SAIC Career and Professional Experience - CAPX

We selected the first of four recent School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates to receive a $500 stipend for completing the First Destination Survey. 🎓 If you graduated between August 2023 and May 2024, fill out your survey before February 2025 to be entered to win a stipend! To access the First Destination Survey, log into your Handshake account and navigate to the Career Center page.

Alex Bortell (BFA 2024) put the $500 towards his creative practice 👇
"I allocated the CAPX creative stipend to reflect my interdisciplinary writing practice, support my continued scholarly research, and advance my professional and educational futures as I pursue an MLIS in Archives and MFA in Poetry. I purchased texts on the craft of poetry that have influenced my work, as well as books from my undergraduate thesis annotated bibliography. I also ordered critical texts that I frequently cite. Having physical copies of these books as lifelong personal reference material is invaluable and places my work in a continued lineage of literature and thought."

As recent grads, your responses to this brief, confidential survey will inform and educate incoming and current students on the possibilities of life after SAIC!

Thank you to everyone who came to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago's Internship & Career Fair last week, including all of the students, alums, employers, and staff 🤝 It was a wonderful group of more than 500 attendees and 30 employers!

SAVE THE DATE for next semester’s event: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 (student registration will open on Handshake in early 2025)

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post with helpful tips and resources for following up with employers, preparing for interviews, and more!

TODAY IS THE DAY 🎉

Join us for the School of the Art Institute of Chicago's Internship & Career Fair in the MacLean Ballroom, 3–6 p.m., to explore different industries, make valuable connections, and get a head start on your career. Even if you're just curious, we encourage you to come and see what’s out there!

Visit https://app.joinhandshake.com/career_fairs/51414 to view the complete list of attending companies and organizations, the 2025 internships and entry-level jobs that will be presented, and register for the event.

👉 Connect with local creative employers and meet a variety of companies and organizations that match SAIC programs, including opportunities for fine artists.

👉 Explore internships, jobs, and creative roles for spring/summer 2025 and speak directly with recruiters offering internship and job positions.

👉 This event is open to all students and alums! All in-person, 10-minute sessions with employers will be first come, first served.

There will be 35+ companies and organizations at TOMORROW’s Internship & Career Fair! We strongly encourage School of the Art Institute of Chicago students and alums who plan to attend to visit Handshake before the event to review the list of employers and paid opportunities that will be presented.

🗓️ Wednesday, October 23, 3–6 p.m.
📍MacLean Ballroom
🔗 https://app.joinhandshake.com/edu/career_fairs/51414

This week's roundup focuses on tips and specifics for the Internship & Career Fair to make sure you show up as your most confident self! Click the pics for our guidance on:
🤝 Researching the employers
👔 How to dress
💼 What to bring
❓Questions to prepare

Head to https://app.joinhandshake.com/career_fairs/51414 to register for the fair, which is going to take place on Wednesday, October 23, 3–6 p.m., in the MacLean Ballroom!

POV your confidence just grew to 100% 📈 We hosted a workshop led by University of Chicago's Senior Associate Director of Employer Relations, Meenakshi Dash (BFA 1997), for School of the Art Institute of Chicago students to learn communication tactics for self-introductions, interviews, and networking on their academic and professional journeys in anticipation of next week's Internship & Career Fair.

If you weren't able to attend, we encourage you to head to SAIC's video platform, Panopto, to view the recording: https://saic.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=e2165b2a-a27c-4e41-9c45-b20c0156c768

Visit https://app.joinhandshake.com/career_fairs/51414 to register for the Internship & Career Fair on Wednesday, October 23, 3–6 p.m., in the MacLean Ballroom, and view the list of attending employers and opportunities for spring and summer 2025 they'll be presenting!

Are you interested in media production, graphic design, animation, or game development? Join us on Zoom for our final CAPX Talk of the semester on Friday, October 18, 2–3 p.m., featuring Barrier Four! 🎮

CEO Nate Spell and CMO Jonathan Millar will speak about creative career opportunities at their full-service production studio built for Robloxians by Robloxians. Learn about available internships, job openings, and get expert advice on portfolio preparation for early career positions.

This CAPX Talk is ideal for School of the Art Institute of Chicago students looking to break into a dynamic and innovative media production company!

Head to https://saic.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1569992 to learn more about the speakers and register. 🤝

CAPX Talks are virtual company presentations where representatives highlight basic company details, inner workings and departments, industry trends, portfolio-building tips, and available internship and job opportunities.

