The Art Institutes (often commercially abbreviated and stylized as AI) is a collection of private, for-profit educational institutions for career preparation in the visual, creative, and applied arts, including design, media, fashion, and culinary programs. Nowadays there are forty five Art Institutes located in major cities across North America, and have over 125,000 graduates. The Art Institute Online, a division of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, also has online courses available. The AI awards master’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, associate’s degrees, and non-degree-program certificates. AI is headquartered in Pittsburgh, and is a division of Education Management Corporation (EDMC). Educational accreditation of The Art Institutes and their programs varies among campuses and programs.At the present day the Institutes announced that they will help to both, the domestic students and the international students from the universities in New Orleans, southern Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama universities. These universities were closed on the indefinite term after the damaging cause of the Hurricane Katrina. All the students appeared without homes and educational establishments. And the Institutes decided to take care of those students and take them to continue their studying.All the AI will provide for the international students both on-campus and online courses. This will give to students the opportunity to continue their academic studies, even at the distance. They can succeed in their academic careers during this semester of disruption. Students who were to finish their study because of the Hurricane Katrina can be registered at any of the Art Institutes. There are thirty one locations in the country where students can enter. The international students can be enrolled for courses on a space-available basis for the fall semester.This terrible event took place in 2005. That was the beginning of the semester, thus students have paid their tuition. That is why the Institutes will waive tuition for those students who have already registered and paid their tuition at their home institutions for the fall semester. But in the case if they have not yet paid their tuition at their home institution, they will be given the lesser of the current published tuition and fees at the home institution. The school president mentioned that the AI have already published tuition and fees for the fall semester.The president of the Art Institutes Dave Pauldine said that they would try to assist the poor students whose lives and education have been impacted by the Hurricane Katrina. He also said that the AI were the only way for students to continue their studies and to improve their skills. These institutes offered that initiative as the way to reach out to the students in the Gulf Coast region whose lives were endangered by the Hurricane Katrina in the 2005.The Institutes is a group of thirty one (that was the number of institutes in 2005) higher educational establishments which are located throughout North America. They offer a wide range of educational programs among which are audio production, culinary arts, culinary management, fashion design, fashion marketing, graphic design, industrial design technology, interior design, media arts & animation, multimedia & Web design, photography, restaurant management and video production. These are not the all programs which are offered, they are more numerous in number. The Institution offer a lot of programs which are not available in others higher educational establishments.The AI operate in different towns and cities all over the North America. There are representatives of the Art Institutes in Atlanta, Arlington, VA (as The Art Institute of Washington), Boston (as The New England Institute of Art), Charlotte, Chicago and Schaumburg, IL, Cincinnati (as The Art Institute of Ohio – Cincinnati), Dallas, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles (as The Art Institute of California – Los Angeles and California Design College), Miami (as Miami International University of Art & Design), Minneapolis, New York, Orange County, CA, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, Toronto, Vancouver (as The Art Institute of Vancouver, York, PA (as Bradley Academy of the Visual Arts) and The Art Institute Online, a division of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh.The Art Institute of Pittsburgh – Online Division, is a part of The AI system of schools with more than 40 locations throughout North America. The Institute of Pittsburgh – Online Division was launched in 2000.Founded in 1921, The Institute of Pittsburgh supports online programs with more than 85 years of excellence. With 16 academic programs, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh – Online Division is the leader in online creative arts education. The Institute of Pittsburgh is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). The AI of Pittsburgh is authorized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to award Bachelor of Science and Associate of Science degrees. It provides courses that are designed using the same curriculum taught at The Institute of Pittsburgh. The big advantage is you can attend class fully online and at anytime to fit your busy schedule. At The Institute of Pittsburgh – Online Division, you’re in control. At graduation you will receive a degree or diploma awarded from The Institute of Pittsburgh. You will be invited to attend your graduation ceremony in Pennsylvania where you can walk with your cap and gown. You can also participate in our portfolio review show, where you can present your work to potential employers.From this article you received the information about the creativity and a good organization of the Institutes, which agreed to help those poor students who were endangered by the Hurricane Katrina. They have lost their homes and the places of education, but the Art Institutes gave them the opportunity to continue their education and received the ability to study. These institutes gave those students the ability to build their careers and to make them successful. These institutes made the act of kindness when they present them one more chance to make a successful life and career.
