With the ever-rising cost of tuition, it’s easy to see why some people may be hesitant to go to college and pursue their career goals. If you have a dream to become an artist, you may be tempted to just try it on your own without any formal education. However, it’s now more important than ever to earn a fine arts degree. With so much competition out there for the same jobs and artistic attention, you need every advantage you can get.
Learning the craft
Whether you want to learn about photography, drawing, painting, or sculpture, your college curriculum can give you skills that are tough to pick up in the real world. Professors who have been through the same struggles as an artist can teach you the basics and techniques that you can only learn from a professional. There’s always something new to learn and another way to better yourself as an artist, which is what a fine arts school program can do for you.
Networking
Breaking into the art world is tough. The best opportunities for artists often come from who you know, not what you know. There’s no better way to get to know your fellow artists than through art school. The connections you make through your peers and the professional artists you’ll meet during the course of your college experience may be the thing that makes your career.
Working with the best
Oftentimes, fine arts programs hire the best painters, photographers, and other types of artists to work as professors. It’s a very rare opportunity for students to learn their craft from the finest artists in the world. That’s a chance that is not likely to be repeated in the outside world, so it’s important to take it when you can. These professors can also help you make connections and tell you how to proceed with your art career.
Internships and work opportunities
Many fine art programs offer internship, apprenticeship, and work opportunities specifically for art students. It’s a chance to get firsthand experience in your chosen art field. These sorts of jobs are often only offered to people either currently enrolled in a fine arts program or graduates with a fine arts degree. There’s no better way to gain work experience for your résumé and learn what it’s like to be a professional artist than with these types of jobs.
Job opportunities
When you have a fine arts degree under your belt, you essentially have proof that you’ve spent a few years seriously honing your craft and gaining the necessary skills to be a successful member of the art field. There are hundreds of jobs that require a fine arts degree, whether your want to design sets for theater or become an animator.
Not only will a fine arts degree help prepare you for a successful career in your chosen field, it will give you the connections you'll need to find a job. Even with the state of the economy, there’s no better investment than your education.
