Art & Art-Related Careers

Artists interested in imparting their knowledge of drawing, kiln operation and painting to others can pursue careers as art teachers. Full-time teaching positions are available at the K-12 level for artists with dual degrees in fine arts and teaching. These positions require state certification as well as a strong desire to accept relatively low pay in exchange for stable employment. For artists who want to pursue other career options, community centers and schools hire artists for after-school programs that are geared to nontraditional students.

Art galleries and public museums hire curators to handle ongoing and special exhibits. These professionals are art graduates with Master's degrees in art history or studio arts as well as a desire to pursue the arts from an administrative viewpoint. Curators oversee the cataloging of paintings and sculptures with the help of interns and volunteers. Artists who want to raise funds and speak on behalf of the arts may enjoy the booster roles played by curators at major museums.

Art therapy is used by therapists and hospitals to help patients with psychological problems deal with their issues. An art therapist uses paints, clays and chalks to help troubled patients work out emotional distress in different media. Art therapists typically need a Master's of Fine Arts (MFA) as well as certification from an art therapy organization before getting appointments in this field. The American Art Therapy Association and the Art Therapy Credentials Board can boost an artist's prospect in the field of art therapy with proper accreditation.

Artists can marry their creative skills with today's technology to earn a living as graphic designers. Graphic designers provide layout and design services for a variety of clients including newspapers, ad agencies and political campaigns. An art graduate who knows design programs like Adobe Illustrator can use his eye for color and style to create fantastic graphics. The flexibility and broad client base available to a freelance graphic designer is desirable for artists who chafe at regular schedules and cubicles.

Stage and set designers typically start out as fine arts graduates with affinities for theater, movies and television. These professionals spend their early careers working in small playhouses and indie movie sets that pay very little. Stage and set designers are tasked with turning darkened theaters and sets into entire worlds for the benefit of the viewer. These artists create forest scenes, apartments and lunar vistas with little more than wood and paint. An artist interested in creating set elements should learn about carpentry and earn an MFA to land work in this competitive field.