Photo: Sidney Clifton

Ringling College of Art and Design on Feb. 14 hosted its ninth annual career fair and networking event, entitled Career Insight. Yes, it was on Valentine’s Day, because we absolutely love helping turn our students' passions into professions. In all seriousness though, Career Insight at Ringling College is without a doubt one of my favorite days of the entire academic year and a very important one for our students. 

Organized and brought to life by Ringling College’s Center for Career Services, this yearly event brings together professional artists and designers, industry reps, and Ringling alumni all with the shared goal of connecting with our students. More than your average career fair, Insight provides a coveted opportunity for students to network one-on-one with working professionals from a variety of art and design disciplines. Imagine — industry pros from the companies you’re most interested in working with, all in one place, on one day, completely at your disposal. 

The College was honored this year to host Sidney Clifton as the Insight keynote speaker. Sidney is no stranger to Ringling College. In 2018 she delivered a thoughtful and inspiring commencement address for our graduating class and since then, she has been back on campus often in the role of recruiter. Sidney is an Emmy-nominated producer with more than 20 years of experience as an executive producer, director, and creative executive overseeing animated, mixed-media, and live-action content. Recently, she was promoted to producer for The Jim Henson Company. She is also a senior consultant with Black Women Animate Studios and in her spare time launched The Clifton House, a writer’s and artist’s workshop and retreat space at her childhood home in Baltimore, Maryland.

Her keynote speech started off by emphasizing her impression of Ringling College: “A place filled with emerging artists and designers with extraordinary talent and excitement about making a life and a career in the arts,” she said. “The energy here is palpable.” 

She provided the students with an acronym to represent her advice on getting a job. “It’s SIMPLE,” she said. “Focus on skills and software; intelligence and integrity; mindset and manners; portfolio and presentation; and finally, your unique life experiences matter.” And she’s absolutely right. And that’s why at Ringling College, we target these areas throughout our students’ educational journeys. Our Center for Career Services from day one, provides students with unparalleled career mentoring.

They do it all, from one-one-one resume reviews and interview practice, to discussing strategy, networking, and goals. And, in addition to the annual Insight event, the Career Services team brings over 100 leading industry professionals to campus every year to work with, and directly recruit Ringling College students. Even after our students have graduated, our alumni continue to benefit from and have access to all of the same opportunities offered by Career Services — for life. 

A key takeaway from Sidney’s remarks I have always found to be true is that careers in the arts are not always set on a linear path. We tend to think about a career trajectory as meaning upward or ascending, that in order to find success and happiness one must continue to “climb the corporate ladder.” But what I believe and what Sidney emphasized is the ability to think creatively, problem solve, be courageous and pivot is becoming more important in today’s world than ever before. Professional success can be mapped in myriad ways, not just a straight line going up. Even in this new age of automation and artificial intelligence, truly authentic creativity is irreplicable, indispensable, and irreplaceable.

One of the students asked Sidney, “How do you define a career in the arts?” Her answer, “It’s a decision to be brave, bold, and persistent in your commitment to your craft.” 

“Artists are always necessary,” she said. Well, Sidney, I completely agree. 

Dr. Larry Thompson is president of Ringling College of Art & Design.

Photo: Sidney Clifton