Careers in Fine Arts
A career in the fine arts is a rewarding life’s work. Individually sharing your creative ideas with others through paintings, drawings, sculptures or prints is a challenging endeavor. It is entirely possible for talented and diligent young artists to earn a living as a fine artist.
Possible Fine Arts Careers:
- Independent Artist
- Gallery Director or Owner
- Museum Exhibition Curator
- Freelance Art Writer
- Art Critic
- Textile Designer
- Art Librarian
- Art Buyer
- Art Supply Buyer
- Auction House Consultant
- Corporate Curator
- Set Designer
- Mural Painter
- Art School Administrator
- Advertising Photographer
- Commercial Photographer
- Documentary Photographer
- Fashion Photographer
- Forensic Photographer
- Medical Photographer
- Photojournalist
- Portrait Photographer
- Special Effects Photographer
- Stock Photographer
- Underwater Photographer
- Wedding Photographer
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
- Fine Art America - The premier online marketplace for buying, selling, and creating fine art prints, greeting cards, and original works of art.
Freelance Employment
- Behance - A platform for creative professionals across all industries. Members create multimedia portfolios that showcase their work within the Network, as well as throughout partner sites and organizations. Millions of visitors — including top creative companies, recruiters, editors, and more - come to the Network to see the incredible work and find talent to hire.
Professional Organizations
- National Association of Independent Artists – NAIA strengthens, improves and promotes the artistic, professional and economic success of artists who exhibit in art shows.
- PPA (Professional Photographers of America) - World’s largest nonprofit association for professional photographers.
- Society of Photographers and Artists Representatives - SPAR provides leadership and promotes the advancement of the profession through its programs and publications.
Publications
- Art Journal – Provides a forum for scholarship and visual exploration in the visual arts.
- Professional Photographer - The official magazine of Professional Photographers of America, offering tips and tricks for photography and equipment.
Conferences
- National Association of Independent Artists Annual Conference – Geared directly toward the needs and issues of arts festivals, this event provides an opportunity to network with artists and show directors around the country.
- Look 3 - Held in Charlottesville, VA, this event features a program of exhibitions, workshops, interviews, outdoor screenings and special events.
- NYPH - A New York photography fest and competition.
Grants
- Artadia - Encourages innovative artistic practice and meaningful dialogue across the United States by providing artists in specific communities with unrestricted grants and a national network of support.
- National Endowment for the Arts - A public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts; the nation's largest annual provider of funds for the arts.
- State and Regional Partners of the National Endowment for the Arts - Listing of organizations by state and region.
- United States Artists - A grant-making, artist-advocacy organization dedicated to supporting America’s finest artists working across diverse disciplines.
Museum Resources
- American Association of Museums - AAM helps to develop standards and best practices, gather and share knowledge, and provide advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community.