Career and college information and events for artists:
Career Programs & Tours
Ryman Arts Career Program 2018 Behind the Scenes Tours
Each spring, Ryman Arts provides a Career Program to focus on the expansion of our students’ career horizons. We want all our students, and their families, to know that nobody has to be a “starving artist”—you can find a career in the arts that suits you!
The best way to get a taste of the marvelous career opportunities in the arts is to visit the workplaces of artists and see the variety of skills that are in demand in Southern California's creative workforce. These tours have been arranged especially for Ryman Arts students and alumni, giving them a unique chance to explore their options for a career in the arts.
This program is available to current Ryman Arts students and alumni, who can request a spot on a tour by submitting this form.
Tours that have space after then can still be requested, up until the day before the tour takes place.
Below are some tours that took place during 2017-2018 year. Check back on this page for an updated list.
The Hettema Group, Pasadena.
Art + Practice, Leimert Park, Los Angeles.
WET Design, Sun Valley.
Jovenville, Newport Beach.
Terri Hardin's Studio - Burbank.
Merge Conceptual Design, Santa Monica.
Getty Villa, Antiquities Department, Malibu.
Garner Holt Productions, San Bernardino.
Walt Disney Imagineering, Glendale.
Animation Research Library, Glendale.
Themed Entertainment Association
Many of the companies participating in our Career Program are members of the Themed Entertainment Association. The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) is an international non-profit association representing the world’s leading creators, developers, designers, and producers of compelling places and experiences.
TEA members bring the experience of engaging storytelling and entertainment to a vast number of casinos, restaurants, retail stores, museums, zoos, theme parks, and an ever-growing list of destinations that aim to bring a higher level of visitor experiences worldwide.
The TEA provides the proper channels and opportunities to network, educate, and help your business or career grow.
Career Day 2018
Saturday, March 3
Visual Arts Department
California State University, Fullerton
Ryman Arts students, parents and alumni all welcome to this free event!
As a Ryman Arts student, you should know all the possibilities that are open to you, think about what type of career you might want to have, and how you might start to get there.
College Day 2017
Sunday, October 22, 2017
Otis College of Art and Design
Special Event for all Ryman Arts students, alumni and their families 11:00 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. Download a pdf of the 2016 event schedule and description here.
The following schools will have representatives at our College Day:
ArtCenter College of Design. Private Art College. Pasadena, CA
Bennington College. Liberal Arts College. Bennington, VT
California College of the Arts. Private Art College. San Francisco, CA
California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). Private Art College. Valencia, CA
California State University, Fullerton . Public University. Fullerton, CA
Cleveland Institute of Art. Private Art College. Cleveland, OH
College for Creative Studies. Private Art College. Detroit, MI
Columbus College of Art & Design. Private Art College. Columbus, OH
Cornish College of the Arts. Private Art College. Seattle, WA
Emily Carr University of Art & Design. Public Art College. Vancouver BC, Canada
Kansas City Art Institute. Private Art College. Kansas City, MO
Laguna College of Art & Design. Private Art College. Laguna Beach, CA
Maryland Institute College of Art. Private Art College. Baltimore, MD
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. Private Art College. Milwaukee, WI
Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Private Art College. Minneapolis, MN
Oregon College of Art and Craft. Private Art College. Portland, OR.
Otis College of Art & Design. Private Art College. Los Angeles, CA
Pacific Northwest College of Art. Private Art College. Portland, OR
Parsons the New School for Design. Private Art College. New York, NY
Ringling College of Art and Design. Private Art College. Trail Sarasota, FL
San Francisco Art Institute. Private Art College. San Francisco, CA
School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Private Art College. Chicago, IL
School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts. Private Art College. Boston, MA
School of Visual Arts. Private Art College. New York City, NY
Southern California Institiute of Architecture. Private Architecture School. Los Angeles, CA
UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture. Public University. Los Angeles, CA
Woodbury University. Liberal Arts School. Burbank, CA
In addition to college admissions representatives reviewing portfolios, there will be some organizations with programs for high schools students on their path to college. They will have representatives at College Day to talk to you about the benefits of their program. They are:
National YoungArts Foundation. National contest for talented youth
Otis Pre-College Programs. Studio art classes and summer art camp. Los Angeles, CA
The Oxbow School. Private Arts High School. Napa, CA
California State Summer School of the Arts (CSSSA). Public summer art program. Valencia, CA
Examples of College Day Workshops and Seminars
- Financial Aid 101
- Applying for Contests and Scholarships
- Self-Directed College Programs
- How to photograph your artwork
- How to apply to Cal State and UC schools
- Writing a great college essay
- Portfolio Development
- Choosing the right college
- Transferring from community college to a four year school
- Ryman Arts Alumni Panel - What is college really like?
College Resources
Here are links to websites and handouts that will help you to navigate your college application process. Some are specifically for students who are applying to art programs and some are useful for all college-bound students.
