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Cornish Career Network

The Cornish Career Network is the dedicated online platform for Cornish College of the Arts, offering students and alumni access to a wide range of internship and job opportunities tailored to their creative disciplines. This resource serves as a bridge between the Cornish community and the professional world, providing valuable tools for career development, networking, and securing positions in the arts and related industries.

Job & Internship Resources

Job & Internship Search

These platforms empower students to independently explore career options, connect with industry professionals, and showcase their talents to potential employers. By utilizing these resources, students can take proactive steps in shaping their professional journeys and gaining the experience and connections they need to succeed in their chosen fields. 
General Student Career Platforms

Arts-Focused Student Career Platforms:

Online Resume & Portfolio Builders

To thrive in the creative industry, having a standout portfolio and a polished resume is crucial. Whether you’re an emerging artist or an established professional looking to elevate your career, the right tools and platforms can make all the difference. Below you’ll find a selection of valuable resources designed to help you create, refine, and showcase your work, as well as effectively market your skills to potential employers and clients.
Online Portfolio Builders

Resume Building Tools

Skill Development Resources & Workshops

Skill Development Platforms

Workshops

Networking and Feedback

Networking and Feedback

Financial Resources

Financial Resources
  • Money Talks: Understanding Your W-4
  • Creative Capital: Creative Capital Foundation uplifts underinvested, risk-taking artists with unrestricted project grants, professional development, and community-building services to advance freedom of expression and foster sustainable careers.

Internships, Volunteering, and Residency Opportunities by Department

Internship Board

Events

Admissions

22

Saturday,
February

Open House

10:00a–4:00p

Cornish College of the Arts

Details + Attend

Admissions

22

Saturday,
March

Open House

10:00a–1:00p

Cornish College of the Arts

Details + Attend

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Cornish offer work study for current students?

Yes! Students who have been deemed eligible for work study are able to us our work study job board to find current openings.

Can I schedule an appointment with a Career Advisor?

At Cornish College of the Arts, your career development is a top priority. Meeting with a career adviser offers you the chance to receive personalized, 1:1 feedback and support tailored to your creative journey. From interview preparation to career exploration and planning your next steps after graduation, Cornish’s career advising services are designed to empower you with the tools and confidence you need to succeed in the arts.

Appointments available 8:30am – 5:00pm Monday through Friday.

Career coaching appointments are open to Cornish  students AND alumni!

Make a virtual appointment at cca.joinhandshake.com/appointments or by emailing careers@cornish.edu  

Can I get credit for an internship that isn't listed on Cornish Connections?

If you’ve discovered an exciting internship opportunity and want to earn college credit for your experience, we’re here to help! Cornish College of the Arts offers a streamlined process to ensure that your internship aligns with your academic goals and counts toward your degree. By following a few simple steps, you can gain valuable professional experience while also making progress in your studies.

Internships do have specific course codes, depending on the department.

AR 418 – Art Internship

DA 469 – Dance Internship

DE 418 – Design Internship

PP 481 – Performance Production Internship

TH 458 – Theater Internship

Currently the way it works, a student will apply for an internship. If they get it, there is a specific agreement form within their departments I believe, that lays out the terms of the internship, and indicates how many credits they would earn from it. The course gets listed on the SoC and they are registered into it. The chair or other faculty member is assigned to it, for 1 WU, as a supervisor of the internship, and to enter their final grade on it.

For incoming students who have had internships, that would fall under the realm of Prior Learning Experience, where the chair would assess how many credits prior internships could satisfy. Where things have always been muddy are internships over the summer, when courses haven’t been in session outside of some shorter summer courses. We should definitely revisit how all of that is set up though.

Does Cornish offer Study Exchange or Study Abroad opportunities?

Through the AICAD Exchange program, full-time students who are attending one of the 20 participating AICAD schools, have the unique opportunity to attend another school within AICAD for one semester at no additional cost or loss of credit. The AICAD Exchange offers students the experience and benefit of studying at a different school and living in a different geographic area. By sharing resources and facilities, AICAD colleges offer unparalleled educational opportunities to students at AICAD schools.

