see if the teaching staff is suitable for the future long process of learning and communication. The school should be comfortable, interesting, pleasant to study.

Training program. When entering an art school, it is imperative to take into account the curriculum: is there a holistic consistent program or only courses on teaching certain methods of painting and drawing. In the latter case, the establishment is likely to specialize in short-term courses on acquaintance with the techniques of artistic mastery, copying works. Usually, a description of the curriculum, its goals, stages, teaching methods is indicated on the official website.

Professional equipment. It is appropriate to carefully consider the availability and condition of easels, tablets, sketchbooks. The art materials used at school are important: whether they are the most inexpensive paints, inexpensive brushes, erasers, pencils, or expensive materials from the best manufacturers, the work with which brings the best result and pleasure. The list of necessary equipment is supplemented by:
comfortable ergonomic furniture for comfortable placement of students and maintaining posture;
good lighting so that students do not spoil their eyesight.

Workshop. When choosing an art school, you should pay attention to the presence of a workshop. If instead of it there are ordinary classrooms where students work sitting at tables, and not at easels, then it is hardly necessary to choose such an institution. The most popular art schools have a spacious, bright studio where you can draw, standing at the easel, having the opportunity and place to step aside, to examine the work from the side as a whole.The workshop is not just a beautiful attribute of an art school, it allows you to competently and professionally develop skills and the basics of craftsmanship.

Promotion and development of students. An art school should not only give students theoretical knowledge in the field of fine arts, develop skills in mastering various techniques and styles of drawing. It is important to fully develop students. It contributes to:

• holding regular plein airs, providing drawing from nature in the open air;
• organization of exhibitions of students' works on their own and third-party art platforms to see their creations from the outside, in the exposition;
• foreign art travels to immerse yourself in the culture, style of local masters.

Recommendations when choosing an art school

Here is a list of recommendations on what to look for when choosing an art school:

1. Choose a school with many years of experience, awards for its contribution to the education and aesthetic education of the younger generation: the older it is, the more stable its training program, the stronger the teaching staff, the stronger the knowledge and skills acquired by students.
2. Give preference to a school whose teachers are active artists: a practicing professional will be able to give more quality skills in mastering artistic skills.
3. Do not allow a sudden change in the technique and style of drawing, teaching methods: long addiction slows down the development of skills.
4. Study the class schedule: a big plus is that there are separate classes in composition and drawing.
5. Choose a school with a minimum set of groups (no more than eight people), otherwise it will be difficult for the teacher to carry out an individual approach to each student.
6. Find out from the teacher how the teaching takes place. According to graduates, it is important to have a specific methodology, and not chaotic classes at the discretion of the teacher.
7. To study the opinions of students, graduates about the art school. From them you can get a lot of necessary information about the cost of education, the arrangement of classrooms, the comfort of classes, and the professionalism of teachers.

The best art schools in St. Petersburg for 2022

We will conduct a short review of the best art schools in St. Petersburg for 2022, based on student feedback, official information from websites, and independent open sources. For each institution, consider:

• Contact details;
• advantages and disadvantages;
• how to proceed;
• what is taught;
• what the cost of studying.

Children's art schools

St. Petersburg Children's Art School No. 1

Founded: 1963
Address: emb. Fontanka River, 18 A
☎+7 (812) 273-6642
Website: http://art-school-1.ru/
Working hours: Mon-Sat 13.30 -20.00

The school occupies the third floor of a three-storey historic stone mansion with a portico in a beautiful old part of the city. A strong teaching staff graduated more than two thousand students, many of whom later became professional artists and sculptors. For participation in numerous exhibitions in Russia, France. Japan and other countries, students are awarded diplomas, certificates, gifts. The nine-year training program for children from 7 to 18 years old is carried out in four departments:

• pictorial and graphic;
• theatrical and decorative;
• ceramic;
• textile painting.

On the school website in the Questionnaire section, you can leave a review about the services received. Education is completely free, there are no scholarships or financial incentives for students.The school has nine equipped classrooms, a props room, a teacher's room, and a library. In the lobby and corridors, gallery exhibition equipment for the work of students. The school is equipped for teaching disabled children of the following categories:

• disabled people with intellectual disabilities;
• visually impaired people;
• hearing impaired people;
• disabled people with disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

The issue of accessibility of all premises to disabled people moving in a wheelchair is being addressed.
The location of the institution is convenient: within walking distance from the metro stations Gostiny Dvor, Chernyshevskaya, Nevsky Prospekt. The nearest intersection is equipped with a traffic light, a pedestrian crossing.

