The school was established in 1931, as a remote branch of Southern College. The art school separated from Southern College and became an independent nonprofit institution in 1933 and has changed names several times. It qualified for full accreditation as a degree-granting institution by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools on December 11, 1979. Upon joining as a member, accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Art was granted in 1984. The campus included the Longboat Key Center for the Arts, which operated from 1952 to 2017.
Academics
The college offers BFA degrees and BA degrees and operates on a semester academic term system.
Library
The Alfred R. Goldstein Library is an informational, educational, and social hub for RCAD’s students and faculty. Designed specifically for its creative students, the library’s collection includes children’s literature, game arts, graphic novels, letterpress, book arts, pop up books, special collections, reference, and online resources. The 46,000-square-foot library houses over 75,000 books and periodicals. The library hosts an independent art publishing book fair called Paper Jam. Organized jointly with Letterpress and Book Arts Center and the Brizdle-Schoenberg Special Collections Center and in collaboration with SRQ Zine Fest, the annual event features a wide array of creative books and experimental printed items that highlight local and diverse perspectives. The library originated as a first floor location on the east side of campus. Its new modern facility, completed in January of 2017, is centrally located, physically representing the mission of the library as the heart of its college. The $20 million dollar library, designed by Shepley Bulfinch and Sweet Sparkman Architects, is significantly larger than its predecessor. It features furnishings selected by RCAD students, bright colors, a 24-hour lab, a café, ten group study areas, and 4 terraces overlooking Whitaker Bayou. American Libraries, a publication of the American Library Association, featured the Alfred R. Goldstein Library in its yearly Library Design Showcase later in 2017. Alfred Goldstein, the library’s namesake, was a local benefactor. Along with his wife Ann, he contributed to many Sarasota organizations and funded the Ann Goldstein Children’s Rainforest Garden at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. The library naming ceremony took place on February 15, 2016.
