Pathway Defined

The North Carolina Community College Associate in Fine Arts (AFA) Association solidifies articulation agreements between the NC Community College System, the University of North Carolina System, and NC Independent Colleges and Universities.

Our mission is to forge and maintain vital articulation agreements, bilateral pathways, and collaborative partnerships—ensuring a smooth transfer process and maximizing success for all fine arts students.

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A promotional graphic for North Carolina Community College's AFA Association, celebrating 15 years in 2027, featuring an event at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh in February 2027.

Mark your calendars for the February 11-12, 2027 NC AFA Association Conference, hosted at the iconic North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh. This milestone event marks 15 years of collaborative partnerships, seamless articulation pathways, and student success.

Whether you are looking to advocate for arts education, share your institutional expertise, or find fresh inspiration among your peers, this is the premier gathering for North Carolina’s fine arts faculty and university partners.

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Sponsorship Opportunities

Advocate • Educate • Inspire

Celebrate 15 Years With Us!

Share Your Expertise

The call for proposals is now open for our annual higher education conference. We invite North Carolina community college instructors and university partners to submit presentation proposals highlighting innovative teaching, institutional success, and evolving trends across all fine arts disciplines.

Submit a proposal to showcase your program's impact.

DEADLINE: November 20, 2026

Submit a Proposal
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Guide to Transfer *

Guide to Transfer *

Click the Transfer Resource Link below for access to critical resources designed to simplify the transition from a two-year campus to a four-year fine arts program.

Learn more

Fueling the Creative Economy

An education in the fine arts does not just train artists—it builds the agile thinkers, complex problem-solvers, and innovators that today's employers are actively seeking. We do not just prepare students for a job; we equip them with the cognitive agility to navigate a career landscape that does not yet exist.

The Associate in Fine Arts (AFA) degree intentionally blends creative technical mastery with high-demand professional skills, preparing students to seamlessly transition from the studio directly into North Carolina’s booming creative workforce.

VIEW WORKFORCE DATA

A horizontal bar chart showing the percentage of arts and design alumni in the workforce with various job duties. The highest is 'Any of the duties' at 75%, followed by 'Use of expertise in artistic, design, architecture, or creative writing techniques' at 44%. Other duties include managing programs, teaching arts or design, creating visual arts, managing artists, editing designs, community engagement, creating performances, and creating performing arts.
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Community in Action

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A man standing in front of a whiteboard and a presentation slide in a room with people seated at tables, attending a seminar or workshop.
Group of people viewing art exhibit in a gallery, focusing on a large painting of a seated woman with surrounding cherubs.
A group of people attending a presentation in a room with a presentation slide projected on the wall. The slide has text and images. Two presenters, a man and a woman, are standing in front of the room, speaking to the audience.
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