The School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York has announced the closure of its MA in Curatorial Practice program, effective upon the retirement of its founding chair, Steven Henry Madoff, in May 2027. The decision to "teach out" the program comes despite recent recruitment efforts and follows a period of financial instability for the institution. The announcement also coincides with the recent abrupt resignation of David A. Ross, chair of SVA’s MFA Art Practice program, following revelations regarding his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The shuttering of this high-profile program reflects broader economic pressures facing private art schools and the shifting landscape of curatorial education. Since its launch in 2013, the program has employed prominent faculty from major institutions like the Whitney Museum and the Skowhegan School, making its dissolution a significant loss for the professional pipeline of curators in the New York art hub.