Students and alumni can attend a wide range of presentations, workshops, and recruiting events to enhance their career development.

We offer over 30 career programs every academic year. These programs help build skills and knowledge to prepare students and alumni for the professional world. Topics include resume building, portfolio development, interview strategies, networking, freelancing, and much more! Additionally, we also put on multiple recruiting events each year that connect students with employers and professionals. Explore the calendar below to learn more about upcoming events, and students can also check their RISD email for weekly updates from us about career programs.

Spring Career Programs

Brooks Running

BROOKS RUNNING INFO SESSION

Tuesday, February 17, 2026 / Live Virtual Event / 7:00 PM ET

Brooks Running will be hosting an info session for students interested in their Summer 2026 intern roles currently open for applications. You can find the direct links to apply on ArtWorks!

For this session, we will be joined by RISD alum, Noelle Sanchez 16/TX, Senior Footwear Designer, speaking to her experience working in Footwear at Brooks Running! We also will have participation from teams hiring Summer 2026 interns at Brooks to speak to the work of their teams and provide an overview of their internship roles.

Members of the Brooks Footwear Materials team will be joining to provide an overview of their Footwear Material Development Intern position, and seeking candidates with an undergraduate degree in Textiles, Design, Fashion or related field or equivalent combination of experience and education. We also will hear from Brooks Lifestyle Footwear Merchandising team to provide an overview of another summer internship role on broader Footwear team, Lifestyle Footwear Merchandising Intern, seeking candidates with an undergraduate degree in Business/Marketing, Industrial/Product Design, Merchandising or a related field. 

Internships & Jobs

JOBS & INTERNSHIPS / FIND, TARGET, APPLY

Wednesday, February 18, 2026 / 20 Washington Place Auditorium / 7:00 PM  ET

Learn best practices for finding fine arts and design opportunities that align with your goals. Gain practical tips on how to get the most out of ArtWorks, RISD's job and internship platforms. We'll show you how to use LinkedIn to connect with professionals to gain real-world advice through the RISD alumni network and how to register an internship for academic credit. All students are welcome.

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prep for DPR

PREPARE FOR DESIGN PORTFOLIO REVIEW

Tuesday, February 24, 2026 / 20 Washington Place Auditorium / 7:00 PM ET

Get ready to participate in Design Portfolio Review Remote scheduled for March 11th from 12-5pm ET. Learn how to apply for portfolio reviews, prepare for your review meetings, and how to network and engage with participating companies. Gain tips on curating your portfolio, how to introduce yourself, what to say and how to present your work. Acquire essential skills for researching companies of interest, planning who you want to meet with, and strategizing how to follow up.

The Design Portfolio Review is for juniors, seniors, and graduate students only, but all students may attend this prep session.

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visa options

U.S. VISA OPTIONS FOR ARTISTS & PROFESSIONAL WORKERS 

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 / Live Virtual Event / 7:00 PM ET

Gain information and guidance on which visas might be available to F-1 visa holders after OPT. Immigration attorney, Eileen Morrison, will present visa eligibility details for visas such as the H-1B, O1, EB2, TN and more. Please be sure to join us for this informative session and bring any questions that you have related to what you hope to do after graduation. This program is offered by ISSA and they will also hold separate sessions specifically on OPT and the application process. This session is open to all U.S. visa holders.

first year career resources

CAREER RESOURCES FOR FIRST YEAR UNDERGRAD STUDENTS

Tuesday, March 3, 2026 / 20 Washington Place Auditorium / 7:00 PM ET

Be ready for future internships, jobs, exhibitions, awards and more. At this talk, you will learn how to start exploring career paths, begin developing your professional materials, and start discovering professional opportunities. In this session, we will break down the career development process and help you map out ways to make progress towards your goals. Whether you know exactly what you want your career to look like or have no idea, this talk will help you get started on the right path. You'll be inspired to take the next steps in exploring the numerous professional paths available to artists and designers!

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Tamara Bates

ART OF BUSINESS SERIES: STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING UNEVEN INCOME

Wednesday, March 4, 2026 / Live Virtual Event / 7:00 PM ET

Managing money in a way that truly supports your work can feel overwhelming, especially when you are just launching your career. This workshop will give you the tools to maintain agency over your earnings and bolster your financial confidence. Join Tamara Bates, financial coach to learn essential financial strategies made specifically with artists in mind.

In Strategies for Managing Uneven Income, Tamara will offer practical tools for how to pay off debt, save for the future, and other protective factors when your income fluctuates month to month. 

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LAIKA Talk

LAIKA ON CAMPUS PRESENTATION

Friday, March 6, 2026 / 20 Washington Place / 12:00 PM ET

Join us for a presentation by Amy Hurwitz, Recruiting & Onboarding Manager, about LAIKA’s production process, what they look for in portfolios and how to apply for current and future opportunities. Students with interests in any of the following are encouraged to attend to learn about the ways your skills and talents can be applied to working at the studio:

Stop motion Animation and/or Fabrication | Visual development | Character design | 2D Illustration | Storyboard | Camera | Production management|  CG Animation and/or CG Modeling | CG Rigging and/or CG Lighting | Textiles | Metal arts

Amy Hurwitz is the Recruiting and Onboarding Manager at LAIKA, where she has spent the last 10 years collaborating with various departments to understand their unique staffing needs and secure top-notch talent. Her dedication to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment has been instrumental in promoting creativity and innovation to push the boundaries of animation at LAIKA.

