New Manchester High School's Fine Arts Magnet Education Program (FAME) Visual Arts students recently displayed their talents at the annual National Portfolio Day. During this event at the historic Fox Theatre, students received recognition from top art colleges and universities across the country.
National Portfolio Day brings together talented young artists from Georgia and neighboring states to present their best work for review and critique by admissions professionals from top-tier institutions, including the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), School of Visual Arts in New York City, Pratt Institute, and Maryland Institute College of Art, among others.
"At National Portfolio Day, each FAME Visual Arts student is at the Fox Theatre not just to have their art seen, but to have their story heard," explained Jacob Garcia, FAME Magnet director. "Here, your portfolio is your voice, and every piece is a word in the narrative of who you are as an artist."
For New Manchester High School students and their families, the event offered exposure to art and design programs nationwide. It also provided students with the opportunity to receive feedback from college admissions counselors and faculty members.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for our FAME art students and their parents to learn about the art and design schools across the United States," said Ashley Houlihan, Visual Arts instructor with New Manchester's FAME program. "We've been extremely grateful for the National Portfolio Day experience, as it's one of the main reasons that many of our FAME program graduates have gone to some of the top art schools in the country with very sizable scholarships."
The day was rewarding for several students from New Manchester High School. Senior Alexandria Kelly was excited after receiving her evaluation from Laguna College of Art and Design. "I received all 5s on my portfolio evaluation, and I'm so excited about what this might mean!" she shared.
Fellow student Bradley Williamson agreed, adding, "This day has been such a great experience. Just being able to see other student artists, have conversations, and receive feedback from the schools makes me excited for the future."