When: Sunday, September 13, 2026 – Noon – 4pm
Where: Art Academy of Cincinnati, 1212 Jackson St, Cincinnati, OH 45202You’re Invited: An Exclusive National Portfolio Day Preview at AAC
Before you meet with colleges from around the country, spend the morning as our guest at the Art Academy of Cincinnati. Tour our studios, connect with faculty, students, and admissions counselors, and receive insider guidance on making the most of your National Portfolio Day experience.
When: Sunday, September 13, 2026 – 9:30 – 11:30 am Where: Art Academy of Cincinnati, 1212 Jackson St, Cincinnati, OH 45202This complimentary gathering is designed for students who want to arrive prepared, confident, and inspired before portfolio reviews begin.
Space is limited. Advance registration is required.
| Art Academy of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Bowling Green State University School of Art, Bowling Green, Ohio |
| Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, Ohio |
| College for Creative Studies, Detroit, Michigan |
| Columbus College of Art & Design, Columbus, Ohio |
| Ferris State University’s Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, Michigan |
| Herron School of Art and Design, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana |
| IED Istituto Europeo di Design, Milan, Italy |
| Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, Missouri |
| Laguna College of Art + Design, Laguna Beach, California |
| Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, Maryland |
| Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Montserrat College of Art, Beverly Massachusetts |
| Ringling College of Art & Design, Sarasota, Florida |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois |
| Washington University Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, St. Louis, Missouri |
Each year, Art Academy of Cincinnati travels across the country and hosts virtual events to meet the next generation of artists, designers, writers, and animators through National Portfolio Day events.
For more than 157 years, AAC has created a legacy of artists who are shaping culture, challenging ideas, and building creative lives through their practice. We’re excited to meet people who are beginning that journey for themselves, bringing their ideas, questions, sketchbooks, experiments, and creative voices to the table.
Browse upcoming National Portfolio Day events to find where AAC Admissions will be reviewing portfolios near you or connect with us virtually from anywhere in the world.
AAC offers free virtual and in-person portfolio reviews throughout the year.
Portfolio reviews are a chance to:
Our reviews are supportive, honest, and centered around helping you grow as an artist.
Located in the heart of Over-the-Rhine, the Art Academy of Cincinnati is easily accessible by car, public transit, and ride-share. Limited street parking is available throughout the surrounding neighborhood, and nearby paid parking can be found at the 3CDC lot located at the corner of 12th and Vine Street, Gateway Garage or the Mercer Commons Garage. Visitors are encouraged to allow extra time for parking during National Portfolio Day Events. AAC is also conveniently located along the Cincinnati Bell Connector streetcar route, making it easy to explore downtown Cincinnati and Over-the-Rhine while visiting campus.
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.
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 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.
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.