• good basic education;
• free education;
• solid practical skills in the chosen specialization;
• caring and benevolent teachers;
• democratic environment;
• convenient location;
• good equipment;
• regular exhibitions of students' work;
• concern for accessibility for the disabled;
• participation in international exhibitions.

• major refurbishment is required.

Children's Art School. B.M. Kustodieva

Founded: 1973
Address: Side alley, 1
☎+7 (812) 234-1395
Website: http://kustodiev-school.ru
Opening hours: daily 12.00 - 20.00

The school is located in a separate old wooden building on Kamenny Island, not far from the Black River metro station. Equipped with facilities for the disabled:

• meeting and accompanying a disabled student by prior call;
• handrails in bathrooms;
• tactile navigation and information plates;
• ramp on the rapids.

Preparatory classes are organized for those entering the school, where children learn the basics of creativity, develop spatial imagination, and perform simple tasks.Plein airs are held on the territory of the school - in a picturesque ecologically clean arch with alleys of ancient trees. Inside the building, the atmosphere is as comfortable and calm as outside: clean, spacious classrooms, rows of graduates' works on the walls of corridors and shelves along the walls of the hall, an abundance of indoor plants, decoration in pastel soothing colors. The school team is united by years of joint work, students note professionalism and tact, the ability to find a common language with any child. Some teachers practice in the field of fine arts, regularly exhibiting at the city, regional, all-Russian levels.

• a solid foundation for primary art education;
• a lot of positive feedback from graduates;
• nice atmosphere;
• friendly qualified teaching staff;
• participation in numerous exhibitions;
• low occupancy of groups;
• plein air in a picturesque park;
• preparatory classes for applicants;
• accessibility for the disabled.

• inconvenient location.

St. Petersburg Children's Art School No. 13

Founded: 1976
Address: Sveaborgskaya street, 23
☎+7 (812) 241-3494
Website: http://art-school13.ru/
Working hours: Mon-Fri 15.00 – 20.00

The school is located in the Moscow district of the city, not far from the Elektrosila metro station. Here, for 9 years of study, children study arts and crafts, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. School traditions are passed on from year to year:

1. study tours to the cities of Russia and the CIS on vacation;
2. New Year's festival with the production of scenery, costumes;
3. annual alumni reunions.

The school has its own puppet theater, the characters for which the students make from papier-mâché and plastics themselves under the guidance of teachers. The average price of training on a paid basis is 3000 rubles per month. The rest of the guys are studying on a budget. At the end of the school, state diplomas of elementary art education are issued.

• strong teaching staff;
• classical educational system;
• interesting extracurricular life of schoolchildren;
• school traditions;
• prizes and first places in exhibitions and competitions.

• Many rooms are in need of major renovations.

Children's Art School. I.P. Sautova

Founded: 1988
Address: Pushkin, Moscow highway, 4
☎+7 (812) 466-9300
Website: http://artsautov.ru/
Working hours: daily 10.00 – 20.00

More than 400 children of different ages study at the Pushkin Art School: according to the preparatory and academic programs of children's art schools. Classical subjects are taught here:

• painting;
• composition;
• picture;
• sculpture;
• art history.

Attention is also paid to the study of arts and crafts and folk art. Primary academic education for children is provided by highly qualified caring teachers with many years of pedagogical and creative experience. The best traditions of the national school are implemented by teachers with the highest category and long work experience. Evidence of this is the success of students in city, all-Russian, international exhibitions. Many children become winners and laureates of numerous creative competitions. More than half of the school's graduates go to universities for art specialties. Upon admission, the commission takes into account:

• compositional rhythm;
• tonal range;
• coordination of movements;
• creative potential;
• color mixing;
• features of perception;
• personal qualities (emotionality, perseverance, sociability).

Training is carried out on a budgetary and paid basis at a price of 3,700 to 4,500 rubles per month. After successfully passing the exams at the end of each class, a transfer to the budget is possible. Each group has 10 to 15 students.

• classical system of academic education;
• a high percentage of admission to art specialties in universities;
• success in competitions, at exhibitions;
• experienced teachers;
• equipped workshops;
• accessibility for the disabled;
• the possibility of transition to budget education.

• numerous groups.

