Digital Artistry Degree of Difficulty Now Getting Easier

Digital artists everywhere will get a credibility boost today as the American Film Institute and the Otis College of Art & Design dedicate a new digital media laboratory, where students will be able to pursue the country’s first bachelor of fine arts degrees in digital media design.

The program, called “AFI at Otis,” will train digital artists to create special effects, CD-ROMs, World Wide Web sites and more. Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan and other dignitaries will be on hand to celebrate the opening of the new Otis College campus in Westchester.

“The demand for creative digital content is exploding as the film and broadcasting industries transition to fully digital production techniques,” said Jean Picker Firstenberg, director and chief executive of AFI.

Indeed, forecasts from the Los Angeles Regional Technology Alliance predict demand for digital artists will grow 20% annually for the next five years. Already, 80,000 jobs have been created in the last two years, with salaries between $60,000 and $150,000.

AFI will offer its first digital media art course in May, and Otis will begin its bachelor’s program this fall. Otis College President Neil Hoffman expects that 20 students will enroll in the new program this fall and that enrollment will ultimately grow to 80 students.

Today’s dedication and open house, which will last about two hours, begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Otis campus, 9045 Lincoln Blvd., Westchester.

CYBERSPACE

* Steve Fossett, who recent broke the record for hot air balloon flights, discusses his adventures today, 8 a.m. at https://www.nationalgeographic.com/balloon

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