The public is invited to attend this free event, which includes free admission to the museum for the day. Registration closes at the end of the day on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. If you are unable to attend in-person, join us virtually via the live stream. 

While the symposium’s primary presentations will take place at the Denver Art Museum on March 6, the celebration of student work continues on RMCAD’s campus in the Rotunda Gallery. Recontextualize: 6th Annual Student Symposium Exhibition will run from March 2 – May 22. 

“Events like these are vital to the growth of RMCAD students because they provide a professional stage where research becomes a lived experience,” shares Dr. Kat Medill, Assistant Professor of Art History. “It allows them to see their work as part of a larger, synergistic dialogue, preparing them to enter the professional world not just as creators, but as critical thinkers and thought leaders.”

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Also taking place on February 10 is the reception for To Persevere or Surrender, an exhibition inspired by Moss’s book featuring local artists Frankie Toan, Chelsea Kaiah, Juan Fuentes, and Catie Michel. The exhibition will be on view in RMCAD’s Philip J. Steele Gallery from February 2, 2026 – March 27, 2026.

Adam Moss is a journalist, editor, and, according to him, sometimes (and with great frustration), a painter. From 2004-2019, he was editor-in-chief of New York Magazine. Under Moss’s leadership, New York and nymag.com won 41 National Magazine Awards, including Magazine of the Year, and a Pulitzer Prize for criticism. Moss’s book The Work of Art: How Something Comes from Nothing is a New York Times bestseller published in 2024 by Penguin Press. The Work of Art is a collection of conversations with notable artists who create culturally significant works across a spectrum of genres. The book’s subjects include Stephen Sondheim, Kara Walker, Sofia Coppola, Barbara Kruger, Taylor Mac, Marc Jacobs, George Saunders, Amy Sillman, David Simon, Samin Nosrat, Shela Heti, and more.

Moss believes that how an artist makes their work is too often overlooked, saying “the end product is not the point.” Sharing about the many artists he has worked with, “what they were consumed by, why they did what they did is because they were consumed by the work.”
Both the artist talk and the exhibition are FREE and open to the public. Register for the conversation and exhibition reception now or watch the live stream online. 

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Crisosto Apache is a tremendously talented educator and poet, having written such acclaimed works as “GENESIS” and “Ghostword.” Apache won the Betty Berzon Emerging Writers Award and was a finalist for the Colorado Authors League in Poetry for “is(ness).” Additionally, Apache has been an influential member of RMCAD’s creative community since 2017, teaching English, Literature, and World Thought, in addition to poetry.

Crisosto Apache is originally from Mescalero, New Mexico on the Mescalero Apache Reservation. Crisosto is Mescalero Apache, Chiricahua Apache, and Diné (Navajo) of ‘Áshįįhí (Salt Clan) born for Kinyaa’áanii (Towering House Clan). Apache earned an MFA in Creative Writing from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Apache is a passionate advocate for the Native American LGBTQ+ / ‘two spirit’ identity.

“I have always believed that words have the power to change the landscape of hearts and minds. My heart is full of joy and gratitude to be entrusted with this position, and to join the lineage of the incredible poetic voices that have shaped Colorado; is an honor beyond words,” shared Crisosto Apache. “I am also full of gratitude to be part of Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, an institutional community that fully supports me stepping into this role. I continue to believe that poetry is more vital now than ever and is not merely an art form, but a bridge to truth. In my service as Laureate, I hope to continue to support my students, colleagues, and the community of Colorado, utilizing poetry as a light.”

The post RMCAD Associate Professor, Crisosto Apache, Named the State of Colorado’s Newest Poet Laureate appeared first on RMCAD.

Unay’s early love of film and special effects led him to be a character designer and face sculptor for many blockbuster movies. You have likely seen Unay’s visual effects work in major motion pictures including Avatar (2009) and King Kong (2005). He is also a respected documentary filmmaker, directing his own features Free To Play (2014) and The Cage Fighter (2018), the latter of which was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. More recently, Unay worked as a cinematographer on the award-winning documentary film Satan and Adam (2019). Unay is a Concordia Fellow, Sundance Institute, Tribeca Film Institute, and Points North Institute Fellow, and is a member of the Full Sail University Hall of Fame. 
“Unay is such a great example for our students about how they don’t need to choose just one field to be passionate about,” said VASD Program Director, Gretchen Schaefer. “We always encourage our students to experiment with their work, and Unay is a creative who can speak to this first-hand.” This event is FREE and open to the public. Reserve your seats now or watch the live stream online. 

The post From the Planet of Avatar to the Jungles of King Kong Comes RMCAD’s Newest Guest Speaker appeared first on RMCAD.

