I am completely amazed that there not any universities that have a Tattoo Arts undergraduate or masters program.
Most of the tattoo artists that I have talked to are steadfastly against the idea of establishing tattoo schools, that isn’t exactly what I’m proposing. I suggest that Universities should start Tattoo Arts programs. These programs would be a mix of a Traditional Art education and a mix of classes based on a pre-med or a medical technologies program. After the completion of the program the Tattoo Artist would have to do an apprenticeship at a Tattoo shop for a year, then he would become certifies and degreed.
From what I understand, the tattoo industry is based on an apprentice system with local state/municipal laws regulating each local industry.
There are both good and bad points to this idea. Many tattoo artist are not really the “school” type and they would see this as in infringement on a close knit alternative society that they had to pay their dues to get to where they are within. I can see this point, if you really want to tattoo you have to pay your dues and kiss some ass. People could see someone with a degree in Tattoo arts as a poser who bought what they had to earn.
Then there is the other viewpoint, I would like there to be a higher set of standards that all tattoo artists have to adhere to. “Your only marking me forever”, why would I want them to go to school. Ummmm. Yea I would prefer a PHD but I’ll do for a masters.
It’s a mixed bag. But I think there will be a degree program one day.
