Arts Career Advice

Working in the arts, you may work in a TV studio, gallery, music venue, museum, or private studio. You may work alone or as part of a creative team, developing products that entertain or inspire.

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How to Work in the Arts sector

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to get a job in Arts

Should you wish to work in Arts you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for an Arts Job

  • 2 to 3 A levels (art administrator and fine artist)
  • Foundation diploma in art and design (fine artist)
  • University degree (fine artist)

Core Arts Skills

A passion for art and some form of creative talent are an essential element to a successful career in the arts. You will need to be independent and proactive in your working approach and be prepared for the different working environments you may be required to attend, such as studios, music venues, or galleries.

Your passion for art, music, or design can be put to great use in the arts and the working hours and environment can vary from project to project, so you will need to be both adaptable and resilient.

If this sounds like you, then maybe it is time to start an exciting career in arts.

Key Responsibilities for an Arts Job

  • Acting, painting, crafting or performing music
  • Curating art and artifacts
  • Providing educational and historical insights
  • Directing plays, television, or film
  • Graphic design or scriptwriting
  • Fashion design

What to expect in an Arts Job

Arts professionals have various responsibilities and work in different environments depending on their roles. You should expect creativity to be a core skill and have a passion for art, design, or music. Your work may be commissioned or project-based, and you may work from one or several locations. You may be required to undertake marketing and promotional tasks, work unusual hours, and work to briefs, with an eye for detail and a flair for innovation.

Recommended Arts Jobs

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How to get Arts Jobs

Our advice on how to get an Arts job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete an Arts application. If you have not held an Arts position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held an Arts role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Arts CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Arts application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become an Arts in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become an Arts 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be an Arts and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Arts experience.

How to get Arts Experience

What does it take to be an Arts? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Arts jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Arts through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be an Arts Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Arts part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Arts or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Arts freelance work

If you have impressive Arts qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.