About

Picture this: It’s 1848. The Industrial Revolution has spawned new industries, and Philadelphia is one of the biggest centers of it all. What can you do to capitalize on a pivotal moment in time? For Sarah Worthington Peter, that answer was to create a visual arts college that would empower women to achieve financial independence through a high-quality, career-focused education. 

Now, 177 years later, Moore College of Art & Design remains an inclusive and innovative home to ten prestigious BFA programs and so much more. Our mission is more relevant than ever, as technology, sustainability and diverse cultures drive and disrupt new and existing industries. Through dynamic BFA and Graduate Studies programs, educational programs for creatively curious youth and professional adult learners, and our own public and dedicated space for contemporary art—The Galleries at Moore—we are influencers and advocates for breakthrough artists and designers of all ages and backgrounds. 

Our studios are buzzing, the walls are covered in student work, and the smell of paint and laser cutters is basically our official fragrance. We believe that artists don't just make art. They make culture. They craft the world around us. They make businesses & experiences, and they shape communities. They influence how we see, feel, navigate, connect and understand each other.