Accreditation by the HLC is the highest level of quality assurance in higher education and ensures institutions meet stringent standards. The HLC peer review team met with hundreds of RMCAD students, faculty, and staff as well as RMCAD’s Board of Directors during their two-day visit to verify the college’s commitment to its mission as a community-oriented, global learning environment.

In their report, the peer review team shared, “RMCAD is mission-centered, acts with integrity, provides quality learning experiences for students, and uses good practices to ensure ongoing quality.” A high praise to the college’s dedicated faculty and staff, who are committed to putting students first.

“The reaccreditation of RMCAD is a reflection of our entire community’s dedication and collaboration,” states RMCAD President Brent Fitch. “I extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who contributed to this process. This accomplishment confirms that we are not only meeting but exceeding the rigorous standards of the HLC and is a powerful validation of our hard work.”

RMCAD was also invited to join HLC’s Open Pathway, a selective designation designed for institutions committed to pursuing strategic improvement projects with a demonstrated record of excellence, which is a testament to the college’s dedication to innovation. This new path will support the college as it continues to advance its educational offerings and pursue new opportunities.

Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost, Dr. Amy Smith shares, “Accreditation is a formal validation of RMCAD’s unwavering commitment to educational excellence and student success. It confirms that we are providing a high-quality, valuable education that prepares students for meaningful careers. It is also a testament to our faculty and staff, who work tirelessly to create an environment where students feel supported and can thrive creatively and intellectually.”

RMCAD, which was founded in 1963, has maintained its accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 2020 and will continue onward as it prepares for its next evaluation in 2034-2035.

Key excerpts from the HLC peer review team’s report:

• Focus on the community, accessibility, and global engagement: “RMCAD makes its creative resources available to the general public through free lectures and Exhibits.”
• Dedication to professional development: “RMCAD has a very comprehensive professional development program.”
• Commitment to freedom of expression and student learning: “While visiting RMCAD, it was evident that the institution supports a culture of creative work and intellectual inquiry. The team enjoyed seeing and learning about the visible displays of art and projects throughout the campus. Students and faculty were energetic to share their research and creative projects. It is clear that RMCAD is living out its mission of providing “innovative, rigorous and community-oriented global learning environment that inspires passion.””
• Student learning and assessment practices: “The processes and methodologies at RMCAD reflect good practice. The evidence provided in the assurance argument, available in the online materials, and confirmed in conversation demonstrates that RMCAD has invested extensive time, effort, and resources in developing and implementing their assessment practices.”
• Mission and Institutional Effectiveness: “Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design (RMCAD) has demonstrated throughout their assurance argument and during the site visit that it is appropriately managing resources, structures, processes, and planning functions to ensure it is able to fulfill its mission, improve the quality of its educational offerings, and respond to future challenges and opportunities as they arise. It is clear that RMCAD has a series of well functioning systems in place that will support the institution into the future. These systems will also allow the institution to improve its educational offerings, while being in a position of strength to tackle any unforeseen circumstances in the future and continuing to fulfill its mission.”

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Welcome to the Summer term at Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design. Summer is a time of reflection for our college. As you enjoy the warm weather and longer days, I invite you all to look back with me as we celebrate our recent successes, our student body, and our thriving community.

First and foremost, I want to congratulate and bid farewell to the class of 2025. On Sunday, May 4, our college hosted two graduation ceremonies, honoring nearly 400 graduates from 39 states. Both ceremonies recognized the passionate work of our 2025 graduates, who represented both online and campus modalities. I would like to extend a special thank you to both of this year’s valedictorians, Cherjay Yang and Allison Hawes. Their hard work and dedication to their craft made them the perfect representatives of our student body. Thank you both for the wise words you shared with your fellow graduates. For those of you who were not able to attend the ceremony in person, I want to thank you for joining us via our commencement livestream and continuing the celebration at home.

To all of our current students, remember you are the graduates of tomorrow, so keep pushing forward; the finish line is in sight. Regardless of where you are in your current program (first year or third year), it will one day be your name called at commencement. If you have questions about your path to graduation or want to change from a part-time to full-time status to graduate sooner, please contact your academic advisor. Whether you are enrolled in summer coursework or taking a well-deserved break, I want to congratulate you on a phenomenal job this academic year. It has been a year full of impactful projects, exhibitions, and collaborations, which continue to make our community proud. Check out RMCAD’s blog and social media channels to get a glimpse of the incredible stories from this past year; and cheer on your fellow classmates, professors, and peers! 

