Below is a collection of links to career resources for current and former art students.
They are separated out by discipline. Scroll down to find yours. The career paths listed are suggestions, not an exhaustive list of possibilities. There are many other directions you can go with your degree!
More general information/advice on finding jobs and internships can be found at HFA Advising & Career Center - Finding Jobs and Internships
- Handshake--search by UMass Amherst Collections > Choose a Collection > Creative Jobs
- What Can You Do With An Art Degree? 100+ Careers & Salaries Revealed
- Artist Communities Alliance: Residencies for artists, plus much more, including a job board, networking, and career information.
- HireCulture: Creative Employment in Massachusetts
- New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) Job Board
- Idealist: Search for jobs, internships, or organizations in the nonprofit sector.
- ArtJobs: The community for the arts, culture, design, entertainment and creative industries
- Words of Mouth: A weekly newsletter sharing opportunities across design, the arts, education, information, and the built environment.
- National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
- Art Curators - Internships and Fellowships
- American Alliance of Museums
Ceramic Artist - Create and sell original pieces of art. This path often involves setting up a personal studio, participating in art shows, and marketing work online or in galleries.
Ceramic Designer - Make functional or decorative ceramic pieces, often working for manufacturers or design studios. This role might involve developing new products, working on prototypes, and collaborating with other designers.
Ceramic Studio Technician - Work in academic or professional settings, managing kilns, glazes, and other materials. They support artists and students by maintaining equipment and ensuring that ceramic processes run smoothly.
Art Administrator - Manage and support the operations of art organizations, such as galleries, museums, art centers, or cultural institutions. Exact responsibilities can vary widely depending on the size and focus of the organization.
Museum / Gallery Curator - Organize exhibitions, manage collections, and support artists while working for institutions that exhibit artwork. This path often requires a graduate degree in a specialized field such as art history or museum studies for career advancement.
Art Educator - Teach art forms at various levels, from elementary schools to universities. Teaching at the university level would likely require graduate-level education.
Gallery Assistant / Coordinator - Play a key role in the smooth operation of the gallery by offering sales support, exhibition management, artist communication, and marketing assistance.
Residency Coordinator - Manage the operational functions of artist residency programs. The exact responsibilities may vary depending on the residency, but may include focus on programming, communication, studio maintenance, fundraising, and more.
Art Conservator - Preserve and restore artworks to ensure their longevity, while often working in a museum or cultural institution. This almost always require additional levels of highly specialized graduate education.
Fine Artist - Create and sell artwork through galleries, exhibitions, and online platforms. Artists may also participate in art fairs or take commissions for custom work.
Muralist - Specialize in creating large-scale artworks, typically painted directly onto walls or other large surfaces. One is commissioned to work on projects ranging from public art installations and community murals to private commissions and commercial spaces.
Surface Pattern Designer - Design repeating patterns for textiles, wallpaper, stationery, and other products by utilizing artistic skills with an understanding of design and market trends.
Colorist - Focus on the expert use of color theory within various fields such as graphic design, fashion, animation, and products. Utilize software and tools to achieve precise color adjustments and effects.
Art Administrator - Manage and support the operations of art organizations, such as galleries, museums, art centers, or cultural institutions. Exact responsibilities can vary widely depending on the size and focus of the organization.
Museum / Gallery Curator - Organize exhibitions, manage collections, and support artists while working for institutions that exhibit artwork. This path often requires a graduate degree in a specialized field such as art history or museum studies for career advancement.
Art Critic or Writer - Review and write about art for magazines, newspapers, blogs, or other media outlets. This often involves a deep understanding of art history and contemporary trends, along with writing skill. This is frequently done on a freelance basis.
Art Educator - Teach art forms at various levels, from elementary schools to universities. Teaching at the university level would likely require graduate-level education.
Gallery Assistant / Coordinator - Play a key role in the smooth operation of the gallery by offering sales support, exhibition management, artist communication, and marketing assistance.
Residency Coordinator - Manage the operational functions of artist residency programs. The exact responsibilities may vary depending on the residency, but may include focuses on programming, communication, studio maintenance, fundraising, and more.
Art Conservator - Preserve and restore artworks to ensure their longevity, while often working in a museum or cultural institution. This almost always require additional levels of highly specialized graduate education.
Production Designer - Lead the visual concept of a film, including sets, props, costumes, and overall style. Often requires years of experience working in supportive production design roles.
