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Hartford Art School Hosts National Portfolio Day

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HAS exterior
Hartford Art School

Hartford Art School Hosts National Portfolio Day on Saturday, October 22, 2022

The Hartford Art School invites high school students to the University of Hartford on Saturday, October 22 from noon to 4 p.m. 37 art schools and colleges will be represented during this four-hour portfolio review opportunity. Bring your best and most recent artwork, up to 20 pieces, to receive advice and guidance on applying to art school programs. 

Are you a high school student interested in attending National Portfolio Day?

Here is what you need to know.

WHAT IS A NATIONAL PORTFOLIO DAY?

National Portfolio Days (NPD) serve a variety of purposes. Most importantly, they help further the development of young artists by bringing together experienced college representatives to review artwork and offer critique. As a student, you'll hear many different opinions about your work. Do not hesitate to explain how you develop your ideas, and where you want to go with them.

A National Portfolio Day may be the first time you see so many people in one place who share a powerful commitment to the arts. This experience is a small taste of what attending a professional art program can be like. No admission decisions or scholarship awards will be offered at National Portfolio Days. Some college and university representatives may accept your portfolio as the visual portion of your application. Others have restrictions that prohibit them from making a definitive portfolio decision at the time of your review.

National Portfolio Days are also about the exchange of information—information about your work, yourself, your college plans, and your concerns. They are not an examination or a competition. The colleges represented are pleased to discuss their programs with you. Of course, they can be most helpful when discussing your work. Your portfolio should include the best work you are making now; but it can also include work in progress, sketchbooks, and tear sheets. Do not spend an inordinate amount of time matting or framing your work or worrying about presentation. The work itself is what is of interest.

WHAT IS THE NATIONAL PORTFOLIO DAY ASSOCIATION?

The National Portfolio Day Association (NPDA) was created solely for the organization and planning of National Portfolio Day events. Since 1978, NPDA members have been hosting portfolio days throughout the country. The association consists of regionally accredited art colleges that are members of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. It is the only organization of its kind, and its membership represents the highest standard of visual arts education in the United States.

ABOUT HARTFORD ART SCHOOL

Hartford Art School was founded in 1877 by a group of prominent Hartford women which includes Harriet Beecher Stowe, Olivia Clemens, Elizabeth Colt, Susan Warner, and Mary Bushnell Cheney. In 1957, the Hartford Art School merged with The Hartt College of Music and Hillyer College to form the University of Hartford. Today the University has seven schools and colleges, more than 4,000 undergraduate students, a total enrollment of 6,000 students, and includes graduate and professional programs. Learn more about Hartford Art School.

COVID SAFETY GUIDELINES

We must continue to keep safety at the forefront of our minds so that everyone can make the most of this year, both inside the classroom and around campus.

Masks that cover the face and nose will be required in classrooms and personal office spaces, unless otherwise specified by the faculty or staff member. They will also be required in Health Services, at COVID-19 testing locations, and in all performance spaces, including theaters. Approved masks are detailed in our face covering policy. Be sure to carry a mask with you at all times.

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS

  • Alfred University
  • California College of the Arts
  • College for Creative Studies
  • Drexel University - Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
  • Fashion Institute of Technology
  • FIDM / Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
  • Hartford Art School, University of Hartford
  • Kean University
  • Laguna College of Art and Design
  • Lesley University Undergraduate Admissions
  • Maine College of Art & Design
  • Massachusetts College of Art and Design
  • MICA / Maryland Institute College of Art 
  • Montserrat College of Art
  • Moore College of Art & Design
  • New York Academy of Art
  • New York School of Interior Design
  • Parsons School of Design/Parsons Paris at The New School
  • Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
  • Ringling College of Art & Design
  • RISD / Rhode Island School of Design
  • Rochester Institute of Technology
  • Salve Regina University
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago
  • School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University 
  • School of Visual Arts
  • Suffolk University
  • SUNY Purchase College School of Art + Design
  • Syracuse University College of Visual and Performing Arts
  • The Cooper Union
  • University of Connecticut Department of Art & Art History
  • University of Massachusetts Dartmouth CVPA
  • University of New Haven
  • The University of the Arts
  • VCUarts / Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Washington University in St. Louis

QUESTIONS?

Please contact artschool@hartford.edu if you have questions about the October 22 event.