Event Highlights
- Free to attend
- Complimentary parking; carpooling is recommended
- Opportunities for feedback and mentorship
Explore CalArts
Before Los Angeles Portfolio Day begins, take advantage of:
- Campus Tours: Explore our unique campus and community
- Financial Aid Info Session: Learn about how to complete the FAFSA, federal aid, Cal Grant and scholarship/grant opportunities
Frequently Asked Questions
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 that hold regional accreditation and accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), or Substantial Equivalency status. NPDA is the only organization of its kind and the membership represents the highest standard of visual arts education available in the world.
NPDA policies can be viewed here.
Visit the NPDA website for more information.
What are National Portfolio Days?
National Portfolio Days are annual events held in multiple locations across the United States, Canada and Europe. They are designed to provide a unique opportunity for you to meet individually with professional representatives of accredited colleges and universities and receive valuable feedback and guidance on your portfolio before you submit it as part of your application. Not all members attend all events. Visit nationalportfolioday.org for attendees.
No admission decisions or scholarship awards will be offered to you 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. All representatives will be happy to discuss their specific programs of study and provide answers to questions about the availability of scholarships and financial aid.
You will not find National Portfolio Days to be an examination or competition, the events are about an exchange of information. The representatives want to learn about you, your work, and your post-secondary plans, all while informing you about their college or university and application requirements. These events may be the first time you have been in an environment with so many people in one place who all share a powerful commitment to art and design. Use this as an opportunity to be inspired, to gain advice as to how to improve or present your portfolio, and to experience a small taste of what it is like to attend a professional art and design program.
What should I bring to a National Portfolio Day?
A portfolio of visual artwork that includes your best and most recent work, but it can also include works in progress, sketchbooks, and tear sheets. Don’t hesitate to explain how you develop your ideas and where you want to go with them. Often, sharing the process of arriving at the completed work is as valuable as simply presenting finished products. You will hear many different opinions about your work that will be reflective of the admission requirements of each school.
Therefore, we urge you to discuss your work with as many colleges/universities as possible and to bring no more than 15 works. Your portfolio can be presented as original work or on screen, but make note wifi may not be available at all locations. Students who are not prepared to show a portfolio may attend to gather information from college/university representatives.
What colleges will be at LA Portfolio Day?
See full list here
- Alberta University of the Arts (AUArts)
- ArtCenter College of Design
- Boston University School of Visual Arts
- California College of the Arts (CCA)
- California Institute of the Arts
- Cleveland Institute of Art
- College for Creative Studies
- Concordia University
- Cornish College of the Arts
- Drexel University, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
- Emily Carr University of Art + Design
- Fashion Institute of Technology
- Goldsmiths, University of London
- IED Istituto Europeo di Design
- Kansas City Art Institute
- Kean University
- Laguna College of Art + Design
- Lesley Art & Design
- Maine College of Art & Design
- Maryland Institute College of Art
- Massachusetts College of Art and Design
- Minneapolis College of Art and Design
- Moore College of Art and Design
- New York Academy of Art
- New York School of Interior Design
- Otis College of Art and Design
- Pacific Northwest College of Art at Willamette University
- Paris College of Art
- Parsons Paris at The New School
- Parsons School of Design
- Pratt Institute
- Rhode Island School of Design
- Ringling College of Art & Design
- Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
- Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD)
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University
- School of Visual Arts
- SMU Meadows School of the Arts
- Syracuse University College of Visual and Performing Arts
- Texas Christian University - School of Art
- The Cooper Union
- Virginia Commonwealth University (VCUarts)
- Washington University in St. Louis (Sam Fox School)
- Woodbury University
What if I can’t attend?
If you can’t attend LA Portfolio Day, you can still reach out to the colleges you are interested in to request feedback on your portfolio. If you would like to meet with a CalArts Admissions Assistant Director, whether virtually or in person, please visit the “Meet Our Counselors” page and reach out to the assistant director that represents the program(s) you are interested in.