Female student painting a self-portrait and is surrounded by other art pieces. She is outside in the forum campus area.

A Guide to Submitting an Arts Portfolio to Richmond

A post by Rebecca Buffington, Director of Admission
September 30, 2026

Submitting an arts portfolio with your University of Richmond application is optional, and it can be a powerful way to showcase your creative strengths and share what you want to continue doing in college. Below, you’ll learn when to submit a portfolio, who reviews it, and how to select your best work in visual art, music, theater, or dance. Many students pursue their creative interests at Richmond through classes, performances, and ensembles without submitting an arts portfolio.

Should You Submit an Arts Portfolio?

  • Submit a portfolio if you have strong, well-documented work and plan to continue your creative pursuits at Richmond (major, minor, or significant extracurricular involvement), or if you want to be considered for departmental scholarships in Music or Theatre & Dance.

  • Consider skipping a portfolio if your work is poorly documented. Low-quality recordings or disorganized materials can distract reviewers.

  • You can still convey meaningful artistic involvement through your admission application’s activities list and essays as part of our holistic review process.

Who Reviews Your Arts Portfolio?

  • Admission staff review your arts portfolio as part of your admission application.

  • Faculty in the relevant arts departments (Art, Music, Theatre & Dance) review portfolios for admission and scholarship consideration. A portfolio is not an audition for placement in ensembles or productions.

  • A portfolio is one component of your application, alongside grades, course rigor, essays, and recommendations. A strong portfolio can strengthen your application, but it won’t make up for weakness elsewhere. A weaker or low-quality portfolio won’t prevent admission on its own, but it may not help with scholarship consideration and might distract from other strengths in your application.

When Does an Art Portfolio Help Your Application?

  • You’re planning to continue with your chosen creative pursuit at Richmond, either as a major or minor, or through involvement in classes, performances, or clubs.

  • You have clear, high-quality recordings or digital samples of your work that can be shared with us as a URL or PDF.

  • You want to be considered for departmental scholarships. Music and Theatre & Dance offer departmental scholarships to incoming students and continuing undergraduates. Submitting a portfolio allows those departments to consider your work.

When Should You Skip Submitting an Arts Portfolio?

  • Your recordings or photos are low quality and don’t reflect your true ability.
  • Your work doesn’t reflect your strongest abilities or add meaningful context to your application.
  • You’re submitting extra materials simply because you assume more is always better. Focus on quality over quantity.

How to Choose Works for Your Arts Portfolio

  • Follow the portfolio requirements on the Arts Portfolio webpage and meet the application materials deadline for whichever application plan you choose (Early Decision, Early Action, or Regular Decision).

  • Lead with your best work.

  • Show range if relevant, while maintaining a cohesive thread that reflects your interests and strengths.

  • Include short captions for each item: title, medium, date, your role (if collaborative), and one-line context.

  • If you’re seeking a Music or Theatre & Dance departmental scholarships, include a brief artist’s statement (100–200 words) describing your training, influences, what the work represents, and what you hope to pursue at Richmond.

Common Arts Portfolio Mistakes to Avoid

  • Low-resolution or poorly lit images; poor sound quality or distracting background noise.

  • Excessive length or many unedited takes. Edit to highlight your best moments.

  • Hosting links that are private, broken, or set to expire.

  • Uploading work you did not primarily create.

Final Tips for Arts Portfolio Applicants

  • Make sure you’re representing yourself well as admission staff and arts faculty will review your creative work.

  • Before submitting, double check the Arts Portfolio webpage for eligible work, file types, and deadlines.

  • Richmond considers portfolios in visual art, music, theatre, and dance disciplines only. Other creative opportunities, including creative writing and film studies, are available through academic programs, clubs, and organizations.

  • Most of all, put maximum effort into all parts of your admission application, so we have the best chance to learn lots about you as a person, not just a student.