What is the path to a successful career in fine art?

Those who work in the fine arts may have different functional jobs and professions, but they all share an interest in and desire to support artists and their visions. Because it is such a specialized field there are many different roles to play and opportunities for many different strengths; just a few of many possible career goals, positions in the fine arts include:

• Gallery Owner/Art Dealer


• Museum Curator


• Art Appraiser


• Small Business Owner (Art Services: Shipping, Storage, IT)


• Art Lawyer


• Government affairs


• Arts Education

To speak to my own experience both as an academic and in Communications and External Affairs, the first step towards any of these careers is to develop an avid interest in the visual arts and the verbal and written communications skills necessary to explain complex ideas. People in the art world are not usually interested in whether they "like" a work of art, but they want to know what a work is "about." As a sophomore in high school, a student could start looking critically at both the art seen in museums and cultural settings, as well as the visual media that surrounds everyday life. Academically, these students will take any opportunities to engage in art or art history coursework in high school, excel in English and composition courses, and begin to learn at least one foreign language. As they apply to colleges, they will investigate opportunities for students to gain professional experience in the arts and ask about alumni who have established careers in the art world.

In college, most students interested in a career in fine arts major in art history or visual studies. Other applicable majors might be a regional studies program (such as Asian or American studies), history, or politics. No matter what one's major, however, they will be sure to take as many art history classes as possible as this is the time to build both a visual and verbal vocabulary that they will use on an everyday bases throughout the rest of their career. The art world is also decidedly international, so developing language skills and studying abroad are incredibly helpful and almost mandatory to a career in the fine arts.

College is also the time for anyone interested in a career in the fine arts to start developing a professional network. Professors can be wonderful resources and can help in finding opportunities for internships and introductions to practitioners in one's field of choice. The art world still functions primarily via relationships and reputations, so students can begin their careers as an intern while in college so that upon graduation they will have references and a better sense of their own direction within the field. As vital as internships are, however, as in publishing and other industries, one should be aware of volunteering for unpaid work that would typically go to someone on staff.

If students are contemplating graduate school, they should be sure to articulate what their career goals are before looking at programs. If interested in pursuing a career in academia (including curatorial positions) then a funded research MA or PhD is absolutely worth applying for; however, there are many "professional" MA programs geared to those in the arts (such as arts administration) that may be a poor substitute for entry level positions and are quite costly. Students should research, research, research institutions and programs fully and to interview alumni from such programs.

I have found that when applying for positions in the arts the most important resource I have is my personal and professional network. The art world is a relatively small place and well paid positions can be hard to obtain, if students rely on large web-based job ads they may be applying for one position along with 300-500 others. By developing relationships with professors, employers and coworkers over the course of your education and career one can chart their own course for a career in fine arts.------

If you want a career as a fine artist - through your own studio art as a painter, drawing, sculpture, mixed media, whatever - it is a good idea to consider going to an art school. In New York there are a number of wonderful schools and ateliers including the School for Visual Arts, Pratt Institute, Cooper Union, Academy of Fine Arts, and many wonderful art programs at City College, Brooklyn College, and other schools. Most classes at these schools are taught by professional artists, who not only teach you technique (an artist is always learning more about how to paint in different styles, color theory, different materials, etc.) but also talk about how to be an artist. AN artist has lots of responsibilities - to find galleries to represent your work, to get into group and individual shows at museums and arts centers, to apply for grants to support your art, etc. New York Foundation for the Arts is a good organization to learn more about opportunities for artists, including studio space. Another, alternative learning site is 3rd Ward in Brooklyn. Go to gallery openings, go to museums to see other art, find organizations that provide services for fine artists. And paint, draw, whatever your art work is - every day.

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