During the last weekend in February, 2016, the College of Creative Arts Scholars spent an art and career immersion weekend in Indianapolis, Indiana. The trip, sponsored by career services, allowed the CCA scholars to visit the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Indianapolis Children’s Museum and the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

While at the various art installations, the students were able to meet with the CEOs, creative staff, and design teams to better understand career opportunities in the arts. The meetings consisted of question and answer sessions, behind-the-scene tours, and discussion on internship opportunities for the CCA scholars.

Miami Alumni played an important part of the weekend as well. Dean Mullenix, career services staff and scholars, also enjoyed dinner with Miami CCA alum working in Indianapolis. The alumni talked to the students on careers ranging from interior design to art therapy. The Alumni dinner was the opening event for the scholars, and was received well by all.

Career services had an important hand in shaping the weekend, along with CCA’s thriving alumni; one theme emerged from the weekend of art and career exploration, the demand for creative majors. Our relationship with career services helped shape a unique and educational weekend for the CCA scholars. Dean Mullenix stated, “One of the things that is unique about Miami is the strong partnership between the College of Creative arts and the Office of Career Services. Together we are working to make sure that every artist is a thriving artist and that students are aware of all of the different opportunities available to them—opportunities that come from studying the arts within such a rich liberal arts environment. We put the arts in liberal arts, and the liberal arts make our students successful after they leave Miami.” The CCA scholar students felt the weekend was a huge success in experiencing the arts and learning about career opportunities.

The scholars have already started planning their next trip to Nashville, TN for spring in 2017.