Students Apply for AICAD Exchange HERE

DEADLINES: Applications must be received by the host school no later than: March 15 (Fall Term) and October 1 (Spring term)

Please note: The Spring 2025 term application is now OPEN.

Eligibility: The AICAD Exchange is open primarily to full‑time students who are in good standing and who otherwise meet eligibility requirements of their specific program. Students choose which school they wish to attend in the AICAD Exchange. However, the Host School retains sole discretion to accept or decline an application or selection of courses.

Tuition and Fees: Tuition is payable to the student’s Home School. The Host School agrees not to charge the student tuition. A voucher indicating that tuition has been paid is issued by the Home School to the student and must be presented to the Host School at registration. If a student has made the required payment to the Home School but has not received a voucher, she/he must contact the Home School Exchange Coordinator immediately. The student will receive the regular financial aid award, if any, to which they are entitled.

Laboratory fees: student service fees and other fees may be charged to the student by the Host School. These are billed by and payable directly to the Host School, and must be paid before registration. These fees vary by institution and program, so students should contact the Exchange Coordinator of the Host School to determine which fees will be required at registration.

Grades: Grades received from the Host School during Exchange study will become a part of the student’s official record at their Home School, in accordance with the Home School’s policies for such study. Host Schools should not count Exchange students in their registration statistics. While at the Host School, the student will be governed by the academic regulations of the Host School and will not be eligible for student aid or employment from the Host School. The Host School is responsible for notifying the Home School of any deficiencies during the semester.

Medical Insurance: Nearly every AICAD college requires students to obtain or furnish proof of medical insurance. Check with your Host School to determine its policies. If you have no insurance you will most likely be expected to purchase it from the Host School. If you have insurance, be sure to obtain proof of insurance from your Home School before you depart.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of each student. Host Schools have no obligation to provide housing and their dorms are often full. A student wishing to live in a Host School’s dorm should make this known at the time of application. Fees for Room and Board are billed by and payable directly to the Host School. If dorms are full, off‑campus housing information may be obtained from the student services or housing office of the Host School. Students should plan ahead and investigate all housing options at the time of application.

Participating AICAD Schools:

Alberta University of the Arts
Art Academy of Cincinnati
ArtCenter College of Design
California College of the Arts
Cleveland Institute of Art
College for Creative Studies
Columbus College of Art & Design
Cornish College of the Arts
Emily Carr University of Art & Design
Kansas City Art Institute
LASALLE College of the Arts (Singapore)
Laguna College of Art & Design
Maine College of Art & Design
Maryland Institute College of Art
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
Minneapolis College of Art & Design
NSCAD University
OCAD University
Otis College of Art & Design
Pacific Northwest College of Art
Ringling College of Art & Design
School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Foundation Year

Many AICAD schools have a compulsory first year curriculum which is sometimes referred to as Foundation Year. During this first year, students follow the same course of study – which introduces the institution’s pedagogical approach – before they move on to studio majors as sophomores. The Foundation Year curriculum is designed to instruct all students (regardless of abilities, skills and interests) on the basic tenants of art and design, and usually includes general 2D and 3D studio courses and opportunities to explore various departmental majors.

International Affiliates

In addition to the 39 full member schools in the US & Canada within the network, AICAD has seven International Affiliate schools in Japan, China, Ireland, Israel, Singapore, and the UK. Through the International Affiliate program, AICAD has broadened its membership and enhanced the dialogue at the Executive level, which in turn brings greater global opportunity to the students of all AICAD schools.

BURREN COLLEGE OF ART
Located Ballyvaughan, Ireland, the Burren College of Art offers students an intimate community with a maximum enrollment of 55 undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, there are specific study abroad opportunities available to AICAD students who are interested in studying at the Burren College of Art. Through a range of programs, faculty and visiting artists at Burren College of Art create an exciting platform for discussion, artistic collaboration and cross-disciplinary study.

