The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale

The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale was a private college in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, focused on creative and applied arts education. Founded in 1968 as the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, it became part of The Art Institutes network and offered degree programs in areas such as design, media arts, fashion, culinary arts, and related fields serving students preparing for careers in creative industries. Its campus operated in Broward County and drew students from South Florida as well as others seeking specialized professional training in visual, digital, and commercial arts disciplines.

The institution’s history reflects both its long regional presence and the broader trajectory of The Art Institutes system. It was one of the early Art Institutes campuses and developed a profile around career-oriented education in fields tied to advertising, interior design, graphic design, photography, and culinary practice. In later years it operated under Dream Center Education Holdings after the transfer of many Art Institutes campuses from Education Management Corporation. The school ultimately ceased operations as part of the wider shutdown of Art Institutes campuses in 2023. That closure marked the end of a Fort Lauderdale institution that had operated for more than five decades.