Finally, I would like to thank our broader community for your incredible support. RMCAD would not be the same without your participation and collaboration. We have already welcomed nearly 800 members to our new app, RMCAD Connect, well on our way to welcoming 1,500 users by the end of the year. This summer, we were honored to participate in the Colfax Marathon, Denver’s Pride Parade, and Denver Fan Expo. In addition, on Sunday, June 8, twenty fashion design students brought 70 original designs to the runway at this year’s Identity Fashion Showcase. If you were not able to be in attendance at the sold-out show, watch a recap of the remarkable looks here. As we look ahead to the 2025-2026 academic year, I invite all of you to join us for the “Recontextualize Series”, which aims to bring further context to our VASD program, exhibitions, and student symposium.

I would like to close by extending my gratitude to all who read this message. Whether you are located in Colorado or joining us from across the globe, I am so grateful for the impact you make every single day. For anyone interested in learning more about our beautiful campus, I encourage you to look no further than our recent campus tour video. Remember, summer is a time to get out of the house and do more. I’m excited to see your refreshed passion this fall, and I hope you continue to enjoy this beautiful time of year with many trips, creative projects, and memories. Have an incredible rest of your summer!

Stay creative,

Brent Fitch

President, Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design

The post President’s Update: Summer B 2025 appeared first on RMCAD.

Tickets are on sale to members of the public interested in attending this one-of-a-kind creative showcase. Prices range from $15 for General Admission to $30 for VIP access. For those attending in person, venue doors open at 3:00 p.m. MT on Sunday, June 8, with photography and drink service open to all attendees. The showcase will then run from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. MT. Additionally, a free live stream option is available to those who can’t attend in person.

“This year’s showcase is about our students displaying their unique personalities through fashion,” shared Stephanie Carlo, RMCAD’s Chair of Fashion Design. “We all use fashion to express our identity every day. However, students are bringing this year’s showcase to the next level.”

Purchase tickets now on the RMCAD website today or watch the live stream online on Sunday, June 8.  

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About RMCAD

Founded in 1963, Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design is an accredited institution of higher education that offers degree programs focused on the arts, design, education, technology, and business. RMCAD serves its students from a 23-acre campus in Lakewood, Colorado, but also virtually, as a leader in online education for more than a decade. RMCAD offers courses taught by practicing industry professionals; an intimate learning environment; multimedia-rich online classes; and a beautiful historic campus. The school strives to allow artists and designers to find their voice, discover their own paths, and thrive as professionals.

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As part of the two-day festival, John Musker will provide RMCAD students, faculty, and interested members of the community with a keynote speech and signing event on Thursday, April 24, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. MT. The acclaimed writer, producer, and director will share his insights from working in the animation industry for more than 40 years, in a speech that will be available in person at RMCAD’s Mary Harris Auditorium.

The next day, Friday, April 25, the festival’s doors open at 4:00 p.m. and will include food, drinks, and game demos. The festival screening and award show will be hosted in the Mary Harris Auditorium and online from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. MT. All members of the RMCAD community and the public are invited to join this free presentation of student submissions. All works will be considered by a panel of judges in one of the following categories: Long Form Animation, Short Form Animation, Animatic, Game Demo, Computer Graphics, and Alumni Work. In addition to his keynote speech, John Musker will also be in attendance at the screening and award ceremony.

“The Annual Frames + Games Film Festival is the pinnacle of exhibition for our animation and game art students. It’s a great opportunity to share their grasp of these mediums and their expansive imaginations,” shared Michelle Kelley, RMCAD’s Animation program lead and co-festival head. “We are beyond proud to host someone with a body of work such as John Musker’s. His incredible insights will be such a great gift for this next generation of animation and game art professionals, as well as creatives of all kinds.”

This event is FREE and open to the public. Reserve your seats now by visiting the RMCAD website today or watch the live stream online.  

The post Disney Director and Oscar Nominee to speak at RMCAD’s Student Animation and Game Art Festival appeared first on RMCAD.

Recipient of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences – Film Scholar Award, the ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Educators Forum Grant, and a Family Choice Award – Johnson is a leading voice in animation and film history. She has published such works as Ink & Paint – The Women of Walt Disney’s Animation, Tinker Bell – An Evolution, and contributed to The Walt Disney Film Archives –The Animated Movies 1921-1968 and Marc Davis: Walt Disney’s Renaissance Man. Additionally, she served as an associate producer for the award-winning documentary Pencils vs. Pixels.

“These artist talks provide our students with co-curricular opportunities to learn about careers in the creative industry beyond the classroom,” shared Brent Fitch, President of RMCAD. “We’re absolutely ecstatic to welcome Mindy Johnson to RMCAD! Her amazing journey is living proof that our students can achieve anything when they combine their creativity with dedicated research – what an inspiration!” 
To reserve your seat for this free public event, visit the RMCAD website today or watch the live stream online. 

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