Sunday, October 15
Join us on campus for one of the nation's largest portfolio days, plus come a day early for "Saturday with SAIC" and learn how to make the most of your NPD experience!
Your first-year at SAIC is in the Department of Contemporary Practices. Why do we call it that? “Contemporary” is our commitment to delivering current ideas and techniques that drive art and design today. We say “Practices”—plural—to reflect the infinite ways artists and designers apply their ideas. Your first-year experience will be led by diverse, internationally recognized faculty as you learn hands-on skills and studio-based methods of conceptual exploration, artistic research, and critical thinking. You will learn how to describe your work and those of others and how your creative practice is situated in a contemporary social, cultural and/or political context.
Sunday, October 15
Join us on campus for one of the nation's largest portfolio days, plus come a day early for "Saturday with SAIC" and learn how to make the most of your NPD experience!
Contemporary Practices is committed to addressing the ways in which art education has been complicit in perpetuating white supremacy. This work looks different for every classroom and is an ongoing process to decolonize our curriculum. As a student in our department you will engage in this through our CP Visiting Artist Lecture Series, workshops and shared readings which are integrated into your Research Studio course work. Our goal is to foster community in developing your knowledge and sensitivity to contributions from our diverse and international student body in relation to both the city of Chicago and broader global contexts. Together we aim to build a mutually supportive, respectful, and inclusive studio culture that is critically engaged with respect to different subject positions.
Contemporary Practices prioritizes student well being and embraces diverse learning styles. As part of every Research Studio course, Integrated Academic Advising supports all first-year students in making informed choices in designing the curricular path that will complement the work you want to make. Student well being is prioritized for first-year students through working closely with the Disability and Learning Resource Center and SAIC Wellness Center.
For first-year students, Contemporary Practices offers many opportunities to exhibit work, as well as scholarships and award possibilities:
Department of Contemporary Practices
Sharp Building
37 S. Wabash Ave., 3rd floor
Chicago, IL 60603
Smith-Buonanno Family Director of Contemporary Practices
Andy Hall ahall@saic.edu