Economic uncertainty usually pushes students toward “safer” pre-professional tracks. But in these strange times, more Gen Z students are heading to art school.

Applications at New York City art schools are hitting record highs, despite steep tuition and the common belief that creative careers are risky. The surge spans both public and private institutions.

Some Gen Z applicants are looking to reconnect with the physical world—seeking refuge from AI anxiety and digital overload. As automation threatens traditional jobs, the arts offer something more human: purpose, presence, and resilience. Others are filling a gap, having missed out on hands-on art classes during high school.

Add together a search for authenticity, growing skepticism toward capitalist success stories, and a general lack of faith that any career path is truly “safe,” and it makes perfect sense. Art programs offer tools for making meaning in an unstable world.

ARTICLE: NYC Art Schools See Record-High Application Numbers As Gen Zers Clamber To Enroll

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