St. Petersburg Children's Art School No. 2

Founded: 1964
Address: Nekrasova street, 10-12
☎+7 (812) 272-5567
Website: http://hudozhka2.ru/
Working hours: Mon-Sat 13.20 – 20.00

A school with rich traditions, a strong methodological base, in which caring creative teachers work. Here they are able to reach the heart of every child, reveal his creative potential, instill a love for artistic activity, cultivate an aesthetic taste, and teach him to work. The school has classrooms for the following subjects:

• art history;
• weaving;
• batik;
• printed graphics;
• sculpture;
• drawing and painting;
• ancient Russian painting.

At the service of students:

• library;
• showroom;
• methodical fund;
• two first-aid kits in the lobby and corridor;
• drinking water cooler.

Holidays, travel, city events, competitions and creative projects make school life rich and interesting. In addition to the main educational program, there is an additional general developmental program, which is implemented at the expense of students.The tuition fee is from 4400 to 6600 rubles per month, depending on the number of teaching hours. Since the 2018/2019 academic year, a paid group has been opened at the school for teaching drawing and painting to adults over 18 years old.

• high level of education quality;
• good material base;
• spacious equipped workshops;
• own showroom;
• rich methodological fund;
• highly qualified teachers;
• creative comfortable atmosphere;
• busy school life.

• not identified.

St. Petersburg Children's Art School No. 16

Founded: 1985
Address: emb. Bypass channel, 46/2
☎+7 (812) 812-273-6642
Website: http://art-schkola16.ru/
Working hours: Mon - Fri 10.00 - 20.00

A popular art school in the city with a nine-year program for children from the age of 7 is conveniently located a three-minute walk from the Obvodny Kanal metro station. There are budgetary and self-sustaining departments. Paid educational services are affordable, high quality and guaranteed. For admission on a budgetary basis, it is necessary to pass entrance tests: an interview and a creative task. You can enter the paid department if you have homemade creative work. Professionals in their field, creative teachers who love and understand children work here. This is confirmed by numerous certificates of honor, diplomas, thanks at exhibitions and creative competitions. Good technical equipment contributes to interesting classes, a comprehensive presentation of educational material, and the development of practical skills among students.

• quality educational services;
• caring professional teachers;
• fresh renovation;
• good material and technical equipment;
• large exhibition hall;
• numerous awards at exhibitions, competitions;
• inexpensive paid services;
• convenient location.

• not identified.

St. Petersburg City Art School. G.N.Antonova

Founded: 1918
Address: Rimskogo-Korsakov St., 18/12
☎+7 (812) 314-3153
Website: http://spb-artschool.ru/
Working hours: daily 11.00 – 20.00

The oldest art school in the city is included in the list of "50 best art schools", organized on behalf of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. Conveniently located in the city center, within walking distance from the Rimsky-Korsakov Prospekt stop, Spasskaya, Sadovaya metro stops. The passage to the school is equipped with regulated intersections, traffic lights with timers and sound signals, lowered curbs, which facilitate the movement of students with disabilities. Inside the school, within the framework of the state program "Accessible Environment", devices for the comfortable stay of disabled people are equipped.

A strong professional and creative team, loyalty to the traditions of the national art school determine the popularity of the institution, which has repeatedly been awarded the title of the Best Educational Institution of the Committee for Culture of St. Petersburg. The school implements additional pre-professional and general developmental programs for children from 6 to 18 years old. Pupils successfully perform in competitions in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, all-Russian and international competitions for young talents in the field of fine arts. The school has good technical equipment for the full conduct of theoretical and practical classes in all subjects, including a computer with Internet access, multimedia and projection equipment, workshops for painting, a muffle for firing sculptures and stucco moldings.

• rich methodological traditions;
• strong teaching staff;
• successful participation of students in competitions and exhibitions;
• high awards from the Committee for Culture of St. Petersburg and the Russian Federation;
• good material and technical base;
• spacious equipped workshops;
• sincere, homely atmosphere;
• equipped for the disabled;
• convenient location;
• friendly staff.

• not identified.

Art schools and studios for adults

hummingbird

Address: Turistskaya st., 30/1
☎+7 (950) 000-0921
Website: https://vk.com/artshkolaspb
Working hours: daily 10.00 – 22.00

Popular in St. Petersburg school-studio for children and adults. An individual program is drawn up for each student, which is based on age, personal characteristics, the level of artistic training, and the purpose of training. General developmental programs are compiled in the following areas:

• preparation for admission to educational art institutions;
• graphic arts;
• watercolor painting;
• oil painting;
• painting with gouache and acrylic;
• composition in painting and drawing;
• batik;
• modeling;
• drawing and painting courses;
• copying;
• calligraphy;
• color science;
• academic drawing;
• doodling and zentangle.

