Prospective students and their families traveled from across the state of Florida and even the United States to attend Ringling College of Art and Design’s Spring Open House last week. Almost 300 students registered for the event and 550 guests were present. 

The visitors started the day with a breakfast at Cunniffe Commons, the College’s expansive eatery, where Dr. Larry Thompson offered welcome remarks. After breakfast, they attended the Majors and Resource Fair in the Diane Roskamp Exhibition Hall, where they explored all of Ringling College’s 13 majors and the many support systems available to students. Families then scheduled tours with student guides or independently roamed the Campus, visiting the brand-new Esports Arena, the residence halls, explored Student Life clubs, and all the buildings that house the majors. In the Academic Center, they explored the floors that house Motion Design, Graphic Design, Business of Art and Design, the First Year Program, and the Design Center. On the second floor, staff from the Admissions department gave a presentation on portfolio development, and in the Morgonroth Auditorium, there was a financial aid presentation for the parents. 

At a pop-up photo booth in the lobby, prospective students posed in front of the AC Center’s iconic plant wall. Social media manager and manager of Street Team, a group of talented student workers who contribute social media content for all of the College’s social platforms, Payton Adam shared details from the day, “It was well attended, and the photo booth was really popular. Prospective students waited in line to get their photographs taken with friends and family. One of our students prompted visitors to go upstairs to see a display of student work on the First Year Program floor, which included figure drawings and miniature models of environments, creatures, and architecture. That was also really popular with visitors.”

After breaking for lunch at Cunniffe Commons, guests stuck around for a student panel hosted by the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, where current students shared their experiences and perspectives on what it is like to go to Ringling College, live in Sarasota, and on the Campus culture.  

For information on future Open House events keep an eye out on the Open House webpage

https://www.ringling.edu/openhouse/ or email admissions@ringling.edu. You can also explore the Campus from home, using our Virtual Tour.