General College Preparation:
- Ryman Arts' Guide to Choosing a College [pdf 40kb]
- College Board is a website that allows you to compare colleges, make college searches, and prepare students for the SAT, ACT, and other forms of test preparation.
- Mapping Your Future This site provides free, web-based college, financial aid, career and financial literacy information and services.
- U.S News - 10 Tips for Starting Your College Search is a guide that allows students to have a more personal idea of how to search for the best college of their choice.
- PrepScholar gives informaiton of how to plan the college search step by step.
- Niche is a helpful website for college information based on an academic, statistical, and social descriptions of college students attending the college.
- Cappex provides information to approximate the student's chances of being accepted into their college of choice as well as it helps to find scholarships, search colleges, and even apply in one site.
- QuestBridge is a non-profit program that links bright, motivated low-income students with educational and scholarship opportunities at some of the nation's best colleges. Apply to the program to get started.
- TELACU Education Foundation provides college scholarships and mentoring to students in underserved communities in California. They have a great list of online college preparation resources here: http://telacu.com/telacu-education-foundation/online-resources/.
- College Prep 101 General college preparation information.
- College Affordability Guide provides clear, correct info and advice on the many options students have to reduce the cost of their degree
- I Can Afford College provides help in applying for community college and financial aid
- College Advice From a Ryman Alumna is a set of notes by Stephanie Petteplace in which she explains from her experience the ten things that all high school students should do when applying to college.
- Things Not to Do When Applying for College is a continuation of notes by Stephanie Petteplace that advises students on the mistakes that high school students make when applying to college and how to avoid them.
College Preparation for Art Students:
National Association for College Admission Counseling
Visual and Performing Arts College Fairs, and links to general college preparation articles
College Affordability Guide: Fine Arts Degrees
Good, in-depth information about what to look for when choosing your fine arts program, and how to avoid "diploma mills"
New York Times article on Portfolio Preparation
Student Art Guide is a list of art schools in California with descriptions of each.
College Information for Deferred Action and/or Undocumented Students:
The Dream
Golden Door Scholars
AB540.com
A comprehensive website for the college-going undocumented student
How to Photograph Your Artwork
Mike Pucher presentation:
Photographing Your Artwork: The Three Things To Do Right [pdf 15 MB]
Photographing Your Artwork: Quick Reference Guide [58kb]
Ryman Arts Workshop: How to photograph your artwork [pdf 71kb]
Instructions created for Ryman Arts students
Ryman Arts' Glossary of Photographic terms [pdf 37kb]
How to Photograph your Artwork
Detailed instructions on photographing different types of artwork.
How to Photograph your Drawing or Painting
Shorter instructions on photographing a drawing or painting
Scholarships and Financial Aid:
- Scholarship and Financial Aid presentatioSmarn by Jessica Pashkow
- Financial Aid presentation from Ryman Arts College Day
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid: The free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Use this application to apply for federal grants and assist in funding your college education. You will be required to fill out this form to apply for financial aid in college. For middle class students, there is also the Middle Class Scholarship. For more details, click here.
- California Student Aid Commission: - The California Student Aid Commission’s site will assist you in your search for state, federal, and institutional financial aid information for funding post-high school education.
- Latino College Dollars -Latino College Dollars lets you search for scholarships specifically for Latino students. http://latinocollegedollars.org/
- FinAid- FinAid is a general financial aid search and information site.http://www.finaid.org/otheraid/spanish.phtml - Spanish
- FastWeb: A website that helps students find scholarships, general college information, and information regarding financial aid.
- LA Cash for College: Is a website that helps students all over Los Angeles find scholarships as well as it gives help on how to apply for financial aid.
- CalGrants: Is a financial aid program that helps students gain financial aid as they attend college.
- Scholarship Experts: A website dedicated to scholarships.
- Grants and Scholarship for Art Students: College Grants gives art students the opportunity to see scholarships and grants that are dedicated to art students.
Parent Assistance for Students Going to College:
- Smart Advice for College Parents - From Parents Who've Been There is an article with an array of helpful advice from other parents who worked with their children to help them go to college.
- CollegeVine gives useful advice on how to help your child through the application process.
- NBC News - How to Emotionally Prepare Your Child (and Yourself) for College is an article that has a month by month plan on how to prepare for the next phase of your child's life.
Career Resource Booklet
Go to our Special Opportunities page to see a current list of internship and scholarship opportunities, as well as other great postings.
Download the Career Preparation booklet [9 pages, PDF: 355 KB]
Includes:
- Careers in the Arts
- Careers Related to Visual Art
- Internet resources for job seekers
- How to write a resume and cover letter
- Resume writing worksheet
- How to request a Letter of Recommendation
- Internships listing
And if you're looking for a job in the arts, read these really useful articles from New York Foundation for the Arts.
