The prestigious Altos de Chavón School of Art and Design, which has been graduating students since 1983, has become the home of many Dominican and foreign artists and designers now widely recognized for their works in the fashion industry, graphic design and the fine arts.
There is no doubt that the School knows how to prepare their students for their future careers in their chosen art area. We are excited to present you another “Chavonero” Richard Delgado, currently in his second year studying Graphic Design at the School.
“When you are here, the environment, the situation you are in that particular moment and the people around you, makes you push yourself at a higher level ” ~ Richard Delgado
An Industrial Design graduate of INTEC university in Santo Domingo, Richard was so keen to become a “Chavonero”, that his portfolio was one of the first to arrive to the School when admissions opened. Proud of his portfolio, which he describes as “very personal”, he wanted to give a good impression, and of course ensure his place at the country’s best art and design institution.
Richard (left) with another Altos de Chavón Student
“Sacrifice, opportunity and challenge” were the words he used to describe the school that also gave him the chance to study at Parsons last summer. We had the chance to ask him a couple of simple questions about his own view of the Altos de Chavón School of Design.
@cdcliving: How well do the students get along?
It’s just incredible the level of cooperation and friendship between all the students. I love it because you get to meet people, people that are doing the same things as you so they understand what you are going through. Everyone shares ideas and helps each other out, it is amazing how in my first semester in the last weeks of exams I almost didn’t make it to class… and a classmate spent hours knocking at my door to wake me up.
@cdcliving: Even though the work is very hard, do you ever regret coming to the School?
No, I think I will never regret coming to the Altos de Chavón School of Design, I try to maintain my focus and constantly say to myself that this is a sacrifice and sooner or later I will see the results, so its definitely worth it. Before you come here you see the work of other people and you think you are never going to be able to reach that level, but the Altos de Chavón School of Design makes it possible and no matter how much experience you have when you get here, you leave the school a pro.
@cdcliving: How does the scholarship for Parsons work?
The number of students that get to Parson (New York City’s prestigious Parsons “The New School For Design), is very limited, we are talking about 6 to 4 scholarships for a summer course on year 1. The second year is much more complicated and serious because this is after you graduate from the school and this determines if you are going to keep studying after Chavón and get a degree. They actually come here and interview the students themselves, they view their portfolios and also test their English. I was lucky enough to get one for a summer course last year, it was an awesome experience!
The Altos de Chavón School of Design recently celebrated Art Chavón 2014, their annual fundraising celebration, it was a great success and the art exhibit is still available for you to view and purchase at The Gallery in Altos de Chavón. Click here to read more!
About The Altos de Chavón School of Art and Design
The Altos de Chavón Cultural Center Foundation is a U.S. not-for- profit public charity that has a cultural and educational mission here in the Dominican Republic. The school is on a university level and offers an associate degree, with many students continuing on to Parsons School of Design (now called The Parsons New School For Design) in NY. Founded in 1983 to meet the growing commercial demands of the Dominican Republic, the School of Design offers an intensive two-year program leading to the degree of Associate in Applied Science.
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