Arts
Since its founding in 1840, St. Joseph’s Academy has had a long and rich tradition of emphasizing the arts.
Consistent with the school’s Mission, the Fine Arts program today continues this commitment to educating the total young woman by providing her with opportunities to develop her artistic passions and talents. Whether inside the classroom or through a myriad of co-curricular programs, students cultivate an artistic awareness of the world around them through creativity, abstract and analytical thinking, and self-expression. In the process, they learn the value of how the arts can enrich their lives, whether it is on the stage, in concert, or in the studio. Here at St. Joe, the arts play a vital role in each student’s education, benefiting both the artist and the larger school community, who shares in these artistic endeavors.
Beyond the school boundaries, St. Joseph's Academy artists consistently earn top honors and community recognition in the competitive arena. Every year, vocal soloists and choirs achieve the highest scores at District and State Music Festivals. Visual artists have their work selected for exhibit at venues around the metropolitan area, such as the St. Louis Artists Guild, Diverse City Art Competition, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch 100 Neediest Cases and Lindenwood. The speech team competes in the Christian Interscholastic Speech League, at whose events members consistently earn blue and red ribbons in every category. Instrumentalists can choose to join the Instrumental or Handbell Ensembles, or perform at Mass with the choir. At St. Joseph's Academy, we believe that it is our mission not only to develop fine artists who will make a profound impact in the world, but also to enhance an appreciation of the arts in all students.
For more information on our current course offerings and co-curricular activities in the fine arts, please click here.
We endeavor to make art a dynamic influence in the life of the school so that students and faculty can become more aware of the beauty surrounding them.
Fine Arts Facilities
Visual Arts
The arts remain an integral part of our students’ learning, encouraging them to think critically and take risks. The Expect More Capital Campaign for Every Girl provided the opportunity to relocate and expand our Visual Arts program into a dedicated space on the second floor. The three classrooms were designed specifically for the unique requirements of painting, drawing, ceramics, photography and more.
Performing Arts
The Performing Arts Center opened in 2004 as part of an addition that also included the Shanahan Commons and Gymnasium. The theater seats 700 and hosts plays, musicals, concerts, liturgies, Community Time and a variety of assemblies.
Among its features are:
- A state-of-the-art computerized light and sound system
- Acoustical quality designed for high quality recording purposes
- Built in projection screen
- Expanded stage
- Back stage dressing rooms and set construction
- Additionally, the Performing Arts Center boasts an acoustically engineered chorus room.
The Dance Studio offers a large space filled with natural light and includes updated dressing rooms. Dance courses, Dance Team practice and yoga classes are taught in the studio.
Graphic Arts
Students interested in learning graphic design arts have access to all of the Adobe Creative Suite programs, including Photshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, InDesign and PremierPro. These programs are available to students on their personal computers.
Additionally we offer:
- Two Form Labs 3D printers in the Digital Innovation Space that we use in the design class.
- We have a Canon Pro-100 printer for digitally printing photos as well as a scanner.
- We have 4 DLSR cameras for students to use who qualify financially to rent a camera from the school, everyone else must provide her own camera.