American artists school

A progressive, independent art school, it was founded in New York City in 1936 and linked to the socialist political movement. The building was located at 131 West Fourteenth Street. Founders included members of the John Reed Club such as Louis Schanker, William Gropper and Harry Gottlieb, who became the first director. Curriculum emphasis was on technical excellence and social realist subjects relevant to contemporary society. In 1941, the school closed, having suffered financial difficulty. It is credited as playing a positive role in linking art expression to societal issues. Among the students were Lillian Orlowsky, Theodoros Stamos, Ad Reinhardt and Elaine de Kooning. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Artists_School