Ringling College of Art and Design

What is the history of Ringling College of Art and Design?

Ringling College of Art and Design is a private art and design college founded in Sarasota, Florida, in 1931. It began as the School of Fine and Applied Art, associated with the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and Southern College, now Florida Southern College.

The institution developed into an independent college focused on visual arts education. Its later name, Ringling School of Art and Design, became Ringling College of Art and Design in 2007. The change reflected an academic scope that now extends beyond traditional studio art to fields such as animation, film, design, and creative writing. The college and the nearby Ringling museum are distinct institutions; applicants should not assume that museum programs or facilities are part of a college degree.

What are the faculties and departments at Ringling College of Art and Design?

Ringling College organizes its undergraduate education around specialized art, design, media, and writing majors rather than a broad set of conventional university schools. Its degree offerings include Bachelor of Fine Arts programs and selected Bachelor of Arts programs.

Representative areas of study include Computer Animation, Illustration, Graphic Design, Motion Design, Film, Fine Arts, Photography and Imaging, Game Art, Entertainment Design, Creative Writing, and Business of Art and Design. The distinction between majors matters: an animation applicant may need a different portfolio and sequence of studio courses from a writing or business applicant. Students comparing programs should examine the current catalog for each major's degree type, required courses, equipment expectations, and portfolio rules before applying.

What is the location of Ringling College of Art and Design?

Ringling College is in Sarasota, on Florida's Gulf Coast. Its main campus is along North Tamiami Trail, north of downtown Sarasota, in a developed area with access to local arts organizations and businesses.

The setting can be useful for students seeking exhibitions, screenings, internships, and community projects, but access to any particular opportunity depends on the program and the student's circumstances. Sarasota Bradenton International Airport is the nearest major passenger airport. Students planning to live off campus should account for local transportation, parking arrangements, and travel time rather than assuming that every campus facility is within an easy walk.

What is the mission and vision of Ringling College of Art and Design?

Ringling College's stated educational purpose centers on preparing students for creative practice through art and design education. Its approach combines making work, developing ideas, receiving critique, and learning to communicate with audiences or collaborators.

That mission is visible in the college's mix of studio-based and professionally oriented majors. It is an institutional aim, not evidence that every graduate obtains a particular job or creative outcome. Applicants can test how well it fits their goals by comparing the required curriculum and student work in their intended major, especially if they want either a highly specialized production program or more flexibility across disciplines.