Brooks Institute Closes After 70 Years of Photo Education
There’s big news that’s making waves in the world of photography education: the well-known photo school Brooks Institute has announced that it will be closing, ending a 70-year run.
Just a day earlier, the Ventura County Star reported that there was a significant shakeup in leadership: President Edward Clift was dismissed by the school’s new owner since 2015, Green Planet, prompting the majority of the board of trustees (4 members) to resign.
Brooks Institute had been struggling with declining enrollment, falling from 2,563 in 2005 to 350 students in 2016, VC Star says. The school had been reportedly been working on a move to downtown Ventura to attract more students, but owner Christine Lin apparently decided that shuttering the business entirely was the best decision instead of waiting to see if a turnaround would take place.
The school made an announcement on Twitter yesterday:
Today is a sad day. After 70 years, Brooks Institute closing October 31, 2016. Your education, experience, and careers will live on. #alumni
— Brooks Institute (@BrooksInstitute) August 12, 2016
It says it’s doing all it can to take care of currently enrolled students.
@jonathancwatson The staff, faculty, and Alumni Board are doing all we can.
— Brooks Institute (@BrooksInstitute) August 13, 2016
Others are complaining that current students are in a horrible situation, and that they should contact the Attorney General:
@BrooksInstitute what about current students?no alternatives provided for my brother to finish his BFA-you stole2yrs of our $ and his life.
— Sydney Robertson (@sydneysnap) August 12, 2016
@sevenmileswest @BrooksInstitute it's unbelievable. He was due to graduate this spring and now, nothing! With zero contingency plan offered
— Sydney Robertson (@sydneysnap) August 13, 2016
@BrooksInstitute actually their education won't when they can't transfer credits. Sleazy move. Students, parents should contact atty gen.
— Michael Carl (@EntangledPrism) August 12, 2016
@BrooksInstitute the Attorney General and District Attorney. See what AG did against Cooper Union in NY.
— Michael Carl (@EntangledPrism) August 12, 2016
The school was founded in 1945 and was previously known as the Brooks Institute of Photography. It offered four undergraduate majors (Bachelor of Arts in Professional Photography, Film and Video Production, Graphic Design, and Visual Journalism) and two graduate programs (Master of Fine Arts in Photography and Master of Science in Scientific and Technology Imaging).
