Over the years this column has stressed the importance of arts education in our public school system. Unfortunately when budgets get tight, the arts curriculum is one of the first to face reductions, if not outright elimination.
Arts represent the lifeblood of our industry. Engaging youngsters in the visual and aural arts can be a building block to their seeking out training that can foster the next generation of CG artists, post personnel, composers, audio mixers, sound designers and assorted other artisans. Included in that mix are creatives such as art directors.
But there are other essentials in the equation that go beyond formal training. As promising students then move onto higher education, professionals in the field need to be responsive, providing career aspirants with mentorship and exposure to the community at large. On both these fronts relative to young creatives, we point to a couple of American Advertising Federation (AAF) events that might get lost in an industry calendar otherwise dominated by mainstream awards shows, conferences and film festivals.
The first event is the AAF’s Most Promising Minority Students Program slated for Feb. 7-9 in New York. The program is designed to recognize and recruit outstanding minority college graduates in advertising, marketing, media and communications. The most promising students are culled from nominations fielded from universities throughout the country. These students then connect with the advertising industry during the three-day event in the Big Apple.
The program offers these top-drawer prospects networking, interviewing and “industry immersion” opportunities with established professionals. The AAF hopes to further prepare advertising’s best young prospects for the workplace–and in the process help that workplace better reflect the multiculturism of today’s society.
The other alluded to AAF event is the second annual Student ADDY Awards, designed specifically for college students. The national program parallels the three-tiered professional ADDY Awards competition and offers a cash prize for the National Best of Show-winning entry.
“As evidenced by the extraordinary work in the inaugural Student ADDYs last year, advertising students have enviable creative enthusiasm and talent on par with many professionals,” stated AAF president/CEO Wally Snyder. “The chance to be recognized by top judges in their future profession is a coveted and rare opportunity for these leading talents.”
The Student ADDY Awards have an abbreviated set of categories that cover all major aspects of the advertising and design industry. The national student awards will be presented at the AAF National Conference and ADDY Gala Awards Show on June 11 in San Francisco.
In conjunction with the AAF’s National Ad 2, an organization for young professionals in the advertising industry (age 32 and younger), the best of show winner at the national Student ADDY Awards will receive a $1,000 cash prize. College students at any accredited institution are eligible to enter. Students should check with the AAF to find a local, AAF-affiliated club and then contact that nearest local club for entry information. Visit www.StudentADDYs.com for additional entry info and www.AD2.org for more info on National Ad 2.
