St. Johns River Junior College was established as a public institution in 1958 to serve the counties of Clay, Putnam, and St. Johns. It was one of several public junior colleges founded in accordance with legislation enacted by the 1957 session of the Florida Legislature.

In August of 1976, the Florida School of the Arts began full operation as a part of St. Johns River Junior College with a charter class of 51 students. The first state-supported professional arts school for high school and college students in Florida, the school has continued to grow as its curriculum has expanded. The Florida School of the Arts serves the entire state of Florida.

Located on the Palatka campus of St. Johns River Community College, the newly renovated Florida School of the Arts performing arts facilities include a 480-seat auditorium, fully equipped scene and costume shops, a music theory lab, two dance studios, a stage management lab, and a studio theater. In the visual arts the school includes a fine art gallery, painting studio, photography studio, dark room facilities, printmaking studio and a fully outfitted Macintosh digital lab.

The College opened the Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts on the Orange Park Campus in 2004. This complex hosts traveling art exhibits, Broadway-type shows and community events, and serves as a meeting site for business conferences and events. The Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts is a fully equipped cultural arts facility which includes a 1750 seat main stage theatre, an intimate 200 seat studio theatre, two art galleries, and a business/tourism center. This center is also an important part of the Florida School of the Arts experience. Each year the school’s faculty and students participate in productions and events at the Thrasher-Horne Center.

Admission to Florida School of the Arts is based on audition or portfolio
review, interview, letter of intent, resume, and recommendations. Entrance
to St. Johns River Community College (SJRCC) and Florida School of the Arts
requires a high school diploma or a state-issued equivalency certificate/diploma.

St. Johns River Community College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate and baccalaureate degrees.
(source: www.floarts.org)

Courses at Florida School of the Arts

Associate in Science
Studio Art (Drawing, Painting, Photography, Printmaking etc)
Graphic Design/New Media
Acting
Dance Studies/Dance Performance
Dance Studies/ Entertainment
Musical Theater
Theater Technology
Stage Technology
Stage Management


Associate in Arts
Performing Arts (Acting, Dance, Production)
Visual Arts

College Credit Certificate
Stage Technology

Past students - established and famous artists


Contact Details for Florida School of the Arts
5001 St Johns Ave.
Palatka Fl 32177
floarts@sjrcc.edu
386.312.4300
www.floarts.org