Alstons Furniture – A Brief History
The Alston family has been involved with furniture for over two centuries. As far back as 1776 there were Alstons repairing furniture in their Chelsea workshop.The present family’s direct ancestors started the business that became the Alstons Furniture business we know today in Sudbury, Suffolk. William Alston (1839-1919) and his brother Ambrose (1834 – 1902) were both master cabinet makers during the middle of the 19th century. William Alston later became a furniture dealer as well, selling from premises in 95 North Street, Sudbury. The Alstons Furniture business prospered and moved to 9 Old Market Place, Sudbury in 1875 Both of William Alston’s sons, Hammond and Percy worked in the business and together they then created one of the first all electric workshops.The premises at Old Market Place became a retail furniture shop as well, with additional workshops. One of which was to eventually form the beginnings of the Alstons Furniture Upholstery operation much later on. In 1921 Percy Alston’s son Leslie started an apprenticeship with his father and then completed this at Fisher Trade Woodworking in London’s East End.In 1937 Leslie started his own manufacturing business at a redundant coconut matting factory in Long Melford. The business was set up with a £6,000 bank loan. Leslie’s brother Roy joined him there to help run the new venture. The company later adopted the trade mark Albro as an abbreviation of Alston brothers, this continued into the 1980′s.During the Second World War, the factory in Long Melford switched its production to ‘utility’ bedroom and dining furniture. Extra work was also taken on to manufacture coffins for the war effort.Later in the war, the Long Melford factory was burnt out and new premises were sought in Ipswich. Initially production was resumed within Wrinch’s factory in Nacton Road, Ipswich. Land was also purchased adjacent to Wrinch’s and a factory was built by joining war surplus Nissen huts together to form a linear building and a continuous furniture production line was created within it. This temporary structure survived until 1971 when a new building was erected over the old huts ensuring that not an hour of production was lost.The Alstons Furniture cabinet business has remained at this site to this day. During this time a new head office had been built and a programme of continuous investment in machinery maintained. Alstons Furniture has manufactured almost exclusively bedroom furniture during this period. In the 1950′s and 60′s this was centered on suites of bedroom furniture of veneered teak, walnut and mahogany finish (a suite comprised a ladies wardrobe, a gents wardrobe and a dressing table). The 1970′s saw the introduction of modular bedroom furniture ranges in veneered and painted finishes.In more recent years the Alstons have become a market leader in the production of traditional and contemporary bedroom ranges of laminate and painted finish.Leslie Alston remained in charge of the business until his death in 1976 at which point his oldest son Rex (John) took over as Managing Director with Leslie’s brother Percy (Roy) as Chairman. In 1979 Alan, Leslie’s other son became Chairman and Managing Director of Alstons Furniture, assisted by his bother Rex and with their cousin Noel (Percy’s son) as Sales Director. John P Alston joined the family business, Alstons Furniture, in 1974 becoming a Director in 1987 and Managing Director in 1995. In 2008 David Alston became Chairman of Alstons Furniture, taking on this role directly from his father. Also in this year John’s daughter Jessica Alston joined Alstons Furniture as a design assistant.The Upholstery business flourished and within 10 years, further satellite factories were opened in Hadleigh, Suffolk and Clacton, Essex.The recession of the early 1980′s saw a contraction of Alstons Furniture and the satellite factories were closed down and production and investment consolidated at the Colchester site. Up until 1995 Alan Alston continued to be responsible for the running of Alstons Furniture. In 1995 David Alston, Alan’s youngest son became Managing Director of the company and the responsibility passed on.In 2008 John Alston took on the role of chairman of Alstons Furniture from his father.During the life of the company it has manufactured sofas, sofa beds, sideboards, chairs and recliner chairs.Alstons Furniture continues to make all its production from its factory in Colchester and is now one of the leading producers of upholstery in the UK.
Best Way to Start a Photography Business
So you have a digital camera and you are thinking of turning your photography hobby into a successful business. But where do you start? From a logo, to a website, blogsite, domain name, email account, business card, camera equipment, lighting equipment, accounting software — you are feeling a little overwhelmed. The question is, what should you do first?Identify the one action that will make the biggest impactWhen starting any new business, you will have many things to do. The hardest part is knowing what to do first. Although, several things may be important, think to yourself, “what is the one thing that will make the biggest impact in launching my business?” For example, hiring a great accountant is important, but without any clients or income, this step will have very little impact in launching your business.Biggest impact for photography businessesGet a website! Getting a website will have the single greatest impact on starting a photography business. Certainly, word-of-mouth and referrals will bring you business as well. But, for example, if someone refers a business to you, what is the first thing you do? You go online and check out their website! Times have changed, getting a professional looking website is not difficult or expensive. There are many beautiful template photography website companies out there. You simply upload your own photos and content. You can even change the look of the website without any graphic design skills. Best of all, many of these companies help you set up your domain name and email accounts. These companies charge anywhere from $6 – $50/month on average. (Once your business is more established you may wish to hire a professional to design your website/blogsite – see branding below).What content should be on the website?Make sure to include your business name and location. So often I see photographers have forgotten to give their location! Don’t have a studio or a physical address? That’s okay. It is just important that you include the city and state/province that you work in. This is important for Google. You want your website to show up when someone searches for photography services in your city! For example, a potential client may type “Windsor Wedding Photographer” into a Google search. You want to make sure that you have mentioned on your website that you are a Wedding Photographer in Windsor!Also, be sure to give your contact information – email and telephone number. It is ideal to have this on your “contact” page, and at the bottom of every page on your website. You want to make it as easy as possible for people to contact you!Finally, write a little bit about yourself and what type of photography you do. People can’t hire you if they don’t know what you do!What images should I put on my website?Many new photographers worry that they don’t have enough photos for a portfolio page. Don’t worry! Less is often more. If you are starting a wedding photography business, put up some wedding related photos. Don’t have very many wedding photos? Try this: go to your local florist and buy a beautiful bouquet. Then take some beautiful detail photos of it. Ask a friend if you can take some detail photos of her engagement ring and wedding band. Slowly, as you get more clients your portfolio will grow and you can add more photos. If you are starting a kids portrait photography business and you don’t have a lot of photos of children – ask a friend if you can photograph her toddler for the website.I am by no means suggesting that you lie to clients about your level of experience. These are just some ideas on how to get supporting images for your website. Also, getting out there and taking more photographs is a great exercise in photography!Unsure of your company’s identity? What about branding?You always hear about people who haven’t started their photography businesses yet because everything behind the scenes, (branding, logo, studio, etc), isn’t perfect yet. They are afraid to start until everything is perfect. Chances are they will never be perfect – and they will never start. Your style and your company’s identity will become clearer to you the more you photograph. For example, you may decide that would like to photograph newborns only to discover, from experience, that you don’t have the patience. And you later realize that you really excel in the fast pace world of wedding photography.Things to think aboutThere are many simple/plain website templates out there that you can choose from, if you are still discovering your style and brand. You can refine the your website’s style later. Look at established companies – they are always updating their website’s style! Don’t wait until everything is perfect behind the scenes to start your photography company. You might just be waiting forever! Get your website up, because it is the one action you can take that will have the biggest impact on propelling your photography business forward. Good luck!