MFA Art and Technology: Admission Requirements

Create an account to begin the application process. This is where you’ll complete each step in the application and receive updates on your application status. Add your personal background and academic history.

Submit approximately 20 examples of your current work. The submitted work needs to be representative of a graduate-level student and an informed creative practice. No class projects will be considered.

The works do not need to be solely technology based; we are interested in a wide variety of artists with cross-disciplinary and experimental creative practices that can be supported and/or enhanced by the program’s curriculum. We recommend that you emphasize two or three bodies of work. Portfolios may represent more than one media type (digital video, photography, VR, AR, AI, image processing, sound, text, performance, extended reality, interactivity, creative computing, immersive spaces, websites). Moving image/sound work that’s longer than 15 minutes should be edited to three- to five-minute excerpts that best represent the work. Longer versions can be included in the portfolio as well.

Please use the portfolio section of the CalArts application to upload your portfolio with digital files. The system allows you to create a corresponding inventory of works. Each image should include title, date, medium, dimensions, and notes. You may upload still images or video works.

• We are not able to zoom in on the images. Please submit detail shots on a separate slide.
• Acceptable file formats: jpeg, png, gif, mp4, and mov.
• Acceptable external links: Vimeo, YouTube, personal website. We discourage Google Drive and zipped files. The links must be shared for public access until you receive a decision. Files that demand a password for access or that do not have public access will not be reviewed.

Once your portfolio is uploaded, it can be viewed and rearranged until the final submission is made. No changes can be made following the final submission of your portfolio. Please be advised that CalArts is not able to view your work until the final submission is made and your application fee is received. 

If you experience technical difficulties while uploading your portfolio, please email admissions@calarts.edu.

The artist statement for the Art and Technology program must explain in detail the critical basis of your work in regard to the use of technology within a creative and cultural practice. The statement needs to outline the creative goals you’d like to achieve while in the program, along with your interest in exploring art and technology within a cross-disciplinary context. Your statement should be between 500 and 1,000 words.

Students are required to submit a video introduction. Although we’d love to meet you in person, this wouldn’t be practical, so we ask that you send a brief video introducing yourself. 

• Duration: minimum of 30 seconds, maximum of 90 seconds.
• Speak directly to the camera.
• No edits.
• No special effects or on-screen overlays.
• File should be uploaded directly in your portfolio.

Does not require professional-level equipment; cell phone cameras are fine.

Two letters of recommendation are required. At least one recommendation should be written by a person who understands your work, such as an art teacher.

All letters of recommendation should be received by the application deadline, so it’s important that you contact your recommenders months before. We request that you submit the requests for your letters of recommendation through the online application, as it will allow you to track when we receive your requested letters.

If this is not possible, you may download the Letter of Recommendation Form (pdf) and have your recommender send their letters by mail to the Office of Admissions. Please choose only one method - either through the online application (preferred) or by mail - per recommender. Letters of recommendation will not be accepted via credentialing services such as Parchment or Naviance.

Mailed letters of recommendation should be sent to:

CalArts Office of Admissions
24700 McBean Pkwy.
Valencia, CA 91355
United States of America

All letters of recommendation must be written in English or accompanied by a certified English translated document.

Applicants who’ve passed the preliminary selection process will be notified in mid-February. At that time, candidates will be invited to visit CalArts in March for an interview and to meet faculty and students. The interview is required of invited candidates and is an important component of the final selection process. Video chat interviews are available in exceptional cases, however, we like to emphasize the importance of having an in-person interview as part of the application process for prospective students. Additionally, it gives you an opportunity to see the school and meet and talk to the faculty.