Fulbright

FULBRIGHT INFO SESSION

Tuesday, March 17, 2026 / Live Virtual Event / 7:00 PM ET

Interested in a cross-cultural exchange experience in which you can promote mutual understanding between people of the U.S. and people of other countries? The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides grants for individually designed Study/Research projects for 9-12 months in over 140 countries. This remarkable opportunity is open to all disciplines and all kinds of creative projects. During their grants, Fulbrighters meet, work, live with, and learn from the people of the host country. Through thoughtfully designed project activities, research, and artistic practice, Fulbrighters have meaningful engagement in the community and promote mutual understanding.

Enrolled Seniors, Fifth Years, and Graduate Students, and recent alumni up to three years after graduation may apply through RISD. (Students may begin the application process in their Junior year but cannot submit an application until the fall of their Senior year.) Applicants must have a bachelor degree before the start of the grant and must be a U.S. citizen.

This Information Session will provide you with an overview of the program and the application process, along with motivation to develop your ideas and jump in! We are excited that past RISD Fulbrighters will join us to contribute their insights and share their experiences.

STUDENT RSVP

MATTE

MATTE PROJECTS INFO SESSION

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 / 20 Washington Place / 12:00 PM ET

MATTE blends strategy, creativity, and production to craft innovative live and digital experiences. We inspire, entertain, and enrich audiences with our unique approach to bringing immersive worlds to life. At the intersection of entertainment and advertising. MATTE is a brand of 10 years—serving its own audience whilst offering multidisciplinary strategic, creative, and production services for brands and artists, and exposing the opportunities in between.

STUDENT RSVP

Self-Employment for International Students

SELF-EMPLOYMENT & FREELANCING FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 / Live Virtual Event / 7:00 PM ET

If you are interested in learning more about freelance work or self-employment in the United States, please join us for this session with Immigration Attorney, Eileen Morrison. The session will focus on the legal guidelines around freelance and self-employment, specifically during the Post-Graduation Optional Practical Training (OPT) period. REMINDER: You MUST have the appropriate work authorization through International Student & Scholar Affairs (ISSA) and/or US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) to legally work in the United States if you are a non-resident visa holder.

STUDENT RSVP

exhibition opportunities

EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES: HOW TO WORK WITH GALLERIES & INSTITUTIONS

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 / Live Virtual Event / 7:00 PM ET

There can be a lot of mystery around how to approach and work with galleries and institutions while pursuing exhibition opportunities. Join us for a conversation that demystifies the process and offers firsthand perspectives on finding and developing opportunities that support a sustainable arts career. Hear directly from gallery and museum representatives as they share practical tips and best practices to strengthen your approach. The session will also include time for Q&A with our guest arts professionals.

STUDENT RSVP

interviewing

INTERVIEWING: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 /20 Washington Place / 12:00 PM ET

Do you ever wonder what really happens during an interview? Want to feel more confident navigating job or internship offers, including when and how to negotiate salary?

Join us for a Lunch & Learn focused on demystifying the hiring process in art and design fields (lunch will be provided). We'll walk through what organizations look for during interviews, how to effectively present your portfolio and experiences, and best practices for evaluating and responding to offers.

Come hungry and bring your questions for a practical, real-world conversation designed to help you feel more prepared for your next opportunity. 

STUDENT RSVP

art of business

ART OF BUSINESS SERIES: A CREATIVE FREELANCER'S ROADMAP

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 / Live Virtual Event / 7:00 PM ET

Freelancing in the creative industry is overwhelming. There is no clear roadmap, no steady paycheck, and a hundred questions about where to even begin. But here’s the truth: you don’t need to have it all figured out before you start.

In this talk, photographer and director Grace Rivera shares a candid look at the essentials of building a freelance career in today’s creative economy. From setting yourself up as a business to finding clients, managing projects, and sustaining both your finances and your inspiration, she breaks down the practical steps every freelancer needs to know, framed through lived experiences in photography, commercial directing, and advertising.

Students and alumni alike will walk away with a clearer understanding of what freelancing actually looks like, the confidence to take their first steps, and the tools to treat their creativity not just as a passion, but as a sustainable career.

Because freelancing isn’t about waiting until you feel ready — it’s about starting now, learning as you go, and forging your own path.

STUDENT RSVP

prep for the FAPR

PREPARE FOR THE FINE ARTS PORTFOLIO REVIEW

Wednesday, April 15, 2026 / 20 Washington Place / 12:00 PM ET

Be prepared to show your artwork and connect with arts professionals at the Fine Arts Portfolio Review Remote event on April 27th. This is an unparalleled opportunity to build your fine arts network as you consider future exhibitions, residencies, grants, resources and more. You'll have access to gallery owners, curators, museum professionals, residencies and arts organizations and you'll want to make the most of this opportunity! Learn what to include in your portfolio, how many pieces/projects to show, what to say about your work, how to present it, and what to leave behind. Hear about the essential skills of researching the organizations, introducing yourself, and following up after the event.

STUDENT RSVP

networking

NETWORKING & BUILDING PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Thursday, April 16, 2026 / 20 Washington Place / 7:00 PM ET

Attend this workshop and feel more confident in your ability to network in a meaningful and authentic way! In this interactive session, you will have the chance to practice your networking skills by speaking with professionals across the world of art and design. We'll first cover the basics around building professional relationships and key networking strategies. Then, we will break into small groups where you will have the chance to ask questions and network with representatives from companies, arts organizations, and creative studios. In addition to great networking conversations, you'll also get to enjoy some yummy snacks and refreshments. You'll leave feeling more certain about how to network!

PROFESSIONALS ATTENDING: Becky Fong 05 GD - Honorcraft | Abby Murphy 13 GD - Fidelity Investments | Samantha Weiser 15 IL - Hasbro | Larry Trim 89 BArch, Nicole Green, and Katrina Merolle-Hay - Kaestle Boos Associates, Inc.

STUDENT RSVP