The idea of being an artist is attractive on many levels for young students. In the world of creation, learning how to use amazing technical skills and connecting with like-minded people is the dream for many.
But getting into an art school is only the first step in what will become your future: a career in the arts.
This is where things get tricky. What can you do with an art degree after you finish? What are the best careers in art? Keep reading to find out.
Art School Programs in Australia
The first thing you need to understand about getting an art degree is all the different types of diplomas that you can get after going to art school.
Fine Arts Degree
A bachelor (BFA degree) or master in fine arts (MFA degree) are the two degrees you can get if you choose to study art. This field takes into consideration visual arts as well as fine arts.
In this case, visual arts tend to include things like studio arts and humanities and is not only for art school but also a part of the liberal arts institutions. A bachelor or master of arts is a bit broad though, so it is good to have some of the following specialisations in order to be better recognised professionally:
- Sculpture
- Art and design
- Drawing and Painting
- Studio arts
- Architecture
- Digital media
- Theatre
- Music
Film Degrees
On the other hand, film degrees work in their own way. While it is true that getting a masters or a bachelor in film is similar to getting a masters or bachelor in arts, the jobs that you can have are quite different. This is because students that go to film school or to a film focused program learn the technical skills needed to produce them. Here are some of the possible jobs that you can aspire to if you go to film school:
- Film director
- Film producer
- Art director
- Director of Photography
- Film Editor
- Animator
- Motion Designer
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Art History
Another excellent option for art lovers is to study art history, a career preferred by many for its versatility when it comes to finding a job after graduation. If you love art and history equally, you can become an expert in both things and work in different fields like:
- Curator
- Teacher
- Museum Administrator/Director
- Conservator/Art Restorer/Conservation Scientist
- Art Authenticator
- Museum Reproductions/Retail Manager
- Art Librarian/Visual Resource Curator
- Art Publishing
Art Courses and Degrees
Another alternative to BFAs and MFAs are the many art programs and art courses dedicated to design.
These programs also offer BFAs and MFAs but, instead of being specialised in art, they are specialised in the different branches of design. These courses are more 'commercial' in the professional world and can land jobs in various sectors.
Art and Design Degree
A fine arts degree in art and design is given to those who go to a college of art and study both art and design subjects.
These graduates can get a BFA or an MFA and they can do many things like work at an agency, at a big company as part of the design team or even do some freelancing with clients who are looking to hire them for their talent.
Some examples of these diplomas are:
- Interior design
- Graphic design
- Illustration
- Multimedia design
- Fashion design
Architecture Degrees
Architecture is a discipline that is not normally considered a fine art. Nevertheless, many of the movements in the history of art have been either preceded or followed by a response in the way we build our cities.
If you pursue an Undergraduate level in architecture in any university you will get a Bachelor of Arts which will give you lots of great options for your future career. Some of the most common degrees for which you will find an architecture graduate certificate are:
- Architectural theory
- Design computation
- Building science
- Environmental architecture and sustainability
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Careers in Art That Can You Apply For
We know: going into university and having to pick what it is that you want to do in the future is not an easy task, especially when you have things like finances and future jobs to consider.
That said, while it is always a good idea to get in touch with alumni or professors for any career questions you might have, it can also be helpful to understand what type of jobs or careers in art will be available to you depending on your degree.
Here are some of the possible careers that you can have after pursuing a degree in art or going to art school:
- Exhibition Work: Do you dream of working in a gallery or museum? Beyond exhibiting your work (which is, of course, super exciting) you can also get into the world of art exhibition which includes collaborating with private and public museums to get your work displayed or simply getting your work to appear at local bars or cafes. The way to make money out of this can come in many ways, but it normally happens when someone buys one of your pieces. This is why it's not a sustainable thing and you need to make sure you have other income set up. This is why it is quite common that artists getting their works on exhibition also take up other jobs in education.
- Arts Administration: Another possible job you can have after graduating from art school is entering the side of arts administration jobs. Where can you find one of these? Anywhere from museums to NGOs. No matter if you are producing art yourself or not, art administration is more about dealing art, moving pieces, organising exhibits, etc. Some of the more common jobs will be found in collaboration with art institutions like museums, libraries or galleries.
- Art Teacher: If you are passionate about sharing your knowledge with people around you, the teaching world could be an excellent place for you to share everything you learn in art school. Believe it or not, being an art teacher is one of the most common jobs for artists. This happens because the schedule of teaching also is ideal for artists who want to continue to pursue their craft. This also allows them to have access to the materials and facilities of the schools, who oftentimes offer this space to teachers as an exchange.
- Film Industry: If you have pursued a degree in film, the film and entertainment industry might just be the place for you. You can go two different ways: commercial films or independent films, depending on the type of movies that you are passionate about. TV is also a good alternative and a great way to explore new formats of the entertainment industry.
- Performing Arts Industry: Do you like theatre, dance or singing? Then the world of performance is for you. Depending on what your goal is in this industry (whether you want to become an actor in films or theatre or just teach your craft) your career will be quite different. If you find performance expression rewarding this might be for you. Some of the fields you could check out if you’re interested in performance arts are theatre, music engineering, or dance.
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Keep Learning Art with Superprof
In order to start your education in art school, you will have to go through a selection process where a panel of academics will look at your portfolio.
Submitting your portfolio is a small but very important step as well as finding the right art course and university. However, these are both equally difficult parts of the application process.
When faced with moments like this in your career, you could very much benefit from hiring a private tutor in art who could guide and help you in various ways:
- By helping you perfect your craft
- By helping you build a better portfolio
- By giving you honest feedback on what you are creating
- By providing you with tips and tricks for your application process
- By giving you specific ideas for your pieces and collections
Our platform has a wide network of private tutors who specialised in the different art disciplines we have talked about and who are ready to help you reach your goals of going to art school and landing your dream job.
That said, a lot of these private tutors are artists themselves and they can give you some insight into what types of art careers are available for students with your profile and skillset after leaving art school.
Check out the options we have for you and contact one of them to start building your art portfolio and art career!
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