SAIC hosts and attends multiple in-person events on campus and across the world each year, so you can meet with us in your city or come see us here in Chicago. See our full schedule below!

See SAIC Days

Join us in Chicago for student-led campus tours of our academic and studio buildings, followed by optional one-on-one portfolio reviews with Undergraduate Admissions Counselors!

SAIC Days

SAIC Days are special 3 hour events that take place in select cities from September - November. These events are a perfect opportunity to get one-on-one feedback on your portfolio, meet with SAIC faculty and staff, and learn more about our interdisciplinary curriculum.

National Portfolio Days

National Portfolio Days (NPDs) take place throughout the year, and SAIC participates in all of them. Representatives from SAIC are ALWAYS available to provide 10-15 minute portfolio reviews of prospective students' work, give you valuable feedback and guidance on your portfolio before you submit it as part of your application, and to speak about SAIC's curriculum. 

Take a live tour of our campus and residence halls with our current students, and ask any questions you have!

Virtual: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 4:00 pm CT

On-Campus: Daily, Monday - Friday at 12:00 noon CT (Please plan to arrive by 11:45 a.m. CT for check-in.)

Schedule a Virtual or In-Person Tour
Take an on-demand tour of our Residence Halls

Can't attend our live tour?

Check out our self-guided virtual tour.

Our admissions counselors are happy to meet with you and assist you through the admissions process. Engage with our representatives about SAIC, your work, our curriculum, and get a better sense of what it is like to be a student at SAIC. Call us any time M-F, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (CT) at 1.312.629.6100 or 1.800.232.7242.

Meet Your Admissions Counselor

Educator Appy Hour: Sparking Creativity

Thursday, October 21
4:30-5:30 p.m. CT
RSVP

Join highly acclaimed faculty and teaching artists Jason Dunda and Erin Washington, as well as teachers from your area, for a peer-to-peer exchange. We’ll share some strategies and generative exercises that can help your students jumpstart their creativity and overcome “artist’s block” as they work on college admissions portfolios. You’ll also be able to meet with your college admissions counselor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) to gather updates and information about the college admissions process.

Meet the Artists:

Jason Dunda

Jason Dunda is a Canadian painter and SAIC faculty and alum living and working in Chicago. His practice is led by a sense of dry wit and satire with an affinity to craft. Recent exhibitions include a solo project at Northeastern Illinois University, and group shows at Slow in Chicago, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, SOMArts in San Francisco, and SÍM Gallery in Reykjavík. Recent residencies include the Corporation of Yaddo and a four-month research and production fellowship in Paris, fully funded by the Canada Council for the Arts.

Erin Washington

Erin Washington is a Painter, Drawer, and Installation artist currently living and working in Chicago. Using fugitive and symbolic materials, Washington’s works source imagery from the Sciences, Mythology, and Art History that represent ruptures and failures in the search for meaning and truth. Erin is currently a lecturer in the Painting and Drawing Department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she received her MFA in 2011.

Educator Appy Hour: Community-Based Design Projects

Thursday, November 18
4:30-5:30 p.m. CT
RSVP

Join highly acclaimed faculty and designer Eric Hotchkiss, Director of Civic Engagement Jaclyn Jacunski, SAIC students, as well as teachers from your area to learn more about youth-led design projects in Chicago. In particular we will share information about how youth worked alongside designing a new 18-hole course in Douglas Park in the West Side neighborhood. In addition to meeting with Eric, we’ll also save time for you to meet with one of our college admissions counselors at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) to gather updates and information about the college admissions process at the School of the Art of Chicago (SAIC).

Learn more about the Douglas 18 mini-golf course project.

Portfolio Tip Tuesday: Documentation as Process

Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Watch the Recording

In this live workshop, an SAIC faculty member will lead you through an hour long making session. This week, we'll use methods of recording your work as part of the creative process.

Portfolio Tip Tuesday: Sketchbook Deep Dive & Intro to Journaling

Tuesday, July 13, 2021
Watch the Recording

Sketchbooks and journals are essential companions for artists. Together, we'll look at interesting ways to use them and how they can help you build a strong portfolio.

Art School 101

Saturday, July 24, 2021
Watch the Recording

In this online session ideal for both students and their families/guardians, we will be giving an overview of an art and design school education. We will also be covering topics including: how to determine whether a school is a good fit, the application process, merit scholarship, and portfolio preparation. There will be plenty of time to get all of your questions answered!

Portfolio Tip Tuesday: Workshop- Rapid Experiments

Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Watch the Recording

In this hour long workshop, an SAIC faculty member will walk us through how to build up a substantial body of work through rapid experiments.

You are Almost Here! Financial Aid Final Steps

Thursday, July 29, 2021
Watch the Recording

You are invited to attend an online information session with SAIC's Student Financial Services office. We will help answer any last minute questions you may have about payments, loans and more. Topics will include:

• Important Dates
• Making Payments
• Setting Up Payment Plans
• Health Insurance Waivers
• Loan Processing Steps
• and more!

There will be time for individual questions during and after the webinar.

Portfolio Tip Tuesday: Making Assignments Work for You

Tuesday, August 10
Watch the Recording

How can you go beyond what's expected when working on an assignment? How have artists previously incorporated assignments and prompts into their creative practices? SAIC Admissions Counselors give you the inside scoop on how to approach assignment-based work so you can include it in your portfolio.

Portfolio Tip Tuesday: Renew, Reuse, Recycle

Tuesday, August 24
Watch the Recording

In this hour long workshop, an SAIC faculty member will walk us through using unsuccessful or unresolved work as material to make something new.

Portfolio Tip Tuesday: What is a Portfolio & Where to Start

Tuesday, September 14, 2021
Watch the Recording

Applying to art school usually means providing images of your artwork in the form of a portfolio. But how do you get started? How do you know what to include and what to leave out? And how do artists use this important tool in their professional lives? Join us to find out!

Portfolio Tip Tuesday: What to Include- & NOT Include- in Your Portfolio

Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Watch the Recording

How do you know what different schools are looking for in a portfolio? Is it the same for every degree program? Join us to learn how to research and follow portfolio requirements. We will review specific requirements for SAIC's 5 different degree programs.

Portfolio Tip Tuesday: Making Anime / Fan Art / Comics your Own

Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Watch the Recording

Are you currently contemplating the age old question of "Is it okay to submit anime, fan art, or comics in a portfolio for art school?" We'll do a deep dive exploring the topics of authorship, originality, and appropriation in art to help you decide how to move forward if you have an interest in this style of work.

Transfer Friday

Friday, October 1, 2021
Watch the Recording

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is hosting an online information session on the first Friday of every month specifically for students wishing to transfer to SAIC. We will be covering topics including how to prepare your portfolio for admission and merit scholarship, submitting your application, and specifics about our transfer credit policy.

Portfolio Tip Tuesday: Artist Statement A to Z

Tuesday, October 5, 2021
Watch the Recording

Have you run into a case of writer's block? You've made some awesome artwork, but how do you write about it? Join us to learn everything you need to know about constructing an artist statement. We will explain the purpose of an artist statement and offer tips for getting started and editing your statement.

Portfolio Tip Tuesday: Workshop- Documentation 101

Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Watch the Recording

Taking great photos of your work is just as important as making it! In this hour long workshop, SAIC faculty will walk you through how to capture and edit high quality photos for your application. We'll also cover tips for using household materials and a smart phone in this process.