STERLING, Va.  – June 8, 2009   The Art Institutes system of schools announced the opening of a new school: The Art Institute of Washington — Northern Virginia, a branch of The Art Institute of Atlanta, will hold its first day of classes on October 5, 2009.

The new school will occupy approximately 19,000 square feet at 21000 Atlantic Boulevard in the Washington, DC suburb of Sterling, Va. The school will begin enrolling students immediately.

“Our expansion in northern Virginia enables us to offer quality creative arts programs to even more students in the area, preparing them to pursue their chosen careers and to make a meaningful impact in the community,” says John Mazzoni, president of The Art Institutes.

Initially, The Art Institute of Washington — Northern Virginia will offer bachelor’s degree programs in Advertising, Fashion & Retail Management, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Media Arts & Animation, Photographic Imaging, and Web Design & Interactive Media; and associate’s degree programs in Graphic Design and Web Design & Interactive Media.

“We’re excited to open our doors in Sterling this fall, and to provide residents with the media arts, design and fashion programs they’ve come to expect from The Art Institutes schools,” says Sam Ortiz, campus director of The Art Institute of Washington — Northern Virginia.  “I look forward to leading the school’s team and seeing The Art Institute of Washington — Northern Virginia become a supportive educational partner in northern Virginia.”

The Art Institute of Washington — Northern Virginia will join The Art Institute of Washington, located in Arlington, Va., as the second Art Institutes school in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  The Art Institute of Washington is also a branch of The Art Institute of Atlanta. 

For more information about The Art Institute of Washington — Northern Virginia, call 1.888.627.5008 or visit the school’s Web site at http://www.artinstitutes.edu/northern-virginia.

For the Media: Download The Art Institute of Northern — Virginia Presskit as a PDF

The Art Institute of Washington — Northern Virginia is a branch campus of The Art Institute of Atlanta. The Art Institute of Atlanta is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404.679.4500 to obtain answers to questions about the accreditation of The Art Institute of Atlanta.

The Art Institute of Washington — Northern Virginia is certified by The State Council of Higher Education to operate in Virginia. 

The Art Institute of Washington — Northern Virginia is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), a system of over 40 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.