2026 Rollins Theater Grad Interviewed by Chronicle of Higher Education

Recent arts graduates are entering a job market shaped by both opportunity and uncertainty, particularly as artificial intelligence continues to transform creative industries. The article highlights the experiences of several young artists launching their careers and adapting to changing professional expectations.

Among them is Rollins College graduate Rileigh Erickson, who earned a degree in technical theater with an emphasis on costume design. Demonstrating the initiative often associated with arts graduates, Erickson explained that she “cold-emailed a bunch of people, a bunch of theaters, just introducing myself,” while directing potential employers to her online portfolio. Her efforts quickly paid off when she secured a position as wardrobe supervisor for Shakespeare on the Sound’s production of Much Ado About Nothing in Connecticut. Additional opportunities soon followed, including assisting a New York City costumer with fittings and preparing for work at Westport Country Playhouse.

As she begins her professional career, Erickson is planning a move to New York City, where she hopes to continue building experience in theater while maintaining a side business that creates handbags and tote bags from thrifted clothing. Despite making plans for the future, she remains open to new possibilities. “I’m trying to plan,” she said, while also keeping an eye out for “opportunities I haven’t even thought about yet.”

Erickson’s experience reflects a broader theme in the article: arts graduates often rely on persistence, adaptability, and entrepreneurship to navigate their careers. Rather than following a single predetermined path, many pursue a combination of artistic work, freelance opportunities, and side ventures. Her willingness to seek out opportunities and embrace uncertainty illustrates the resourcefulness that educators and employers increasingly view as a valuable strength among graduates in the arts.

Read the full article here.