Events

US VISA OPTIONS FOR ARTISTS & PROFESSIONAL WORKERS

Thursday, February 20, 2025 / 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. ISSA will hold separate sessions specifically on OPT and the application process. This session is open to all US visa holders.

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FULBRIGHT INFO SESSION

Tuesday, February 25, 2025 / 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 thrilled that RISD Fulbrighters Bhen Alan '22 MFA PT to the Philippines and Sydney Abady Foreman '18 TX to Chile will join us to contribute their insights and share their experiences.

Image Credit: Maegan Murphy, 20 IL / Fulbright Turkey 2022-2023

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PREPARE FOR THE DESIGN PORTFOLIO REVIEW

Wednesday, February 26, 2025 / 20 Washington Place Auditorium / 7:00 PM ET

Get ready to participate in Design Portfolio Review Remote scheduled for March 12th from 12-5pm ET. Learn about 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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JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS: FIND, TARGET, APPLY

Tuesday, March 4, 2025 / 20 Washington Place Auditorium / 7:00 PM ET

Learn best practices for finding the fine arts or design opportunities you want. Gain insights on how to get the most out of ArtWorks, RISD's job and internship database, and other leading 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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CAREER RESOURCES FOR FIRST YEAR UNDERGRAD STUDENTS

Monday, March 10, 2025 / 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 internships and 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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SELF EMPLOYMENT & FREELANCING FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Wednesday, March 19, 2025 / 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.

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INTERVIEWING & SALARY NEGOTIATIONS

Thursday, April 3, 2025 / Live Virtual Event / 7:00 PM ET

Do you ever wonder what exactly happens during an interview? Do you want to better understand how to handle your next job or internship offer? Do you want to learn how and when to negotiate your salary? This is your chance to gain advice on these topics directly from recruiters, hiring managers, and experienced art and design professionals. Join us for this panel discussion to learn what organizations look for when they interview candidates and how to present your portfolio and experiences. Join us for real world insights into the hiring process!

Image Credit: Rey Londres, PH 21

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PRICING STRATEGIES FOR CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS

Wednesday, April 9, 2025 / Live Virtual Event / 7:00 PM ET

Ever found yourself Googling ""How do I price my creative products or services?"" You're not alone! In this workshop Erin will demystify pricing structures and how they can evolve to support your business over time. She will cover strategies for both products and services, market evaluation, essential equations, and more to ensure your prices support you, your business, and your creative journey. By the end of the workshop, you'll know how to confidently and strategically price your creative work.

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EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES - HOW TO WORK WITH GALLERIES & INSTITUTIONS

Thursday, April 10, 2025 / Live Virtual Event / 7:00 PM ET

There can be a lot of mystery in how to approach and work with galleries and institutions, especially as you pursue exhibition opportunities. Join us to gain firsthand perspectives on finding and developing opportunities that will build your arts career. You'll hear directly from gallery and museum representatives who will offer specific tips and best practices to help improve your approach. There will also be time for you to ask questions of our guest arts professionals.

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PREPARE FOR THE FINE ARTS PORTFOLIO REVIEW

Wednesday, April 16, 2025 / 20 Washington Place Auditorium / 7:00 PM ET

Be prepared to show your artwork and connect with arts professionals at the Fine Arts Portfolio Review Remote event on April 28th. 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.

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

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