Careers in the Arts

An image depicting work at the School of Art + Design.
The creative industries are now recognized as a vital and growing sector of the national economy, employing around 30% of the working population. An education in art and design is also an education through art and design, enabling you to develop valuable transferable skills in creativity, communication, organization and problem-solving, and expanding the possibilities for your future.

The professional world of the 21st century is searching for leaders with versatility, creativity, and confidence. At the School of Art + Design, we educate you with three goals in mind:

  1. To help you become a versatile artist or designer who is comfortable taking risks
  2. To allow you to become a thinker who is capable envisioning and implementing strong creative concepts
  3. To ensure that you develop the skills you need to join the professional ranks

And when we say ranks, we mean many ranks.

What types of careers do our graduates step into? Some of our undergraduates choose move on to graduate school, which often leads to careers in teaching, research, or self-sustaining artistic practice. But this is just the beginning. The possibilities are wide. Don’t believe us? Check out the broad selection of job titles that art students wear well:

Art Education

Work Places: K-12 Public and Private Schools, Museum Education Departments, Community Arts Centers, Library-Based Art Programs, Children Museums, Health Care Centers, Community Colleges, Early Childhood Centers, ChildrenB9s Homes, Juvenile Retention Centers, Prisons, Churches, Senior Care Facilities, After School Art Programs, Summer Art Programs, Scholarly Publication Firms, Educational Products Industries, Not for Profit Organizations, Universities, and Colleges.

Job Titles: Teacher, Tutor, Artist in Resident, Consultant, Community Based Art Director, Career Counselor, Museum Lecturer, Program Director, Researcher, Editor, Writer of Textbooks and ChildrenB9s Books, Independent Curriculum Consultant, Reviewer for Granting Agencies, Arts Administrators for Regional, State and National Boards of Education, Lecturer, and University Professor.

Art History

Work Places: Museums, Galleries, Universities and Colleges, Magazines, Newspapers, Publishing Companies, Public Television Stations, Auction Houses, Art Organizations

Job Titles: Author, Curator, Curatorial Researcher, Documentary Researcher, Conservator, Critic, Grant Writer, Educational Coordinator, Lecturer, University Professor, Museum Director

Ceramics

Work Places: Private Studio, Ceramic Manufacturers, Industrial Design Firms, Conservation Centers, Restoration Companies, Arts Centers, Architectural Firms, Schools and Universities, Museums

Job Titles: Exhibiting Artist, Sculptor, Installation Artist, Conservator, Mold Maker, Artist in Industries Work Places, Model Maker, Mold Maker, Restorer, Museum Preparator, Studio Manager, Gallery Assistant, Toy Designer, Auto Industry Technician, Ceramic Industry Residencies, Teacher

Graphic Design

Work Places: Graphic Design Studios, In House Design Studios, Publishing Companies, Environmental Design Firms, Architectural Offices, Desktop Publishing Firms, Magazines, Advertising Agencies, Public Relations Firms, Newspapers, University Presses, Not for Profit Organizations, Television Stations, Hospitals, Cultural Centers, Digital/Web Design Firms, Retail Stores, Manufacturers

Job Titles: Graphic Designer, Textbook Designer, Desktop Publisher, Creative Director, Art Director, Freelance Designer, Packaging Designer, Illustrator, Multimedia Designer, Typographer, Environmental Designer, Exhibition Designer, Website Designer

Industrial Design

Work Places: Industrial Design Firms, Corporate Design Groups, Digital Media Groups, Exhibit Design Firms, Environmental Design Firms, Furniture Design Firms, Toy Design Firms, Lighting Design Firms, Product Design Firms, Sports Equipment Companies

Job Titles: Industrial Designer, Exhibit Designer, Environmental Designer, Furniture Designer, Toy Designer, Lighting Designer, Product Designer

Metals

Work Places: Private Studio, Jewelry Production Studio, Jewelry Manufacturer, Conservation Center, Art Centers, Schools and Universities, Galleries and Museums

Job Titles: Exhibiting Artist, Jewelry Designer, Bench Jeweler, Mold Maker, Studio Manager, Museum Preparator, Gallery Assistant, Teacher

New Media

Work Places: Entertainment Industries, Communication Technologies, Interactive Media Firms, Information Design,Television, Film, Video, and Sound Industries, Universities, Museums

Job Titles: Designer, Artist, Information Designer, New Media Artist, 3d Animator, Application Designer, Creative Content Consultant, Music or Sound Composer, Program Designer, Programmer, Writer or Systems Architect, Curator, Teacher

Painting

Work Places: Private Studio, Galleries, Museums, City/State/Federal Arts Agencies, Schools and Universities

Job Titles: Exhibiting Artist, Artist in Resident, Installation Artist, Freelance Artist, Portraitist, Backdrop Painter, Muralist, Illustrator, Animator, Curator, Gallery Assistant, Arts Administrator, Teacher

Photography

Work Places: Private Studio, Photography Studios, Photography Labs, Magazines, Newspapers, Advertising Agencies, Public Relations Firms, Graphic Design Firms, Photography Archives, Museums, Schools and Universities

Job Titles: Exhibiting Artist, Freelance Photographer, Portraitist, Photo Stylist, Commercial Photographer, Public Relations Photographer, Documentary Photographer, Medical Photographer, Photo Archivist, Collection Manager, Darkroom Manager, Curator, Teacher

Sculpture

Work Places: Private Studios, Architectural Firms, Foundries, Manufacturers, Construction Companies, Galleries, Museums, Schools and Universities

Job Titles: Exhibiting Artist, Installation Artist, Artist in Resident, Sculpture Conservator, Restorer, Architectural Restorer, Preparator, Mold Maker, Museum Display/Exhibition Designer, Set Designer, Creative Consultant, Teacher