Lower School students enjoy weekly Art classes. Middle school has Art twice per week. The classical approach regarding visual arts is concerned with cultivating a love and understanding of truth, beauty and goodness. Emphasis is given to both art history and studio art, integrating the two with concepts and subject matter of the core subjects.

The study of Art history is foundational for the study of history. Visual arts are a product of philosophy, wars, nationalities, and artists interacting with the citizens and political climate of their times. The art of a people embody their thoughts and ideas. Studying a culture’s art enables us to understand not only the people of past times, but also our own time and culture.

Studio Art teaches skills through the study of the “great masters” and in the context of historical art movements. The worldviews of various cultures, both ancient and modern, are evaluated through the lens of scripture. Concentrating on art concepts, drawing techniques, and other various skills, students use what they have learned to create meaningful artwork. They gain the confidence that they can be artists, created in the image of God, and that they can use their talents to glorify.

The importance of the Fine Arts to BCCA requires that they are not just limited to separate classes. Rather, they are incorporated into the everyday instruction in every classroom in every grade. From our Shurley Grammar curriculum, which is largely sung; to a middle school class that introduces Byzantine culture through icons, architecture, music and dance; to our roving Latin teacher who is most often seen toting his ukulele from class to class; the arts find their way into our instruction on a consistent basis.