National Portfolio Day at MICA

The National Portfolio Day is an opportunity to meet the representatives from fifty-two of the nation's leading art colleges and universities. All participating institutions are National Portfolio Day Association members and offer professional programs accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Representatives from these institutions will travel to Maryland Institute College of Art to review your artwork, discuss your educational and professional goals, and share information on art programs, careers, admissions, and financial aid. This event is free and open to the public.

2007 National Portfolio Day

Sunday, December 2

9:30 am
Registration for Morning Programs and Afternoon Portfolio Reviews
Register at: Brown Center (glass building at Mt. Royal Ave. & W. Lanvale St.)
Park at: Mount Royal Station (clock tower at Mt. Royal Ave. & Cathedral St.)

10:00 am
Panel Discussion - The Development of an Artist: What One Gains...Where It Leads
Falvey Hall, Brown Center
A candid discussion addressing parent and student questions about residential life; financing a college education; career opportunities and job placement; and professional and personal growth through an art education.
Moderator: Fred Lazarus, President, Maryland Institute College of Art
Panelists: Ray Allen, Provost, Academic Affairs; J. Davidson "Dusty" Porter, Vice President for Student Affairs; and Diane Prengaman, Associate Vice President for Financial Aid

11:00 am
Student-Guided Tours of Our Studios, Facilities, and Residential Halls
Tours begin at Brown Center
The best way to get a full picture of how MICA addresses the special educational needs of an artist is by seeing for yourself what a community of artists is all about, talking with our students, and exploring our facilities.

12:00 - 12:30 pm
Lunch
Meyerhoff House
Lunch tickets may be purchased in Meyerhoff House at lunchtime or during morning registration at Brown Center.

12:30 pm
Portfolio Review Registration
Bunting Center, Main Building, and Fox Building
If you register earlier in the day, registration is not required at this time.

1:00 - 5:00 pm
Portfolio Reviews by College Representatives
Bunting Center, Main Building, and Fox Building
Bring your portfolio of work and meet with representatives from some of the nation's most prestigious colleges and universities. You will receive counseling on the strengths that they see in your work. The purpose of a portfolio review is to guide and encourage your development as an artist and to offer information about the programs of study available at the participating institutions. Students, parents, and teachers are invited to attend.

For more information contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission:
Maryland Institute College of Art
1300 Mount Royal Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland 21217
410-225-2222, Toll-Free 866-577-MICA
E-mail: admissions@mica.edu

National Portfolio Day is an opportunity to meet with representatives from institutions offering professional programs accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Fifty-four of the nation's leading art colleges and universities will travel to the Maryland Institute College of Art to review your artwork, discuss your educational and professional goals, and share information on art programs, careers, admissions and financial aid. Bring your portfolio, parents, teachers, and friends. We look forward to seeing you.

Colleges Attending 2007 Portfolio Day:

  • Alfred University, School of Art & Design, NYSCC
  • Arcadia University
  • Art Center College of Design
  • CalArts (California Institute of the Arts)
  • California College of the Arts
  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • Center for Art and Design at The College of Saint Rose
  • College for Creative Studies
  • Columbus College of Art + Design
  • Corcoran College of Art + Design
  • Drexel University, Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts + Design
  • Emily Carr Institute of Art + Design
  • Fashion Institute of Technology
  • Hartford Art School, University of Hartford
  • Kansas City Art Institute
  • Kendall College of Art and Design
  • Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
  • Lawrence Technological University
  • Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts
  • Maryland Institute College of Art
  • Marywood University
  • Massachusetts College of Art + Design
  • Memphis College of Art
  • Minneapolis College of Art + Design
  • Montserrat College of Art
  • Moore College of Art & Design
  • Otis College of Art and Design
  • Parsons the New School for Design
  • Penn State School of Visual Arts
  • Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
  • Pennsylvania College of Art & Design
  • Pratt Institute
  • Pratt MWP
  • Purchase College, SUNY: School of Art & Design
  • Rhode Island School of Design
  • Ringling College of Art and Design
  • Rochester Institute of Technology
  • Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design
  • San Fransisco Art Institute
  • School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
  • School of Visual Arts
  • St. John's University
  • Syracuse University College of Visual + Performing Arts
  • The Art Institute of Boston
  • The Cleveland Institute of Art
  • The Cooper Union School of Art
  • The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising
  • The New England School of Art & Design at Suffolk University
  • The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
  • The University of the Arts
  • Tyler School of Art, Temple University
  • VCUarts
  • Washington University College of Art

Don't Miss the Day!

What are 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 critiques, 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 the 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 art 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

What should I bring to a National Portfolio Day?

We recommend that you bring up to 20 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 electrical outlet.

Choosing an Art Program

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 institution before you make your final decision. Investigate the college's accreditations and the transferability of their credits, and be sure you understand each institution's degree offerings and majors.

What is 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 regionally accredited colleges and universities which are members of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. 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 the events and member schools, please visit the NPDA web site.

Accommodations and Parking

Hotel accommodations are plentiful in metropolitan Baltimore. We'll be happy to send you a list of recommended hotels; just call us at 410.225.2222. For inside tips on travel, hotels, and what to see in Baltimore, please visit Baltimore Collegetown Network's Web site, www.baltimorecollegetown.org. Parking is available in the lot adjacent to the Mount Royal Station. You may also park in the University of Baltimore parking lot, across the street from Mount Royal Station (clock tower at Mt. Royal Ave. & Cathedral St.)