By OnMilwaukee Staff Writers   Published Jun 30, 2010 at 5:06 PM

The Art Institute of Wisconsin, one of more than 45 Art Institutes across North America, will soon become one of the Historic Third Ward's largest tenants.

It will hold its first classes on Oct. 4 in its 35,000 sq. ft. of classrooms in the historic P.H. Dye House at 320 E. Buffalo St. The school is enrolling students now.

Even though the school is a national chain, its president -- and the former president of The Art Institutes schools in Minneapolis (The Art Institutes International Minnesota), Phoenix (The Art Institute of Phoenix), and North Hollywood, CA (The Art Institute of California -- Hollywood) -- is Menomonee Falls' William A. Johnson.

"We are delighted to open our doors to prospective students this fall," said Johnson. "Our aim is to develop the school as a leading creative arts destination in Wisconsin, and to be a collaborative educational partner with the communities we will proudly serve."

Among other programs, the new school will offer four-year bachelor's degrees in fashion marketing, interior design, web design and interactive media, digital filmmaking and video production and graphic design, with a culinary arts program coming in the future.

The school also offers two-year associate's degree programs. The school's instructors will be working professionals in the Milwaukee area.