Don't miss out on this week's picks of jobs, fellowships, funding opportunities, events, and more for School of the Art Institute of Chicago students and alums! 🌀

Instagram Essentials for Artists Live Q&A 👉 Visit Handshake to get your free access to CreativeStudy: https://saic.joinhandshake.com/edu/articles/22420

Poetry Foundation is hiring Visiting Teaching Artists 👉 The deadline to apply is 10/21: https://poetryfoundation.submittable.com/submit

Fellowship for on-site archival projects 👉 The deadline to apply is 11/4: https://www.hrc.utexas.edu/fellowships/

$10,000 Creative Accelerator Fund 👉 The deadline to apply is 11/21: https://arts.illinois.gov/granting-opportunities/grants-programs/creative-accelerator-fund.html

Thank you to everyone who attended our resume development workshop yesterday in preparation for the upcoming Internship & Career Fair! 📝 In case you missed it, we posted the recording to SAIC’s video platform, Panopto. Visit https://saic.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=dd9a6c65-c2a8-4a6a-8d62-b20500e299ca to watch it, and make sure your resume is in tip-top shape for the fair!

If you’d like a CAPX advisor to review your resume or have questions about crafting yours, head to https://saic.joinhandshake.com/edu/appointments to make an appointment. 🤝

Are you a School of the Art Institute of Chicago student or recent grad interested in starting a career in product design, marketing, or UI/UX? Dr. Jessica Nguyen, University Relations Manager at GE Appliances, will share insider tips on landing 2025 internships and job opportunities at our next CAPX Talks virtual event this Friday at 2 p.m. 💻

Register on Handshake: https://saic.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1569989

Discover how you can join a team of creators, thinkers, and makers who believe in exploring, discovering, and building innovative solutions together. At GE Appliances, where creativity meets passion and every voice is heard, you’ll have the freedom to ask "why" and "what if" as you contribute to building “good things, for life.”

CAPX Talks are virtual company presentations where representatives highlight basic company details, inner workings and departments, industry trends, portfolio-building tips, and available internship and job opportunities.

185+ action verbs to make your resume stand out, international open calls for art, 2025 internship and job opportunities with Obsidian Entertainment, and a $5,000 grant for sculptors 🌀 These are our top picks of resources and opportunities for School of the Art Institute of Chicago students and alums this week!

📝 Resume verbs: https://saic.joinhandshake.com/stu/articles/34300
🖌️ International open calls for art: https://callforcurators.com/
👾 Obsidian Entertainment event recording: https://saic.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=85025ce7-01d3-4b56-82c3-b1fb00f98d61
💵 Grant for sculptors: https://nationalsculpture.org/

There are only a few spots left for tomorrow's virtual Expert Exchange with Urban Designer Davey Friday (11 a.m.–12 p.m.)! This is a great opportunity for current School of the Art Institute of Chicago students and recent alums to talk to an expert about Designed Objects, Architecture, and more.

Head to https://saic.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1569933 to register on Handshake. 🤝

ABOUT THE EXPERT ↓
Davey Friday is a Designer, Artist, and Human. They are interested in using design to create pleasurable experiences and equitable spaces. When addressing design problems, they believe that having a firm understanding of the conditions that established the problem is the most vital part of executing a successful solution.

They are a Chicago native interested in science, technology, architecture, and fine art and how they all intersect in the built environment. Their biology degree led them to master's degrees in landscape architecture and architecture, which has turned into a career as an urban designer. Their education and life experiences have inspired a deep interest in how life unfolds in cities and all the spaces between them.

Davey currently works as an urban designer with Perkins&Will and has experience with Omni Ecosystems, Wrightwood 659, and the Chicago Transit Authority.

Got the resume scaries? 🙃 Let us help—any day, but especially right now as you prepare for the upcoming Internship & Career Fair (10/23)!

Are you unsure what to include in your resume or artist CV? Is this your first time crafting a resume for an internship or job application? Join us for the Resume Development Prep Workshop on Wednesday, October 9, 3–4:30 p.m., in Sharp room 327!

This workshop will focus on resume writing for careers in arts and creative industries, providing tailored support for applying to your first internship and securing a job after graduation.

This event will be structured in two parts:
Part 1: A presentation from the guest speaker about resume essentials, how to highlight relevant experience and skills, and best practices for tailoring resumes for specific applications.
Part 2: Students move into working time and short sessions with CAPX staff for resume review and to ask questions.

Register and learn more about the speaker on Handshake! https://saic.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1562519

Are you passionate about preserving history and building stronger communities? 🏛️ Join us for tomorrow's virtual CAPX Talk (on Friday, October 4, 2–3 p.m.) to discover 2025 paid internships, job opportunities, and scholarships for Historic Preservation master's students with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. David Ferguson, Talent Acquisition Specialist, will introduce this leading nonprofit organization and discuss how you can contribute to saving America’s historic sites.

