Attend a Conference
by Amy Rosenthal
Transfer Adviser
If you know where to look, there are many ways a student majoring in the arts can connect with others in the field. Attending a conference is a good way to network and to tap into the scholarly and artistic ideas and approaches of both seasoned professionals and graduate students. It is a way to learn about the latest trends in the field. In addition to scholarly panels, many professional conferences hold career fairs and grant writing sessions.
Attending a conference can be an expensive proposition. However, since locations often change from year to year it is possible to attend a conference that is local or regional therein cutting expenses significantly. This year the College Art Association is holding their annual conference in Seattle, WA. In addition to a diverse group of speakers and panel topics, students can meet with prospective employers to find out more about employment opportunities. This year's National Association for Music Education's conference will feature guest speaker Garrison Keillor and will be held in Minneapolis. Although many conference presenters are typically graduate students and faculty, undergraduates are more than welcome to attend and have much to gain from getting involved early!
Conferences of interest to arts majors:
For information on major specific organizations and conferences, go to University of North Carolina at Wilmington's site .
