Classes

Experiential Learning: We believe students learn best by engaging in direct, hands-on experience. Experiential learning enables students to not only intellectually understand concepts, but to experience them and consequently own them.

Our curriculum is divided into three distinct areas (Though many of these subjects dovetail with the varied course areas):

Acting-centric courses: 

1. •Acting Technique
   

2. •Mask Work
   

3. •Acting for the Camera (Film, TV, Internet, Commercial, etc)
   

4. •Voice and Speech
   

5. •Movement
   

6. •Shakespeare
   

7. •Auditioning
   

8. •Playing one’s Function
   

Students maintain regular artistic training in

each of our three semesters.

Self-Sufficiency in the Arts:

1. •Producing
   

2. •Directing
   

3. •Writing
   

4. •Vision Having and Vision Building
   

5. •Thinking Like an Artist
   

6. •Myth and the Hero Journey
   

7. •Collaboration
   

8. •Modern Tools and Technologies
   

9. •History of Vision and Visionaries
   

Entrepreneurship:

1. •Vision Having and Vision Making
   

2. •Building an Audience
   

3. •Understanding the Market
   

4. •Creating a Niche
   

5. •Studio Lab
   

6. •Marketing
   

7. •Legal Structures and Financing Approaches
   

8. •Grant Writing
   

9. •Producing
   

10. •Leadership of Self and Others
    

***In Addition to students’ regular course load, we also offer our students a rich array of workshops, taught by leading industry professionals, sometimes coming from many different countries of the world.

ACPA collaborates with the community, often and regularly leases space to Austin cultural organizations and their needs. Such rentals may include lectures, gallery showings, workshops, etc. for any number of local festivals, events and conferences.

ACPA students often have access to these rich offerings, a process that can further expand our students’ professional networks.

ACPA is pleased to announce that we are sponsored by the following entrepreneurs and companies:

We strive to answer two questions with everything we teach:

1. 1.How will the information or experience taught help these students make a living?
   

2. 2.How will the information or experience taught help these students find their Unique Artistic Voice?
   

In the process of learning, our students engage in each of these course subject matters under the safe environment of the school and while being

mentored, guided, constructively criticized and motivated

by our faculty of professional artists, entrepreneurs and leaders.

Most students, in their time at ACPA, will find that they have never worked so hard in their lives before.

Artistic Incubator:

ACPA serves as an artistic incubator for many of our students. We want our students to arrive with their big ideas and visions. Some will come with many and some will discover many while in school. During their time at ACPA, these students will have opportunity to flesh out their original visions in such a way, that they might implement their plans, following graduation or even while still in school.

Momentum:

We want our graduates to feel they not only have their feet upon the ground, but are at a full run.