Not Just Absinthe and Garrets - Careers
In The Arts - A CV Centre Guide
Graduate Careers Advice by The
CV Centre, the UK's leading CV consultancy.
Some career paths are more straightforward than others, and a career
in the Arts is likely to be more convoluted than most! It is also a wide-ranging
field, encompassing those who are actively creative: visual artists; designers;
curators; performers; writers etc. and a host of related positions within
arts management and administration as well as academic posts. There are
also often (whether through necessity or desire) possibilities for combining
the above - a visual artist may well carry out teaching or hold administrative
positions in addition to their work as a practicing artist. Arts administration
and management also covers a broad range of positions in itself, including
exhibition and event coordination, fund-raising, publicity, press work
and PR as well as finance and even the management of buildings. So it
is certainly an area with a lot of scope for career development.
In and Out of the Arts -Transferable Skills
Experience acquired during your academic arts training, and whilst pursuing
a creative career, furnishes you with skills which can also be desirable
to those recruiting in other sectors. For example, a career as a visual
artist usually involves being able to juggle a multitude of tasks. In
addition to creating the works of art themselves, you are also likely
to be involved with press work, event organisation, raising money, etc.
The ability to think creatively and to find innovative solutions to problems
are also attributes which are honed whilst training and working as a visual
artist - and certainly skills useful within a variety of different environments.
If you are thinking of moving from working as a practicing artist into
another line of work, or expanding the range of work you undertake, it
can be beneficial to look closely at all aspects of your career to date,
to assess each project you have undertaken, stage by stage, in order to
identify the range of skills you have developed. There might be more than
you think! Positions within arts administration and management are going
to be especially suitable, as an academic background in the Arts is likely
to allow you to bring added specialised knowledge and enthusiasm to the
position.
Breaking into The Arts
Competition for positions within the Arts can be very strong and so it
is useful to expand upon your experience by taking up work placements
or internships within the specific area you are interested in. This can
be especially handy if you are keen to work within a gallery, museum or
arts publishing, where an internship should allow you not only to gain
valuable sector-specific experience but also to meet other arts professionals.
Selling your Skills
It is one thing to know in your own mind that you have the skills and
capability for a vacant position. However it can be quite another matter
when it comes to convincing a potential employer of the same. Your CV,
covering letters and, most importantly, application forms are documents
vital to your success. If you would like to make sure that these are of
the highest possible standard, then you need to get them professionally
prepared! Click
Here to find out how The CV Centre can help you.