Register on Handshake: https://saic.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1573363

This CAPX Talk is ideal for students interested in historic and cultural preservation, arts administration, architecture, marketing, and graphic design for nonprofit organizations. This session will provide valuable insights and tips for a successful application process. 📝

ABOUT THE SPEAKER 👇
David M. Ferguson is the Talent Acquisition Specialist at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, where he oversees staff recruitment and retention. In addition, he manages both a summer internship program and a scholarship for those interested in graduate education in preservation and other allied fields. Prior to joining the National Trust, he worked for a number of years as an executive search consultant serving a range of clients in the civic sector. David holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Chicago and hails from the city of New Orleans. He's also a passionate lover of the arts and proud board member of Opera Philadelphia.

Photo by Nancy Pierce/National Trust for Historic Preservation.

🌀 This week's roundup of opportunities and resources for School of the Art Institute of Chicago students and alums features a free Q&A about artist-led galleries, a CAPX event recording with Printed Matter, Inc., Goodman Theatre's College Ambassador Program, and an artist-in-residence program!

Click the pics for full deets 📲

Our first prep workshop in anticipation of the Internship & Career Fair (10/23) is TOMORROW! Join us in the MacLean Ballroom, 3–5 p.m., for a casual event to learn about the companies and organizations that will be at the fair, the opportunities these employers offer, and preparation tips for the networking experience.

If you have any questions about the Internship & Career Fair or want help registering, this is the event for you!

🤝 Head to https://saic.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1562516 to register.

Tomorrow's Expert Exchange features Chicago-based artist and mad/disability advocate Matt Bodett! Visit https://saic.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1569924 register!

🗓️ Tuesday, October 1, 2–3 p.m.
💻 Virtual, Zoom

Join this exchange to talk to Matt about disability advocacy in the arts, running your own art space, and navigating the Chicago arts community.

ABOUT MATT BODETT ↓
Drawing from lived experience, Matt Bodett utilizes artwork to explore and critique visual culture and its role in stigma. Having attended school in Boise, Idaho, Matt moved to Chicago in 2013 to pursue a more serious studio practice. Since then, he has exhibited art, performance, and poetic works at cultural institutions like Steppenwolf Theatre, the Poetry Foundation in Chicago, the Freud Museum in London, and the No Limits Festival in Berlin.

Aside from a full-time studio practice, Matt has also opened The Center for Mad Culture in Chicago, which explores the cultural and aesthetic possibilities of madness. He teaches for Loyola University Chicago and serves on the Artist Council for 3Arts. He has served on numerous grant panels, most recently the Ohio Arts Council's grant for Artists with Disabilities.

This event is in partnership with SAIC's Wellness Center. 🤝

Want to know the secret to being prepared for the upcoming Internship & Career Fair? 🤫 The secret is to know exactly what to expect at the event!

Join us at the first Prep Workshop next week on Wednesday, October 2, 3–5 p.m. in the MacLean Ballroom (also where the fair will take place!). CAPX staff will be available during this casual event to provide information about the companies and organizations that will be at the fair, the opportunities these employers offer, and preparation tips for the networking experience.

Familiarize yourself with the fair's event structure and register ahead of time with the assistance of CAPX staff. If you have any questions about the Internship & Career Fair, this is your time to ask CAPX!

Register on Handshake: https://saic.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1562519

Are you a School of the Art Institute of Chicago student or recent grad excited to explore game development and narrative-driven experiences? Join Josh Huang, Senior Recruiter at Obsidian Entertainment, a leading developer of role-playing games, at our next CAPX Talk on Friday, September 27, 2–3 p.m., on Zoom!

Register on Handshake: https://saic.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1569986

Josh will offer an insider’s view of the studio, discuss 2025 internship and job opportunities, and introduce a panel of Obsidian’s own concept artist, animation programmer, character artist, and tech animator.

This CAPX Talk is ideal for students interested in game development, character design, animation, and storyboarding.

CAPX Talks are virtual company presentations where representatives highlight basic company details, inner workings and departments, industry trends, portfolio-building tips, and available internship and job opportunities.

TOMORROW! Get to know Chicago’s vibrant art scene and celebrate SITE Galleries' 30th anniversary. 🎉 Join us on Wednesday, September 25, 3–5 p.m., in the MacLean Ballroom for a fair showcasing the arts landscape in Chicago with more than 30 artist-run spaces and organizations from across the city.

Visit https://saic.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1560428 to register for the event!

✨ Engage directly with the people who have a hand in making the arts flourish—learn about their missions, projects, contributions, and how you can get involved.

✨ Discover a wide range of artistic practices and disciplines while connecting with fellow students, artists, and creative professionals to exchange ideas and find inspiration for your own creative endeavors.

Open to all School of the Art Institute of Chicago students, alums, faculty, and staff!

This event is a collaboration between the Career and Professional Experience (CAPX) office and SITE Galleries to celebrate SITE’s 30th anniversary. Additional support provided by Blick Art Materials.

