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Alumni, community members, visiting speakers and �Ը������� University students, faculty and staff explored entrepreneurship in different creative career paths at the College of the Arts’ 2026 Art Without Limits event. The event was presented in partnership with the John S. and Marlene J. Brinzo Center for Entrepreneurship and the “.” The Oct. 14 lectures were held in University Auditorium in Cartwright Hall while individual schools and colleges hosted hands-on demonstrations. 

The event provided hands-on experiences across art industries for high school students and exemplified the business and entrepreneurial side of those industries.

Speakers from various creative backgrounds shared entrepreneurial expertise in individual lectures and in a final panel presentation to end the day. The roster included:

• Molly Fitzpatrick, an experienced textile designer and weaver
• Giuseppe Guarrera, an internationally recognized Italian pianist
• Lisa Smedley-Calderon, a costume designer in the film, music and fashion industries
• Christian Woltman, ’11, a graphic designer and founder of Reference, a branding and design studio
• Mikey Burton, ’08, a creator skilled in both graphic design and illustration
• Aveena Sawyer, ’18, an experienced performer and educator in the performing arts industry
• Mike Caparanis, ’11, founder and CEO of JAC Creative, a Cleveland-based marketing agency

Many fashion students were drawn to Smedley-Calderon’s talk.

“I was in a professional seminar with Professor Hillary [Stone], and she had mentioned that we had a costume designer coming in, and so I’m also interested in styling, and she has said that she’s also a celebrity stylist,” said Ayla Barbeau, a junior fashion merchandising major. “I wanted to come in, see what she had to say, learn how to get my foot into the industry, how to go throughout it and build my career, and just get some tips on it.”

The fashion industry is notoriously competitive, and students were eager to get advice on how to best navigate their careers.

“Since I’m a graduating senior, I really want to get my foot in the door any way I can. It’s a hard industry to get into,” said Tehya Henry, a senior fashion merchandising major. “It was also really inspiring to see a woman of color in this position because I’m also one of color. So I just really wanted to hear about her personal experience and how I can get into the industry and build my portfolio.”

Sarah Rizk, a junior animation game design major, has attended Art Without Limits in the past and came back this year to listen to Burton, a �Ը������� visual communication design graduate who describes himself as “not quite a graphic designer, not exactly an illustrator,” but who has worked for many major brands.

“I came last year to this, and it’s really cool to just hear professionals who are working in the industry and giving feedback on how it works,” Rizk said. “I always learn a lot from it.”

Savanah Hernandez, a sophomore musical theatre major, was excited to listen to Sawyer.

“I just thought it was a cool opportunity to come see somebody in my field, doing what I dreamed of doing,” Hernandez said. “She talked about taking business classes, and I’m actually a marketing minor. So that was really nice to hear that I’m doing something smart.”

Nick Petrella, John S. Brinzo Professor of Practice in the John S. and Marlene J. Brinzo Center for Entrepreneurship and assistant professor in the College of the Arts, told �Ը������� Today about the importance of this event for students in the arts.