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On Thursday, November 11, ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ convened the seventh in a series of Industry Summits designed to bring together professionals, educators and students to discuss various fields and the career opportunities they represent, how to optimize ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ curricula to better prepare students for jobs in those fields, and provide tips and insights from those who have already established themselves professionally. This time, the focus was on Digital Design & Animation and Arts Administration. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, digital-first creative roles are gaining strong momentum, with digital designers projected to grow about 8% from 2023-2033 and film and video editors increasing roughly 15% over the same period. Fine artists working in digital and multimedia platforms are expected to see around 14% growth, reflecting rising demand for immersive content, animation, and interactive creative experiences. Traditional art direction is also showing steady expansion with 4% projected growth, while arts administration roles continue advancing at a sustainable rate of about 5%.
   
With an eye on that growing sector of the job market, ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ took some time to discuss how to best position students to compete successfully and thrive in the arts, digital and otherwise. Speaking to a room packed with students, staff and faculty, Elías Alcántara, who as Chair of the ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ Community Advisory Council co-presents the Industry Summit series, pointed out that “the Bronx is the cradle of creativity.” As the place where hip hop was born and salsa, street art and graffiti flourished, the Bronx has long been a vital center of the arts and culture that helps drive economic prosperity far beyond the borough. “When the Bronx creates, New York as a state moves forward,” he added.
   
ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ President, Dr. Daisy Cocco De Filippis, delighted by the event’s turnout, spoke effusively about the Industry Summit series, pointing out that it had resulted in a series of curricular adjustments and achievements for the College, such as the recent partnership with the Baruch Business Academy and the upcoming National Accreditation for Nurses, as well as notable growth in exam pass rates and job placements.
   
Then, Keynote Speaker Adam Hernandez, a Bronx-born artist, designer, and muralist, got up and energized the room with his rapid-fire delivery and infectious enthusiasm. With more than 14 years of professional experience creating a range of works for clients such as Toyota, Captain Morgan, Maker’s Mark, and Major League Soccer, among others, Hernandez has become a successful artist and is sustaining his family with his craft.
   
As a muralist who came up surrounded by the colorful graffiti of the Bronx, he sees graffiti as modern hieroglyphics, telling stories on walls. But art is not just about telling stories and chasing your muse, he clarified. “You’re not just an artist. You’re a business owner.” And to operate successfully as a creative enterprise, he advised the students to heed two basic principles. The first is, “It’s not what you do, it’s how you make them feel.” It’s not only the creative results per se that make you successful, but the process itself that makes clients want to stick with you. Be the easiest to work with by always being friendly, communicative and reliable. Make the process as painless and hassle-free as possible and clients will come back and recommend you. If they give you feedback you don’t like, avoid arguments and find a solution that works for everyone.
 
The second principle, “Don’t get caught slippin’,” is a reminder to level up your professional game. Have a business email address, a business card, and a legitimate website. Be punctual and exercise good email etiquette. In short, act like a professional, organized business owner, and you will inspire confidence in potential partners. Planning, making lists, and lots of outreach to potential clients, whether through cold calls or emails, will help grow your business, he advised. Don’t get discouraged, he warned, and trust in yourself and your creative instincts to weather the vagaries of the market and creative trends. His eyes welled up and his voice faltered with emotion as he recalled an early supporter, a chef that had bought a painting from him, and then later on, when he opened his own restaurant, had called Hernandez to paint a mural there, giving him a pivotal opportunity.
   
With the room still buzzing from the energy of Hernandez’s presentation, Interim Provost and VP of Academic Affairs Dr. Andrea Fabrizio introduced an overview of ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ Academic Preparations, highlighting the College’s featured programs.
   
Representing Digital Design & Animation, Media Design Unit Coordinator Professor Simona Prives, and Professors Catherine Lewis and Zaira Ramos-Barreto spoke about the program’s curriculum and skills development. Prives pointed out that thanks to their emphasis on students having proper portfolios, there has been a marked increase in successful transfers to top 4-year schools. Then Prof. Ramos, a proud ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ alumna, showed off several beautiful student portfolios, and Prof. Lewis highlighted that, along with the digital tools and techniques, they also covered foundational drawing, with pencil and paper, to help retrain the brain to see the world and foster a deeper understanding.
   
Then, Prof. Linda Hirsch, Director of the AA in Liberal Arts and Sciences Degree, presented the Liberal Arts AA program in Arts Administration Concentration and Business. The Liberal Arts, she said, give you transferable skills, in an age when things are getting extremely specific. They help one to be adaptable, articulate, and able to engage in fruitful discussions and find solutions. She then introduced Tiffany Wilson ‘24, a ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ alumna who graduated as the Valedictorian and with the highest honors in business management. Thanks to a Building Transfer Pathways and Pipelines Scholarship, Wilson is now pursuing her BA in International Business and Media Studies at Queens College. When Prof. Hirsch asked how different or similar the colleges were, Wilson explained that whereas at ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ you get personalized advisement and support, at the bigger schools you have to figure it out largely on your own. But she is passionate about event planning and supporting her home country and is determined to make her way. Grateful for the scholarship that made it possible, she advises students to really step up in pursuit of their dreams and “take every opportunity you can get. Every professor must know who Tiffany Wilson is, in a good way!”
   
