<p>This is probably an oversimplified question, in which case i will need an oversimplified answer- I was just wondering which school, Harvard or Yale, offered better visual arts studies/programs/activites- ive been pretty involved with film and the like--ive been poking around both websites, it seems like harvards the winner but then again i dont really know/</p>
<p>I was also wondering more specifically about the arts at Yale...how easy is it for non-majors to get into art classes, how are the facilities and professors, etc. In particular I am interested in photography and painting.</p>
<p>I must admit that I don't have in-depth knowledge re the arts programs at Harvard. I will say many of it's programs (art history, etc.) are highly ranked. And Harvard does have a wonderful array of museums and related institutions.</p>
<p>My general impression, however, is that Yale is the best place among top universities for studying art (incl film, visual arts, etc.). Yale's art school is widely considered one of the very very best, if not the best, in the country. Yale's other arts related programs (art history, architecture) as well as it's music and drama schools have few if any peers in the Ivy Plus group. Yale competes mostly with conservatories (Curtis Institute) and speciality schools (RISD) for its arts programs. Yale's undergrad arts program draws from the Art School, so ugrads can access the very best that Yale has to offer.</p>
<p>In addition, Yale has great non-academic resources (Center for British Art, various galleries, etc.) and a strong institutional leanings towards the arts and scholars of the arts. </p>
<p>Net, net - Yale is the place to go.</p>
<p>I have a suitemate who is an undergraduate visual art buff and he's had a great drawing class this term and met some big name in the art and illustration world (I forgot who they were though.) If you don't want to be a major, I'm sure the classes are still accessible...if I remember correctly the intro level art and photography classes are open to anyone and the intermediate and advanced ones have prereqs or require placement.</p>
<p>Yale also has a good film studies major, but I don't have any personal experience with it. I'd recommend emailing the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the art program (find their name on the website) with any specific questions.</p>
<p>As red&blue noted, Yale is definitely the most renowned Ivy for both it's individual arts programs and overall arts culture. I also have little experience with Harvard's arts programs and am a Yale student so I might be a little biased :-).</p>
<p>Among universities, Yale is the world's arts mecca.</p>