A modern, technically equipped, cozy school-studio for everyone who wants to learn the basics of fine art. Pupils are accepted from 3 children. Teachers work in small groups (no more than six people), individually. Despite the expensive tuition, the classrooms and workshops are always full. This is due to the flexible system of discounts, the inclusion of the necessary materials and tools in the cost of classes and master classes. You don't need to bring anything with you. Teachers are artists with pedagogical education, great experience and great creative potential. Therefore, the classes are interesting and rich.Their duration for preschool children is 60 minutes, children from 7 years old, teenagers, adults - 90 minutes. A one-time visit will cost 700 rubles, when buying a subscription - from 545 rubles per lesson.

From May to September, teachers hold plein-airs in the open air, for younger groups - on the Glukharka River, for older ones - a trip to Yelagin Island. The cost of a single visit to the plein air is 1100 rubles, by subscription - from 900 rubles per lesson. Drawing materials are provided by the school. Classes must be booked in advance. You can join any group at any level of study, subject to availability.

• adequate prices;
• high quality of education;
• individual approach;
• small groups;
• discount system;
• convenient mode of operation;
• all materials and tools are provided by the school;
• spacious workshops.

• inconvenient location.

Artika

Address: Karavannaya st., 1
☎+7 (812) 961-8807
Website: http://artica-school.ru/
Working hours: daily 9.30 – 21.00

The drawing school for adults is located in the very center of St. Petersburg, next to Nevsky Prospekt, Gostiny Dvor metro station. Offers everyone over 14 years of age to undergo training in the following areas:

• intensive courses in drawing and painting;
• mastering different drawing techniques;
• drawing a portrait, a human figure from nature;
• preparatory courses for admission to art universities;
• academic drawing;
• sketches, drawings.

Here you can master the skills of classical drawing, get acquainted with modern techniques, the art of portraiture. In the warm season, plein-air trips are practiced.The training system is simple: study the schedule on the website, select the lesson you are interested in, sign up by phone. Groups are made up of 3-5 people, each student performs a personal task, receives individual advice from a teacher - a professional artist. The lesson lasts 90 minutes. The cost of a single visit is 800 rubles. When buying a subscription, the cost of training, depending on the number of classes, varies from 3,000 to 13,000 rubles per month.

• free schedule;
• individual approach;
• solid academic knowledge;
• teachers with higher art education, practicing artists;
• comfortable atmosphere;
• comfortable workshop;
• professional artistic training;
• affordable prices;
• convenient location.

• not identified.

AShbe

Year of foundation: 2017
Address: Moskovsky pr-t, 22
☎+7 (812) 914-2903
Website: http://arthb.ru/shkola-risovaniya/
Working hours: daily 10.00 – 22.00

A relatively young, promising art school in St. Petersburg, operating on the basis of a perpetual license for educational activities. Annually leads a set of different age groups:

• children;
• teenagers;
• adults.

Located in the Admiralteisky district of St. Petersburg, within walking distance from the metro stations Technological Institute, Pushkinskaya. It occupies the entire first floor of the building, with spacious classrooms, workshops, a wide corridor, and a foyer. Classes are taught by practicing artists, graduates of the best art universities in St. Petersburg and Russia. Teaching children involves fine literacy, mastering the initial skills of fine arts. Adults take courses combining the study of classical foundations and accelerated practical exercises.Educational programs are compiled on the basis of the methods of the Russian academic system, which is the best in the world. The cost of education depends on the chosen programs, for younger groups it ranges from 3,000 to 6,500 rubles per month, for teenagers and adults - from 5,800 to 9,500 rubles.

As part of cooperation with the Russian Academy of Drawing and Painting in Italy, everyone can take art courses and internships in Florence. The school provides visa support, selects accommodation options.

One of the main activities of the school is teaching design. Being a partner of the St. Petersburg School of Design "Artfuture", the institution provides the necessary preparation for admission and training in the design specialty.

• affordable prices;
• high skill level of teachers;
• the possibility of adult education;
• courses and internships in Italy;
• preparation for admission to the St. Petersburg Artfuture School of Design;
• convenient working hours without days off;
• good material and technical base;
• convenient location.

• not identified.

Everyone decides in which institution it is better to study painting. The above rating, which includes the best, proven public and private art schools for children, teenagers, adults in St. Petersburg, will help you avoid mistakes when choosing, so that doing your favorite hobby brings real pleasure.