NORTH AMERICA’S LARGEST SYSTEM OF CULINARY PROGRAMS, THE ART INSTITUTES, INTRODUCES NEW NAME AND CURRICULA

The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes launches today with help from the Food Network

(PITTSBURGH, Penn.)   Today, Education Management LLC announced that the culinary programs offered at The Art Institutes system of schools will be renamed as The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes. Based on the number of locations, the culinary programs offered by The Art Institutes schools represent North America’s largest system of culinary programs. The changes include the Inland Empire campus in San Bernardino, California.

The Art Institutes schools which offer culinary programs will be redesigning their course offerings to expand the international focus, introducing students to an increased number of world cuisines while continuing to emphasize fundamental culinary skills. The new look will be unveiled this Fall through a multi-faceted partnership with TV's Food Network, including television advertisements, show sponsorships and a new Website highlighting The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes.

“Students will be introduced to a world of culinary learning. Our programs will emphasize the fundamental art of cooking and food preparation to feed America’s appetite and the industry’s demand for international cuisine,” says Michael Nenes, MBA, CEC, CCE, assistant vice president of Culinary Arts for The Art Institutes. “Our presence in more than 30 North American markets ensures that aspiring culinary professionals will have access to education close to home, and our new partnership with the Food Network promises to help us build national awareness for the quality of the education our schools deliver.”

The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes will also provide Web-based seminars and guest lectures, featuring an increased focus on a number of world cuisines and hands-on learning opportunities that augment internships and experiences in the schools’ student-run restaurants. Continuing in The Art Institutes’ 15-year tradition of educating future culinary professionals, students study under industry-experienced certified chefs.

About the Food Network relationship, the partnership with the Food Network is designed to enable The Art Institutes schools to leverage the network’s reach among an audience with specific interest in the culinary arts. In addition to a television campaign airing on the Food Network and Fine Living, components include:

1. The Art Institutes sponsorship of “Food Network Challenge,” “Chefography,” “Dinner in the Daytime” and the new “Two Dudes Catering.” “Two Dudes Catering” features two graduates of The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Vinny Dotolo and Jon Shook.

2. A new Web site, www.exploreculinary.com, which will provide important information about an education at The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes and unique opportunities such as the “Savor the City” sweepstakes featuring culinary experience prizes at five Art Institute locations early next year.

3. The Food Network will collaborate on The Art Institutes Best Teen Chef Competition 2008, which culminates in a cook-off competition on May 17, 2008, at The Art Institute of Las Vegas. The national competition, in its ninth year, awards more than $250,000 in tuition scholarships to high school seniors interested in pursuing a culinary career. This year, the winner will receive a full-tuition scholarship to a participating Art Institutes school and serve as an “intern for a day” at the Food Network studios. Highlights of the national finals will air on Food Network and Fine Living. For more information on The Best Teen Chef Competition, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/btc/

“Part of our mission at Food Network is to teach viewers how to cook. The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes sponsorship represents a natural partnership,” said Karen Grinthal, senior vice president of ad sales at Food Network. “Food Network viewers will gain awareness of an opportunity that speaks to their passions for food and for learning.”

The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes offer bachelor’s, associate’s, certificates and diploma degree programs in the areas of Culinary Management, Culinary Arts, Baking, Pastry and Beverage Management. Degrees and areas of study vary by location.

To learn more about The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/culinary/ or www.exploreculinary.com or call (909) 915-2100.

About The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes
The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes is North America’s largest system of culinary programs with over 30 locations. Based on classical Escoffier, Asian and Latin culinary techniques, with an emphasis on progressive trends and practices, the schools’ curriculum is designed to develop and sharpen fundamental cooking techniques and professional skills and introduce a variety of international cuisines. Internships, student-run school restaurants, guest lectures and Web-based seminars, and study abroad programs help broaden the scope of learning for students. Program offerings vary at each school. Prospective students should check the course offerings at The Art Institute school they are interested in attending before enrolling. To learn more about The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/culinary or www.exploreculinary.com.

About Education Management LLC

The parent company of The Art Institutes, Education Management (www.edmc.com), with over 80,300 students as of Fall 2006, is among the largest providers of post-secondary education in North America, based on student enrollment and revenue. Education Management has 80 primary locations in 26 states and two Canadian provinces. Education Management's educational institutions offer a broad range of academic programs concentrated in the media arts, design, fashion, culinary arts, behavioral sciences, health sciences, education, information technology, legal studies and business fields, culminating in the award of associate's through doctoral degrees. Education Management has provided career-oriented education for over 40 years.

About The Art Institutes
The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu) is a system of over 35 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary professionals. The Art Institutes schools offer a broad range of programs including: Audio Production, Computer Animation, Culinary Arts, Culinary Management, Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing, Graphic Design, Industrial Design Technology, Web Design & Interactive Media, Interior Design, Media Arts & Animation, Photography, Restaurant Management and Video Production. Not all programs are offered at all schools.