Careers in Art Education
Because of the scheduling flexibility that often comes with art education jobs, a number of art teachers do other things to extend their creative outlets and their income opportunities. For instance, they teach summer school, give private art lessons, and/or work in their studios producing works of art that they sell in galleries, at art shows, etc.
In Colorado, full-time teaching tends to range between 180 and 186 days per year, thus allowing for such pursuits. For the passionate artist, school year breaks are often a time to produce their own creative work; whether for profit or just for pleasure.
Possible Art Education Careers:
- K-12 Art Teacher
- Art Center Educator
- Museum Education Staff Member
- Gallery Consultant
- Educational Text Author
- Curriculum Director
- Freelance Art Educator
Occupational Outlook and Wage Statistics
The most effective way to gauge your potential earnings in your field is to conduct an employment search and average the wage for 6 jobs that you would be qualified for. Salary.com is a free salary calculator that provides average pay rate for professions in different geographic regions. You may also research your field using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a government resource that provides salary information as well as occupational outlook statistics.
Employment Resources
- Art Teacher Jobs – Visit a single job board to review the unique career opportunities posted on the top job sites.
- Teachers.net Job Center - Searchable job listings and career resources for teachers.
Professional Organizations
- State Art Education and National Art Associations - A guide to local and national art associations.
Publications
- Arts Education Information Quarterly – AEIQ offers field-tested strategies for securing a place in arts education in local PreK–12 environments.
Conferences
- Colorado Art Education Association - CAEA offers two annual conferences in the spring and fall.
- National Art Education Association Annual National Convention – The annual NAEA conference provides substantive professional development services.
Additional Resources
- National Education Association - The National Education Association is the voice of education professionals.