Admissions Events
MIAD offers several in-person and virtual events throughout the year for prospective students to learn more. From information sessions to Portfolio Days, we invite you to join us for an event!
Experiment. Explore. Discover. You are welcome here.

Milwaukee National Portfolio Day 2023
2023 MILWAUKEE NATIONAL PORTFOLIO DAY
Please join us for the 2023 Milwaukee National Portfolio Day on Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 10am – 2pm CST. This event will be held at MIAD located at 273 East Erie Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202. This event is free and open to the public.
This is an opportunity for students interested in pursuing an art and design education and profession to meet with college representatives. Representatives will be available to review your portfolio, discuss admission, financial aid, Pre-College and academic programs and answer questions about professional careers in art and design. High school students, parents, teachers, school counselors and college transfer students are encouraged to attend.
Learn more and pre-register at miad.edu/portfolioday
MIAD INFO DAY
MIAD Info Days are an opportunity for you and your family to visit our campus, learn more about our programs and hear about scholarship and financial aid options. Learn more and register for our upcoming MIAD Info Day on Saturday, November 18 from 12 – 3 p.m. at miad.edu/infoday.
NATIONAL PORTFOLIO DAY EVENTS
MIAD participates in many in-person and online National Portfolio Day events. View the full schedule at nationalportfolioday.org.
All events (both online and in-person) require pre-registration at nationalportfolioday.heydays.io/events
To learn more about Milwaukee National Portfolio Day and to pre-register, please visit miad.edu/portfolioday.
You can meet us at the following National Portfolio Day events (all times are Central unless noted):
DATE | LOCATION | VENUE | TIME |
September 23 | Kansas City, MO | Kansas City Art Institute | 12 – 4PM CT |
September 24 | St. Louis, MO | Sam Fox School of Design, Washington University | 12 – 4PM CT |
September 30 | Indianapolis, IN | IU Herron School of Art & Design | 12 – 4PM ET |
September 30 | Houston, TX | Norris Centers – Houston | 10AM – 2PM CT |
October 1 | Cincinnati, OH | Art Academy of Cincinnati | 12 – 4PM ET |
October 1 | Dallas, TX | SMU Meadows School of the Arts | 12 – 4PM CT |
October 7 | Denver, CO | Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design | 12 – 4PM MT |
October 8 | Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis College of Art and Design | 1 – 5PM CT |
October 14 | Milwaukee, WI | Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design | 10AM – 2PM CT |
October 15 | Chicago, IL | School of the Art Institute of Chicago | 12 – 4PM CT |
October 21 | Columbus, OH | Columbus College of Art & Design | 12 – 4PM ET |
October 22 | Grand Rapids, MI | Kendall College of Art & Design of Ferris State University | 1 – 5PM ET |
October 27 | Online | Online | 6 – 10PM CT |
November 12 | Los Angeles, CA | Art Center College of Design | 12 – 4PM PT |
December 3 | Online | Online | 11AM – 3PM CT |
VISITS, COLLEGE FAIRS & REGIONAL EVENTS
MIAD admissions representatives participate in many college fairs and regional events throughout the year. We look forward to meeting you at an upcoming event!
Many events require registration. Please visit the event website for registration details.
*all times are local to the venue unless otherwise noted
A MIAD representative will be available to meet with you at all Wisconsin Education Fairs (WEFS) in fall 2023 and spring 2024.
View the WEF schedule here.
DATE | EVENT | VENUE/LOCATION | TIME |
September 20 | Amunsen High School College Fair | Amunsen High School, Chicago, Illinois | 1:30 – 3 p.m. |
September 22 | Lawrence High School Portfolio Day | Lawrence High School, Lawrence, Kansas | 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. |
September 27 | Directions College & Career Fair | Harper College, Palatine, Illinois | 6 – 8 p.m. |
September 27 | Carmen Northwest College Fair | Carmen Northwest Campus, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 9 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. |
September 28 | Kelvyn Park College & Career Fair | Kelvyn Park High School, Chicago, Illinois | 1 – 2:50 p.m. |
September 29 | High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Third Coast Portfolio Day | HSPVA, Houston, Texas | 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. |
September 29 | Greenville Fine Arts Center Fair | Fine Arts Center, Greenville, South Carolina | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. |
September 30 | South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities College Fair | SCGSAH, Greenville, South Carolina | 1 – 3 p.m. |
October 2 | St. Thomas More College Fair | St. Thomas More High School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 2 – 3 p.m. |
October 9 | Perpich Portfolio Day | Perpich High School, Golden Valley, Minnesota | TBD |
October 10 | MARWEN Portfolio Reviews | Chicago, Illinois | 5 – 6:30 p.m. |
October 12 | Etobicoke School of the Arts Post Secondary Fair | Etobicoke School of the Arts, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada | 6 – 9 p.m. |
October 13 | Wauwatosa East Portfolio Day | Wauwatosa East High School, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin | 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. |
October 16 | ChiArts Connection Week | Chicago, Illinois | TBD |
October 18 | Neenah High School College and Career Fair | Neenah High School, Neenah, Wisconsin | 8 – 9:30 a.m. |
October 18 | ArtConnectED Mini Portfolio Day | Lake Zurich High School, Lake Zurich, Illinois | TBD |
October 20 | Kentucky College and Career Day | Louisville, Kentucky | 9 – 11 a.m. |
October 20 | Interlochen Port Day | Interlochen, Michigan | 12 – 1 p.m. |
October 24 | Kimberly High School College/Career presentations | Kimberly, Wisconsin | TBD |
October 26 | Batavia High School Fine Art and College Fair | Batavia, Illinois | 1:15 – 2:30 p.m. |
October 27 | Kohler High School Career Day/College Fair | Kohler, Wisconsin | 12 – 3 p.m. |
November 11 | Ryman Arts Virtual College Preparation Weekend | Virtual | 1 – 2 p.m. PST |
*If disability-related accommodations are needed to participate in MIAD Admissions events, please contact the Office of Admissions at 414-291-8070.
News
Emerging Technology Center hosts Technique of the Week
During the fall 2023 semester, the Lubar Emerging Technology Center at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) hosts “Technique of the Week” demonstrations for students, faculty and staff. MIAD community members are invited to attend presentations on everything from 3D scanning objects to fermentation to Minecraft. Most recently, attendees played pinball on a handmade virtual pinball machine.
Inaugural Latine Student Exhibition announces winners
Four students were honored at the inaugural Latine Student Exhibition, on view at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) until October 13, 2023. Coordinated by rhi anderson-martinez, executive director of equity and inclusion at MIAD, the exhibition highlights and celebrates the art and design skills of MIAD’s Latine students during Hispanic Heritage Month.
MIAD Fine Art faculty selected for national Olmsted panel
Brad Anthony Bernard, professor of fine art at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), will participate in a panel discussion about Frederick Law Olmsted at the 2023 annual conference of the Olmsted Network in Milwaukee. An accomplished muralist, Bernard designed a mural depicting Olmsted which will be displayed at a public mural and sculpture garden in Milwaukee.
Anna Hillary selected as Writing and Humanities full-time faculty
The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) welcomes Anna Hillary as the new full-time Assistant Professor of Writing and Humanities following a national search.
MIAD alum designs Kohl’s collection for Hispanic Heritage Month
For this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month, Whitney Salgado ’15 (Illustration) produced a variety of surface designs for Kohl’s textiles. The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) alum, who also earned a minor in Communication Design, works as a freelance digital painter and illustrator.