The University of Arizona School of Art will host National Portfolio Day near Phoenix on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
VENUE
Mesa Community College
1833 W. Southern Ave.
Mesa, AZ 85202
Art Building ( AC30, located in the South Parking Lot )
Schedule
Check-in begins: 9 a.m.
Portfolio reviews: 10 – 2 p.m.
All reviews must end promptly at 2 p.m.
Registration required: https://nationalportfolioday.org/
For more information, call the School of Art at 520.621.2618
The National Portfolio Day Association
The National Portfolio Day Association (NPDA) was created in 1978 solely for the organization and planning of National Portfolio Days. The Association consists of representatives from colleges and universities which are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and which meet the membership requirements of the NPDA. The NPDA is the only organization of its kind, and its membership represents the highest standard of visual arts education available in the United States and Canada. For further information about events and member schools, please visit the website at nationalportfolioday.org.
National Portfolio Days
National Portfolio Days are educational events for young artists, held at host colleges throughout the U.S. and Canada. No pre-registration is necessary, and there is no cost to attend. National Portfolio Days bring students together with experienced college representatives who review artwork, offer critique, discuss college plans, and share information about their programs. These events are not an examination or a competition. The college representatives are interested in your development, look forward to reviewing your work, and will provide you with helpful information for the next step in your education. We recommend that you use your time at a National Portfolio Day to discuss your work with as many representatives as possible.
At a National Portfolio Day, you’ll get a small taste of what it could be like to attend a professional art program. You’ll see a variety of artwork created by young artists with varying skills and experiences. You may hear many different opinions about your work. Be prepared to discuss the way you develop your ideas, your background in art, and your thoughts about your future direction.
No admissions decisions or scholarship awards will be offered to you at a National Portfolio Day. Some of the colleges represented may accept the portfolio you present as the visual portion of your application, and others have policies which prohibit making a definitive admission decision at the time of your review. All will expect that your artwork will progress in the coming months.
If you are interested in graduate programs, we encourage you to contact individual institutions, as all colleges will not be prepared to review graduate portfolios at National Portfolio Days.
Choosing an Art Program
Art making is a special kind of learning experience. As a potential art student, you’ll especially want to look at each college’s faculty, facilities, and equipment. You should also consider the college’s proximity to museums, galleries, and other cultural resources, in addition to its academic standards, extracurricular activities, location, housing, costs, scholarships, and financial aid opportunities.
We urge you to gather enough information so that you may choose a supportive and stimulating art college environment that meets your individual needs. Try your best to visit the colleges that interest you to get a feel for each school before you make your final decision. Investigate the college’s accreditations and the transferability of their credits, and be sure you understand each school’s degree offerings and majors.
What To Bring To a National Portfolio Day
We recommend that you bring up to twenty pieces of your best, most recent work. Your portfolio can include finished pieces, work in progress, and sketchbooks. Bring your original artwork whenever possible, and please do not spend time and money matting or framing your work. Keep your presentation simple; the work itself is what is of interest to us.
If you bring slides of work that is too large or fragile to carry, or digital representations of work that is time-based such as video, animation, or performance, it is your responsibility to ensure that the work may be viewed. You may choose to bring your own slide viewer, video camera, and/or laptop to show your work. Be advised, however, that you will not have access to an electric outlet.