Whether your students have a fully completed portfolio or are steadily building a strong body of work, you know they’ve put in a lot of time and energy. It’s essential to celebrate their progress and growth to maintain their motivation and momentum. One way to do this is to take your students to National Portfolio Day. Getting them out of the familiar classroom and around like-minded students and professionals is incredibly impactful.
Why should you take your students to National Portfolio Day?
National Portfolio Day is an annual event hosted in many major cities across the country. Art students can present their work to college representatives and professional artists from art and design schools. It offers them a chance to receive real-time, personalized feedback on their portfolios. They can also get scholarships and waivers for college application fees. For art teachers, it offers a valuable insight into the current expectations for college art programs.
What do you need to know before attending?
First, check the National Portfolio Day schedule to find the closest location, date, and hosting venue. Just like any school field trip, you’ll want to plan early to ensure everything runs smoothly. Check with your school administration and district policies to ensure you’re following all field trip protocols.
As you plan your visit, consider travel time and how to make the most of your day. If the event is in your own city, consider pairing it with a trip to a local museum. If it’s in a nearby city, explore fresh attractions to enrich your students’ experience. Non-art pit stops can be helpful, too. Try sketching animals at the city zoo or snapping reference photos at an aquarium. Many places offer student discounts or free admission with a valid school ID.
How can my students practice networking and interviewing before the event?
Even your most outgoing students can benefit from a little practice before National Portfolio Day. While your students receive feedback from you often, presenting their work to a complete stranger is a whole new experience. Plus, networking can be awkward for some students. Set everyone up for success with thoughtful preparation and guided practice.
Here are three ways to help your students gain confidence:
- Practice in the classroom.
Make portfolio sharing and critique a regular part of your routine. - Host a mock interview day.
Act as a college representative and prepare a short list of questions, such as “What inspired this piece?” or “How does this work demonstrate growth?” - Review art vocabulary.
Revisit the Elements and Principles of Art to review key terminology.
What tips do I need to know to prepare student artwork?
Prepping artwork takes time and patience—from matting or mounting to framing, it’s a tedious process. The great news is that you don’t need to do this for every single piece! Focus on making the artwork easy to transport and share. Representatives aren’t looking for a perfect layout or professional presentation. Instead, they’re looking for a glimpse of each student’s unique artistic voice.
Here are some simple, effective ways to get their artwork ready:
- Use portfolios.
If your students already have portfolios, use them! There’s no need to buy anything expensive. - Make DIY portfolios.
No portfolio? No problem. Students can create simple portfolios using butcher paper or poster board. - Bring sketchbooks.
Encourage students to tab or flag sections in their sketchbooks so they can easily flip to favorite pieces or spreads. - Create digital galleries.
Students can use personal electronic devices, including their phones, if permitted by your district and school policies. Curate a dedicated gallery to showcase both works-in-progress and completed pieces.
What should I include in my packing list?
To ensure the day goes smoothly, create a concise packing checklist for your students so they know exactly what to bring. Thoughtful preparation contributes to a positive experience and a low-stress day. Provide the list early and review it several times leading up to the trip. Bringing a collapsible wagon or large tote to transport artwork to and from the bus can be really handy!
Include the following packing tips:
- Wear comfortable clothing and shoes for a lot of walking.
- Pack jackets, blankets, and pillows for the bus ride, especially if it’s far away.
- Stay hydrated and bring a reusable water bottle.
- Secure plenty of snacks.
- Remember device chargers.
- Grab headphones or small games for the bus ride.
- Bring spending money for additional excursions or dinner.
- Double-check your artwork!
What do we do once we arrive?
Once you pull up at the event, take a few moments to get settled. Have your students check in, use the restrooms, gather their materials, and take a deep breath—it’s an exciting day!
After check-in, students can begin lining up to meet with schools. Some lines may be longer than others, so encourage your students to choose their top 3–5 schools to visit first. Remind them that they don’t need to meet with every representative.
As the art teacher, stay engaged and supportive throughout the day. Check in with your students periodically to see how they’re doing. Take photos to document the moments. Offer encouragement during interviews or even hold a quick pep talk before students start lining up. Most importantly, celebrate their courage! Sharing artwork and receiving feedback from professionals is a huge milestone.
How should I end the day to maximize the event’s impact?
After the event, take time to debrief with your students. Ask them about their experience—what schools they visited, the kind of feedback they received, and how they felt sharing their work with professionals. Remind them that they accomplished something amazing by putting their artwork out into the world.
A long day of travel and networking is exhausting, so it’s helpful to build in some downtime between the event and the next activity. Consider wrapping up the day with a group dinner stop before heading back home. High schoolers always love food, and it’s the perfect way to celebrate your students while also deepening your classroom community.
Celebrating student portfolios, sketchbooks, and artwork is a powerful way to honor their creative journey. Your students dedicate countless hours to developing their craft, voice, and style. Taking your students to National Portfolio Day not only allows them to showcase their work but also opens doors to art and design schools, scholarship opportunities, waived application fees, and invaluable professional feedback. With one field trip, show them what’s possible for them beyond the four walls of your art room!
How do you celebrate your students’ artwork?
Share your experiences at National Portfolio Day!
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Magazine articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its academic offerings. Contributors use terms in the way they are most often talked about in the scope of their educational experiences.
