PATHWAYS + PARTNERSHIPS

Lyme Academy of Fine Arts is committed to advancing the figurative arts through dynamic partnerships with leading artists, institutions, and organizations around the world. These collaborations enrich our curriculum, expand opportunities for students and faculty, and establish the Academy as a vibrant site of artistic exchange and innovation.

Whether through academic pathway agreements, artist residencies, study-abroad experiences, or professional development opportunities, our partnerships foster a global community of like-minded institutions dedicated to preserving and evolving classical training in the visual arts.

For questions about the pathway or application support, contact us at admissions@lymeacademy.edu.

Laguna College of Art + Design MFA Admissions Pathway

Lyme Academy of Fine Arts is proud to offer a formal Pathway Agreement with the Laguna College of Art + Design (LCAD), giving the Academy’s Certificate Program graduates the opportunity to apply to LCAD’s Master of Fine Arts (MFA) programs in Drawing or Painting—even without a traditional undergraduate degree.

Graduates of the Lyme Academy Certificate Program are eligible for automatic consideration for LCAD’s MFA Merit Scholarship, awarded based on excellence in the application portfolio and academic record.

Applicants must still meet LCAD’s admissions requirements and complete the standard application process.

New York Academy of Art MFA Admissions Pathway

Lyme Academy of Fine Arts is proud to partner with the New York Academy of Art (NYAA) through a formal Pathway Agreement that offers our Certificate Program graduates a clear route to apply for NYAA’s esteemed Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program.

Students who successfully complete Lyme Academy’s Certificate Program are eligible to apply to NYAA’s MFA program without holding a traditional undergraduate degree. NYAA recognizes the rigor and depth of Lyme’s training as equivalent preparation for graduate-level study. Applicants must still meet all standard admissions criteria, including portfolio review and letters of recommendation.

Lyme Academy graduates applying to NYAA’s MFA program are automatically considered for a $10,000 scholarship, renewable for a second year based on academic performance. No separate application is required.

Acceptance into the MFA program is not guaranteed. Each applicant will be subject to NYAA’s standard competitive review process based on artistic merit, portfolio quality, and overall application strength. 

Ayrshire Atelier of Fine Art

Beginning in 2025, one Lyme Academy student or graduate will be awarded a one-month Ayrshire Artist Residency Award at the Ayrshire Atelier in the town of Largs in North Ayrshire, Scotland. The Academy will cover the cost of the residency and accommodations. Ayrshire Atelier will provide studio space and mentoring, which includes an hour-long session at the beginning of each week of the residency in which to strategize and plan, a 30-minute critique each day, and a final critique.

Brookgreen Gardens Sculpture Scholarships

In partnership with Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, Brookgreen Gardens is awarding two full scholarships to students in the Core Sculpture Program. These scholarships cover travel, lodging, meals, tuition, materials, and model fees for participation in sculpture workshops at Brookgreen Gardens in Fall 2025.

This collaboration aims to identify and support emerging talent while advancing the field of figurative sculpture.

NXT LVL Art Training: For Emerging Youth Artists

A new collaboration between NXTHVN and Lyme Academy — taught by faculty from the esteemed Lyme Academy of Fine Arts at NXTHVN —this program provides a rigorous foundation in traditional art practices and proven techniques used by professional artists for aspiring young artists aged 13-17. 

For more information, email jay@nxthvn.com

Yale School of Medicine

In late 2024, Lyme Academy began an ongoing partnership with Yale School of Medicine in New Haven. Through this collaboration, Academy students gain rare access to draw from cadavers at Yale Medical School as part of their gross anatomy studies.

This opportunity is integrated into Lyme’s three-year anatomy curriculum—enhancing training in drawing, sculpting, écorché, and anatomical lecture. It provides an invaluable, hands-on experience in understanding the human form at a profound level.

The Academy is deeply grateful to Yale University and Yale School of Medicine for making this exceptional learning experience possible.