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| Ringling College | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ringling College of Art and Design |
| Established | 1931 |
| Type | Private college |
| City | Sarasota |
| State | Florida |
| Country | United States |
| President | Larry R. Thompson |
| Undergraduates | ~1,800 |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Colors | Red and Black |
| Website | Official website |
Ringling College is a private art and design college located in Sarasota, Florida, known for its programs in animation, illustration, film, and game art. The college emphasizes studio-based learning, industry partnerships, and career placement, drawing students from across the United States and internationally. Its alumni and faculty have been recognized by major industry awards and institutions, and the campus integrates historic buildings with contemporary facilities.
The institution was founded in 1931 by John Ringling as the Ringling Art School and later expanded through partnerships with local institutions such as the Ca' d'Zan estate and the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. During the mid-20th century the school navigated challenges similar to those faced by private colleges nationwide, with leadership including figures connected to the Works Progress Administration era and regional benefactors tied to Sarasota County. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, strategic initiatives aligned the college with professional organizations such as the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and accreditation bodies, while cultivating relations with corporations like Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Animation Studios, DreamWorks Animation, Electronic Arts, and Industrial Light & Magic. Major campus milestones involved fundraising campaigns supported by donors associated with institutions like the Guggenheim Foundation and collaborations with museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art.
The campus sits in proximity to downtown Sarasota and cultural landmarks including the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and the Sarasota Opera House. Historic structures influenced by the Ringling brothers legacy coexist with purpose-built facilities such as the Heckscher Building and the Searing Studios, designed to house programs linked to studios like Blue Sky Studios and Laika Entertainment. The campus features galleries that host exhibitions tied to collections from institutions like the Whitney Museum of American Art and traveling shows originating from the Smithsonian Institution. Student housing is arranged near neighborhood nodes connected to Lido Key and Siesta Key, while athletic and recreation spaces are adjacent to municipal parks managed by Sarasota County Parks and Recreation.
The college offers undergraduate majors in areas including animation, illustration, film, game art, and graphic design, with curriculum framed by professional standards from organizations such as the Animation Guild and accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Faculty have included practitioners and scholars who have exhibited work at venues like the Tate Modern, the Centre Pompidou, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The curriculum emphasizes portfolio development, internships with companies such as Sony Pictures Imageworks, Weta Digital, Microsoft Studios, and Blizzard Entertainment, and capstone projects that have premiered at festivals including the Sundance Film Festival, Annecy International Animation Film Festival, and the Tribeca Film Festival. Research and scholarship initiatives partner with cultural organizations such as the American Alliance of Museums and grants from foundations like the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Admissions processes compare applicants using portfolios evaluated against criteria similar to those employed by institutions like the Rhode Island School of Design, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and the California Institute of the Arts. Financial aid options include federal programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education and institutional scholarships funded by alumni networks and entities tied to foundations such as the Kresge Foundation and the Lilly Endowment. Tuition rates are competitive with peer private art colleges and are influenced by state policy from Florida Board of Governors-level discussions and market dynamics that involve partnerships with companies like Adobe Inc. and hardware vendors such as Apple Inc..
Student organizations cover interest areas including animation clubs with ties to industry mentors from Nickelodeon Animation Studio and game development groups that communicate with studios such as Epic Games and Ubisoft. Campus arts programming collaborates with visiting artists who have presented work at the Venice Biennale, the Sundance Institute, and the Serpentine Galleries. Student-run publications and galleries have exhibited alongside pieces from collectors linked to the Getty Trust and the Princeton University Art Museum. Civic engagement initiatives connect students with local partners such as the Sarasota Film Festival and outreach through nonprofit groups like Junior Achievement and Habitat for Humanity International affiliates.
Athletic offerings are modest and focus on intramural recreation and wellness services often coordinated with municipal athletics departments including those of Sarasota County and community programs connected to the YMCA USA. The college fields club teams and wellness initiatives that avail facilities similar to those used by arts institutions collaborating with sports medicine providers affiliated with hospitals such as Sarasota Memorial Health Care. Partnerships occasionally bring in speakers and trainers from collegiate athletics programs at institutions like the University of Florida and the Florida State University.
Alumni and faculty have gone on to careers and recognitions associated with major awards and companies including the Academy Awards, the Emmy Awards, the BAFTA Awards, Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Animation Studios, DreamWorks Animation, Laika Entertainment, Industrial Light & Magic, Blue Sky Studios, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Electronic Arts, Blizzard Entertainment, Epic Games, Ubisoft, Microsoft Studios, Netflix, Amazon Studios, and museums such as the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum. Individual alumni have collaborated with filmmakers and artists connected to names like Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Hayao Miyazaki, Brad Bird, and John Lasseter, and have been selected for fellowships from organizations such as the MacArthur Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Category:Universities and colleges in Florida