— ESTABLISHED 1965 • PARIS, FRANCE
Six decades
of Parisian
creative education
Paris American Academy is a world-class design school rooted in the Latin Quarter, preparing students from 35 nations for careers in fashion, interior design, fine arts, and creative writing.
EXPLORE PROGRAMSSTUDENT WORKS
1965
YEAR FOUNDED
35
NATIONS REPRESENTED
4
CREATIVE DISCIPLINES
60+
YEARS OF EXCELLENCE
— OUR STORY
Founded on the belief that Paris itself is the curriculum
The Paris American Academy was founded by Richard Roy in 1965, with the conviction that the city’s museums, fashion houses, ateliers, and streets offered an unparalleled education in the creative disciplines. Over six decades, that belief has shaped thousands of careers.
Our approach integrates intellectual rigour with hands-on craft through an apprenticeship process — students learn not only technique, but how to see, how to think, and how to work as creative professionals in one of the world’s great cultural capitals.
READ OUR FULL HISTORY
— MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
“After a challenging period, we are back — stronger, more committed, and more inspired than ever by the students who choose Paris as their creative home.”
We are delighted to confirm that PAA has resumed its full programme of study, led by the unwavering dedication of our staff and the operational leadership of Madame Gabriella Galastri de Polo. The PAA community looks forward with great anticipation to the years ahead.
Peter Carman
President, Paris American Academy
READ THE FULL MESSAGE
— WHAT WE STAND FOR
Our approach to creative education
01
Paris as classroom
The city is not a backdrop — it is the curriculum. Museums, markets, ateliers and arrondissements are integral to every program we offer.
02
Craft meets concept
We believe in the unity of thinking and making. Students develop both intellectual frameworks and the technical skills to bring ideas into form.
03
International by design
With students from 35 nations in a single year, PAA’s bilingual culture of exchange is inseparable from the quality of education it offers.
04
Mentorship at the core
Our faculty are working professionals. They bring the realities of the creative industries into the studio, workshop and critique.
05
Small cohorts, deep focus
Intimate class sizes mean every student receives close attention. Progress is personal, feedback is direct, and growth is measurable.
06
Career-ready graduates
Our programs are evaluated continuously against the needs of the industries our students enter. Relevance is not assumed — it is built in.
— KEY MOMENTS
A history in brief
— LEADERSHIP
The people behind the academy
PC
Peter Carman
President
Leads the Academy’s strategic direction and international partnerships, with a career spanning education, culture and creative industries.
GG
Gabriella Galastri de Polo
Operations director
Oversees the day-to-day operations of the Academy, student services, and programme delivery across all four disciplines.
IM
Isabelle Moreau
Head of fashion
A working stylist and pattern designer with twenty years in the Paris fashion industry, she leads the Fashion Design & Merchandising faculty.
AR
Dr Agnès Rannou
Head of fine arts
Art historian and practising painter. Leads the Fine Arts programme and co-ordinates the Academy’s museum visit partnerships across Paris.
— OUR CAMPUS
Paris is your studio
The Academy is situated one kilometre from Notre-Dame, in the heart of the Latin Quarter. Our students’ campus extends across the entire city — from the museum collections of the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay to the fabric markets of Montmartre.
Musée d’Orsay
MUSEUM VISIT
Marché Saint-Pierre
FABRIC SOURCING
Palais Royal
SKETCHING & OBSERVATION
Le Bon Marché
FASHION & RETAIL STUDY
Centre Pompidou
CONTEMPORARY ARTS
— RECOGNITION
International recognition
Registered by the Académie de Paris
PAA is formally registered with the Académie de Paris, ensuring our programmes meet rigorous French educational standards.
International partner network
We maintain active partnerships with universities and institutions across North America, Europe, and Asia, facilitating credit transfers and exchange programmes.
Industry-recognised qualifications
PAA certificates and diplomas are recognised by industry partners across fashion, interior design, fine arts, and publishing.
Fashion Design & Merchandising
Semester and summer programs in the capital of haute couture.
DISCOVER