Swipe for available studio space, art news, residency programs, and more! As always, head to Handshake at https://saic.joinhandshake.com/edu/schools/918/articles for additional resources and opportunities like these. 🤝

All CAPX resources are also available to The School of the Art Institute of Chicago Alumni!

Ask Andy Slater about disability advocacy in the arts, sound design, arts and technology, and more during our next Expert Exchange on Tuesday, September 24, @ 2 p.m. on Zoom. ⭐️ Visit https://saic.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1569897 to register!

Andy's current work focuses on advocacy for accessible art and technology, Alt-Text for sound and image, the phonology of the blind body, spatial audio for extended reality, and sound for film, dance, and digital scent design.

ABOUT ANDY SLATER ↓
Andy Slater is a Chicago-based media artist, writer, performer, and Disability advocate/loudmouth. He's the principal sound designer and accessibility lead at Fair Worlds. Andy has a master's degree in Sound Arts and Industry from Northwestern University and a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He's a 2022 United States Artists fellow, a 2022–2023 Leonardo Crip Tech Incubator fellow, and a 2018 3Arts/Bodies of Work fellow at the University of Illinois Chicago.

He's a member of the Society of Visually Impaired Sound Artists and a teaching artist with the Atlantic Center for the Arts Young SoundSeekers program, Midwest Society For Acoustic Ecology, and 3Arts Disability Culture Leadership Initiative.

He has exhibited and performed at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, the Contemporary Jewish Museum SF, Transmediale Festival Berlin, Chicago Inclusive Dance Festival, Ian Potter Museum of Art Melbourne, Critical Distance Toronto, College Art Association, Gallery 400 Chicago, Experimental Sound Studios Chicago, the Art Institute of Chicago, Flux Factory New York, and Momenta Dance Company Chicago.

This event is in partnership with SAIC Wellness Center Student Support Network.

Expert Exchange is a guided networking program designed for current students and recent alums to get used to talking to professionals in their field. The event is held virtually on Zoom and moderated by a member of the Career and Professional Experience (CAPX) team.

Have you registered for the School of the Art Institute of Chicago's Internship & Career Fair yet? We're about ONE MONTH AWAY from the big day. Registration for the fair and prep workshops is available on Handshake. 🤝 https://saic.joinhandshake.com/stu/events

This semester's Internship & Career Fair will take place on Wednesday, October 23, 3–6 p.m., in the MacLean Ballroom! 💼

This is your chance to explore different industries, make valuable connections, and get a head start on your career. Even if you're just curious, we encourage you to come and see what’s out there!

To help you prepare, we're hosting 3️⃣ prep workshops leading up to the fair:
→ Registration Opening & Info Session (10/2, 3 p.m.)
→ Resume Development (10/9, 3 p.m.)
→ How To Introduce Yourself (10/16, 3 p.m.)

Spots for all events are filling up quickly!

We have another CAPX Talk this week! Join us virtually on Zoom on Friday, September 20, at 11:15 a.m. for a presentation by Printed Matter. 📚

Explore a unique opportunity to dive into the world of artists’ books and publications with Printed Matter, Inc., a leading non-profit organization dedicated to their appreciation and dissemination. Lizzie Smith, Operations Manager at Printed Matter, will share insights into their 2025 Internship Program, offering hands-on experience in event production, non-profit management, and catalog development.

This CAPX Talk is ideal for SAIC students in Art Education, Arts Administration, Art History, Publishing, and Writing!

Head to https://saic.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1569976 to register and learn more about the speaker.

CAPX Talks are virtual company presentations where representatives highlight basic company details, inner workings and departments, industry trends, portfolio-building tips, and available internship and job opportunities.

More than 30 Chicago spaces and organizations are joining us for next week's fair on Wednesday, September 25, 3–5 p.m., in the MacLean Ballroom to celebrate SITE Galleries' 30th anniversary! Here's the full list of who will be there.👇 Visit https://saic.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1560428 to register and learn more about the event!

Arts of Life Circle Contemporary
Bird Show
Center for Mad Culture
Cherry Knot Curation
Chicago Artist Coalition
Chicago Public Library Maker Space
Chicago Sculpture International
Cleaner Gallery + Projects
Color Club
Comfort Station
Compound Yellow
Cultivator
DCASE
Elastic Arts
Every House Has a Door
Free Range
Hyde Park Art Center
INCUBATOR
Loom Room
LVL3
Mayfield
OtherPeoplesPixels
Patient Info
Purple Window Gallery
Riverside Art Center
Roman Susan
SITE Galleries
Spudnik Press
The Digs
Terrain Exhibitions
VGA Gallery
Watershed Art and Ecology
Woman Made Gallery
Yes Project Space