Motion Graphics Designer - Create animated visuals for videos, advertisements, and multimedia projects, combining graphic design skills with animation techniques.
Gaffer - Manage the lighting on set, working closely with the cinematographer to achieve the desired look.
Visual Effects Artist - Create digital effects and enhancements that are integrated into the film during post-production.
Animator - Design and create animated sequences for films, television, or other media.
Texture Artist - Apply textures and surface details to digital 3D models to make them appear realistic or stylized, depending on the project’s needs.
Lighting Artist - Set up and adjust lighting for scenes in 3D animation to create mood, depth, and realism. This includes positioning lights and adjusting their properties.
3D Modeler - Make the digital models of characters, props, and environments. They work on the geometric shape and form of these elements.
Production Coordinator - Handle the logistics of animation production, including scheduling, budgeting, and coordinating between different departments.
Fine Artist - Produce original multimedia artwork that expresses a unique vision, concept, or idea. Work may be exhibited and sold via galleries, museums, art fairs, and private collections.
Art Educator - Teach and guide students of various ages in developing their artistic skills and knowledge, often through work in educational settings such as schools, colleges, universities, community art centers, and museums.
Concept Artist / Visual Development Artist - Visualize and develop initial ideas and designs for characters, environments, and props in industries like video games, film, and animation.
Editorial Illustrator - Create images that accompany articles and editorial content to enhance storytelling by freelancing for newspapers, magazines, and online publications.
Children's Book Author / Illustrator - Develop illustrations and narratives for children's books through visuals that engage and educate young readers, often on a contract basis.
Storyboard Artist - Illustrate storyboards that visually map out scenes and sequences, helping directors and producers visualize the final product in film, TV, advertising, or gaming industries.
Background Artist / Designer - Design the backgrounds or environments in which characters and scenes are set in animation and video games.
Character Artist / Designer - Create the visual appearance and personality of characters for various forms of media, such as animation, video games, films, and more.
Graphic Designer - Develop logos, branding visuals, infographics, promotional content, motion graphics, and other designs using a mixture of illustration and graphic design skill sets.
Surface Pattern Designer - Design repeating patterns for textiles, wallpaper, stationery, and other products by utilizing artistic skills with an understanding of design and market trends.
Art Director - Oversee creative projects, manage teams of artists, and ensure visual consistency and quality across projects. This role often requires years of professional experience and creative project management.
Medical / Scientific Illustrator - Make illustrations and diagrams that explain complex medical or scientific concepts for textbooks, journals, research papers, and educational materials. Often performed in a freelance capacity.
Animator - Create the illusion of movement by compositing a sequence of static images or frames, working in various industries such as film, television, video games, advertising, and design.
Fine Artist - Produce original artwork that expresses a unique vision, concept, or idea. Work may be exhibited and sold via galleries, museums, art fairs, and private collections.
Art Educator - Teach and guide students of various ages in developing their artistic skills and knowledge, often through work in educational settings such as schools, colleges, universities, community art centers, and museums.
Art Educator - Teach art forms at various levels, from elementary schools to high schools. One might be employed at public, private, or charter schools.
Museum Educator - Design and deliver educational programs and experiences within a museum setting. Their role involves creating engaging and informative activities that help visitors of all ages understand and appreciate the museum’s collections, exhibits, and themes.
Non-profit Program Coordinator - Manage and oversee specific programs or initiatives within a non-profit organization. Ensure that the programs are effectively planned, executed, and evaluated to meet the organization’s goals and serve its target audience.
Art Administrator - Manage and support the operations of art organizations, such as galleries, museums, art centers, or cultural institutions. Exact responsibilities can vary widely depending on the size and focus of the organization.
Museum / Gallery Curator - Organize exhibitions, manage collections, and support artists while working for institutions that exhibit artwork. This path often requires a graduate degree in a specialized field such as art history or museum studies for career advancement.
Art Critic or Writer - Review and write about art for magazines, newspapers, blogs, or other media outlets. This often involves a deep understanding of art history and contemporary trends, along with writing skill. This is frequently done on a freelance basis.
Gallery Assistant / Coordinator - Play a key role in the smooth operation of the gallery by offering sales support, exhibition management, artist communication, and marketing assistance.
Residency Coordinator - Manage the operational functions of artist residency programs. The exact responsibilities may vary depending on the residency, but may include a focus on programming, communication, education, and more.