Monday 28 January 2013

Job Solutions for MFA students

By Jamie Imel


When you have an advanced degree in the arts, questioning what to do once you finish your studies is usually a bit confusing, especially in today's troubled economy.

What fine art job possibilities are actually available?

And if there are jobs, where should a graduate with an MFA degree be searching to find them?

What jobs demand a master's degree in the fine arts?

And how ought master of fine arts graduates position themselves when looking for a job?

Traditionally the educational sector has been solid option for graduates who have a MFA degree, and that is certainly still correct.

Within the academic world, the MFA is recognized as a terminal degree which not only demonstrates the degree-bearer's expert accomplishments as a working artist, but also attests to his or her competence to teach within the field too.

This is the reason why most college and university arts teachers are increasingly required to have a master of fine arts degree.

Even those who choose to teach art at the pre-college level will discover that having a master of fine arts degree is undoubtedly an advantage.

At the high school level and even the middle-school level, the master of fine arts degree can open doors and give job applicants a competitive edge.

And MFA graduates who choose to pursue a teaching career path will discover that a few of their MFA credits may be used towards a state teaching certificate or an MA in education.

For those master of fine arts degree graduates who would rather "do" than "teach", obtaining an artistic mentor who is able to offer a paid assistant or internship position is another alternative.

Creative experts like authors, actors, musicians and others, sometimes enjoy nurturing and coaching new talent, as a way of paying back the assistance and guidance that they themselves received earlier in their careers.

The general area of commercial art is yet another area where an individual with an advanced fine arts degree might be capable of locating rewarding career opportunities.

Museum design jobs, art gallery management, and sales and marketing for an auction firm are all possibilities for studio artists.

Because the master of fine arts is regarded as a terminal degree, a master of fine arts degree graduate may well find themselves at an advantage over other applicants for these jobs who have the more typical MA in art history.

And non-arts employers can also appreciate the practical knowledge and innovative thinking that are standard in graduates with an MFA degree.

A studio artist with a master of fine arts degree might find job openings as a graphic designer or creative director for a marketing or advertising firm.

Meanwhile MFA graduates who specialized in theater could work as private acting teachers, or public speakers in the corporate world.

Meanwhile, those whose abilities lie in writing can discover or create a wide assortment of writing workshops in cooperation with arts agencies, business education programs, universities, community colleges as well as prisons to give personalized instruction in their craft.

And MFA degree graduates from various areas may perhaps find the nonprofit sector an attractive prospect, building careers with public arts agencies and community theaters.

And lastly, even though it may not seem very creative, taking a temporary clerical or administrative job in academia may be an alternative.

Although such jobs typically provide little scope for creative expression per se, a clerical job in a school's art or theater departments can provide critical advantages like access to libraries, studios, and workplace space and also other amenities that can help a master of fine arts graduate get started on their path to creating a successful career.




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