Professor Linda Ridley followed with an overview of the Business program. With two decades as Director of Investment Banking at Wells Fargo and serving as CEO of a global consulting firm, Prof. Ridley spoke about the business courses she teaches, touching on the impacts of symbols and mythology on business, with psychology, behaviour and demography providing the foundations for the principles of marketing.  
Then, Dr. Evelyn Fernandez-Ketcham, VP of Continuing Education and Workplace Development (CEWD), spoke about the top skills for which CEWD was providing training, as well as the top employers hiring graduates of the continuing ed programs. Dr. Sam Byrd, Director of College Transition and Alternative Credit Programs, then explained how credit for prior learning can also help students achieve their Arts degrees.
   
In a panel discussion led by Professors Prives and Ramos-Barreto, several accomplished industry professionals discussed questions that went “Beyond the Portfolio,” exploring the qualities that help students succeed in their job searches and their careers as Creatives in the Arts. Panelists included ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡ alumni Jared Barr, Art Director at Comcast; Alan Pierre-Louis, Teaching Artist at DreamYard, and Keyla Rodriguez, Intern for Heidi Latsky Dance; along with Mary Nittolo, Founder and Chief Creative Officer at The STUDIO, David Flores, Director of of Visual Arts and Design at DreamYard; Andrew Garber-Browne, VP of Experience Design at JP Morgan Chase; and Godfrey Hibbert, Animation Graphics Artists at ABC News and Art Director at the Pixel Collective NYC.
   
When the panelists were asked what qualities they looked for in potential hires, their answers included clarity of thinking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to tell a story. Other answers included an understanding of business with tailored resumes and portfolios showing relevant work. On the question of the importance of showing a range of skills, including soft skills, the panelists cited time management as being critical, as well as clear communication, and knowing when a project is finished and when to let it go.  Other desired skills included flexibility, curiosity, cultural awareness, and the ability to clearly explain and present your work.  When asked to elaborate on the importance of presentation skills, the panel added that it’s very helpful to research your audience, watch others present as often as possible to see what works best, and avoid self-deprecating comments. Mary Nittolo wrapped up the session with a few more pearls of wisdom: focus on storytelling as that is eternal; AI-assisted workflows are here to stay, so use them wisely; and craft matters, so make it look good. “Our job is to elevate beauty,” she concluded.
 
And finally, Professor Hirsch explored the question of “Working in the Arts Today” with Arts Administration professionals Nick Martinez, VP of Education and Engagement at the Museum of the City of New York, and Joseph Petrucelli, Executive Director of the Jazz Foundation of America. Both of them cited internships early in their careers as pivotal moments that put them on their current paths in arts administration.
   
When asked what qualities they looked for in job applicants, they listed flexibility, adaptability, curiosity and enthusiasm as key traits for success in the arts, where people tend to wear many hats. Knowing that “funding is finite” is also important in managing compensation expectations. “Know what number you want and your value,” said Martinez. “And know the limitations of the organization you're applying to.” If you’re looking to make $300k, only large organizations with many millions of dollars are going to be able to pay that.” As for the best career advice they could offer, Petrucelli said, “hew to the mission of the organization, and hew to your own values. Align your approach to your tasks with the mission of the organization. Even small jobs connect to the greater purpose in some way, so work accordingly and you will succeed.”  “Don’t be a martyr,” Martinez added. “Know when you need help and ask for it. Be reflective and know yourself and your skills and limitations. And definitely reach out to people and build your network.” When a student asked them how to use AI and still preserve their integrity as artists, they predicted that the future of working with AI will be in Art Direction and post production, doing clean up and continuity work. But the main point was that AI is not going away, and you need to work with it.
 
In her closing remarks, IVP Fabrizio thanked all the participants and reminded the students that the path to careers is not a straight line. You have to find your way, develop the necessary technical skills, as well as the critical soft skills that will help you succeed.
   
And to close out the summit, Petrucelli introduced the incredible jazz musicians he had brought to provide ambience and musical interludes throughout the event. Guitarist Ed Cherry has had a long, storied career playing with Dizzy Gillespie and other giants of the genre, and bassist Koji Cassetta, who, despite his youth, also boasts an accomplished career accompanying celebrated artists. Together, they added a sophisticated, jazzy touch to the proceedings that delighted everyone, prompting President Cocco De Filippis to promise to invite them back to the College for future events, and showing that the Arts are not just good business, but they are good for the soul.