The goal of the Visual Arts Department is to create a supportive and challenging arts environment for students that enables them to experience, first-hand, the discipline, knowledge and seriousness that lead them to a career in the visual arts. Students are introduced to art history and the principles of artistic form by artist-teachers and visiting artists, who, through their teaching, serve as mentors to the student artist. In two- and three-dimensional studio classes, visual art students are encouraged to concentrate on technical proficiency, creative problem solving and self-discovery. This focused exploration increases confidence and allows students to stay open to new possibilities and to become increasingly self-directed. In critiques, students are able to demonstrate their knowledge of art history and more accurately assess their own work and the work of others. With the knowledge they gain at NOCCA|Riverfront, students leave with a portfolio that reflects work that is technically sound and that expresses their personal point-of-view.