A Subject Few Schools Offer: How IBDP Visual Arts at Erudito Lyceum Helped a Graduate Gain Admission to a University in Paris

Erudito Lyceum alumnus Natan Shmelkin decided to pursue a future in fashion. Having chosen IFM Paris for his studies, he explains how the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), Visual Arts classes and project work at school helped him work purposefully towards this goal.

IBDP Visual Arts is an International Baccalaureate subject that combines creative practice with art history, artwork analysis and research skills. Students experiment with various art forms, develop their own creative ideas, build a portfolio and prepare a final exhibition. Erudito Licėjus is one of the few schools in Lithuania offering students the opportunity to take this subject and build a strong foundation for future studies in art, design, fashion or other creative fields while still at school.

IBDP: Preparation for Both University and Independent Life

According to Natan, the IBDP became an important part of his academic and personal growth. The intensive learning process equipped him with valuable skills that he now draws on at university.

“Without the IBDP, I would not have nearly as much experience in solving problems, writing extended essays and conducting research. The programme developed my critical thinking, my ability to work independently and my capacity to stay focused on complex tasks for long periods,” the alumnus explains.

The workload also taught him to manage his time, set priorities effectively and remain independent even during the busiest periods. Natan believes this experience gave him a solid grounding for university studies.

Visual Arts Helped Him Find His Direction

Although Natan had always known he wanted to study fashion, school projects helped him better understand how creative and analytical skills could come together in this field. His experience in IBDP Visual Arts was particularly significant.

“Writing my Extended Essay on visual arts and fashion, conducting research and completing various written assignments taught me to analyse art in greater depth, develop ideas and support them with research. These activities further strengthened my desire to pursue a future in fashion,” says Natan.

He chose Visual Arts because of his longstanding interest in art and fashion. Over the two years, Natan explored the art world through both practice and theory, learning to analyse artworks, conduct research and develop creative ideas with a clear sense of purpose.

An exhibition held at MO Museum was another important part of this experience. Organising it gave him firsthand insight into the curatorial process, preparation and logistics. According to Natan, this knowledge provided a strong foundation in art and proved particularly useful when applying to study fashion.

Natan’s story shows that the IBDP is about more than academic challenges. It is an opportunity to discover personal strengths, learn to bring complex ideas to life independently and prepare purposefully for a chosen career.

Natan Shmelkin’s Visual Arts Final Project, “Jewish Identity”