BEZALEL ACADEMY OF ARTS AND DESIGN

Located in Jerusalem, the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design enrolls over 2000 students studying towards undergraduate degrees in the following departments: Fine Arts, Screen Based Arts, Architecture, Ceramics and Glass Design, Industrial Design, Jewelry and Fashion Design, Photography and Visual Communication. In addition, Bezalel offers graduate degrees in the fields of Fine Arts, Urban Design, Industrial Design and Policy and Theory of the Arts. Each department preserves the traditional knowledge, tools, materials and workshops collected over many decades, while using state-of-the-art software and cutting-edge technologies.

CHINA ACADEMY OF ART

The China Academy of Art is a premiere fine arts institute of higher learning located in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province in the vicinity of Shanghai. The International College of China Academy of Art is a subsidiary of the China Academy of Art in charge of academic programs for overseas non-resident students and international artistic exchanges. It has three teaching units, which offer quality courses in Chinese painting, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese culture and language. It also provides international students with courses in oil painting, print-making, inter-media art, sculpture, art history, design art and architecture art.

OSAKA UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS

Founded in 1964, Osaka University of Arts (OUA) offers 14 undergraduate majors in the fine arts, design, architecture, Literature, Broadcasting, Photography, Crafts, Visual Concept Planning, Theatrical Arts, Art Planning, Character Creative Arts, Musicology, Music Performance, Art and Primary Education. Additionally, there are specific study abroad opportunities available to AICAD students interested in studying at OUA.

LASALLE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS

LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore is a leading tertiary institution in cutting edge contemporary arts and design education and practice. The College offers more than 30 diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate programs in fine arts, design communication, interior design, product design, film, animation, fashion, dance, music, theater, arts management, arts pedagogy and practice, art therapy, Asian art histories and creative writing.

NANJING UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS

Nanjing University of the Arts is the only comprehensive arts institute in Jiangsu Province, as well as the earliest art academy established in China. After the development of more than one hundred years, Nanjing University of the Arts has become one of the most distinguished art universities in China and has enjoyed high reputation in China and the world. Boasting over 10,000 students, the university offers 27 majors over its 14 schools that include fine arts, music, design, media, movie and television, dance, popular music, humanities, industrial design, and cultural industry.

Academic Symposia

AICAD coordinates an annual Symposium each fall that is hosted by one of the member schools. This three-day meeting brings together educators, administrators and students to engage in rich conversations on a timely academic topic.

These symposia are primarily intended to benefit faculty and academic staff such as department chairs, though many senior level administrators and college presidents attend as well.

 

For Employers

Thank you for your interest in working with Cornish College of the Arts students! Below are several options for employers to post job or internship opportunities specifically geared toward creative professionals.

You can find us on Handshake! With our transition to Handshake, you can easily post jobs and internships for Cornish students and alumni. Handshake is a platform that connects employers with students across the country, including those with creative arts backgrounds. Want more information or interested in creating an account? Visit the Handshake Site here.

If you belong to a company or organization that would like to list an internship opportunity on our Cornish Connections job board, please fill-out the below form and a member of our team will be in touch shortly.

Job Posting Guidelines

As a member of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), we adhere to the ethical standards outlined in NACE’s Principles for Professional Practice. To ensure fair and equitable opportunities for our students, employers must meet the following guidelines to post positions:

  • The employer must be affiliated with a for-profit company, non-profit agency, or established artist collective.

  • The position must be paid at least minimum wage, with exceptions made for unpaid internships or volunteer opportunities in accordance with NACE guidelines.

  • Employees must receive a W-2 or 1099 for work completed.

  • No fees may be charged to applicants at any stage of the hiring process.

  • Personal postings (e.g., private family jobs or gigs) will not be allowed.

  • No positions related to multi-level marketing or pyramid schemes will be posted.

  • Employers must practice non-discriminatory hiring practices in alignment with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the NACE Principles.

Cornish College of the Arts reserves the right to remove any posting that does not comply with these standards.

For further details, please visit our Contact Us page for more information.