Jobs for Arts Majors
A fine or performing arts degree from a liberal arts university can set you up for a variety of career paths.
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Fine and performing arts degrees open doors to creative, meaningful art careers across industries. There are many possible career pathways and jobs for art majors. Whether you study painting, design, theatre, music, or dance, your education builds technical mastery, critical thinking, collaboration and problem-solving skills that employers value. At °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ, you can pair artistry with professional readiness through hands-on learning, mentorship and real-world projects — ideal preparation for performing arts job opportunities and fine arts careers.
Career Opportunities in Fine and Performing Arts
Fine and performing arts graduates can, of course, pursue jobs directly in their field. These degrees prepare students for art-related careers like photography, curation, acting, writing and directing. But fine and performing arts majors can also pursue careers in , which use the transferable skills gained through a quality arts education. Many fine and performing arts majors become , arts administrators, graphic designers, advertisers or even start their own creative businesses.
Successful creative careers may span multiple jobs and income streams such as exhibiting work, client commissions, teaching workshops and creative consulting. Strong portfolios, , and networking help graduates hone in on what they want to do with their degrees after graduation.
Many graduates combine freelance flexibility with full-time stability, mixing contract performances, private instruction, and roles in arts organizations to build sustainable careers — an approach often nurtured by an arts degree from liberal arts programs.
An Arts Degree from a Liberal Arts University Prepares You for a Flexible Artistic Career
Arts careers are notoriously unpredictable. An actor might work a variety of jobs between plays or films, while a writer may take years to complete their first novel. Performing arts jobs and fine arts careers can wax and wane. But having a well-rounded education helps artists to foster sustainable creative careers to support their passions.
A comprehensive liberal arts education and degree from a university regarded for its strong academics can help you to be nimble and adaptable over the course of your career. As industries shift and technologies develop, the ability to pivot into new jobs and even new careers becomes increasingly valuable.
According to , the average person will change jobs 12 times over the course of their career. A well-rounded education not only prepares students for fluctuations in the job market by giving them basic foundations in multiple disciplines, but it also helps them learn how to gain new skills so they can continue to stay agile and up-to-date over the full course of their careers.
Preparing for Career Success from Arts Major to Arts Jobs
As students, performing and fine arts majors can prepare for successful careers by developing strong portfolios and resumes, participating in internships, collaborating on projects, growing professional networks and building interdisciplinary skills.
°ÅÀÖÊÓƵ arts alumni have versatile careers that include exhibiting in regional galleries, performing with theatre companies, touring as musicians, becoming music therapists or award winning writers, making films, and leading community arts programs. They can be found everywhere from creative practice to arts administration to developing their own businesses.
Faculty mentorship, experiential learning, a strong liberal arts education and a flourishing alumni network, all help to launch and sustain careers for fine and performing arts degree majors. What can you do with an art degree? The answer is as big as your imagination.