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By Christine Daves

Director of Career Services

Minneapolis College of Art and Design

I always tell students that we need to have two conversations before they graduate. One is about their artwork - how can we promote it and develop their creative, fine art careers. The other discussion needs to cover how can they support themselves while their fine art careers grow. Good internships can help students in both of these areas. While learning about promoting artwork, networking with professionals, developing new techniques, and gaining industry knowledge, interns gain practical skills that can be an asset during a job hunt.

Every year I encounter a few students that purposely avoid my office because they assume that the Career Services office only refers to traditional, 9-5, Monday through Friday, ugly cubicle positions. Of course, after studying fine arts for four intense years, a student’s post-graduation intention is to practice it! As fine artists consider their revenue-generating options (because everyone has to eat, and fine artists usually need to buy supplies, and pay back those pesky student loans) it is important to remember that their career can be as unique as their artwork.

That said, a career in fine arts does not promise to be easy. One cannot go to the Sunday paper and find many listings for “Fine Art Sculptor. Make your own artwork. Great salary, full benefits, and incredible 401k plan!” Thus, to secure futures as fine artists, art students need to gain the knowledge necessary to effectively promote their fine art. They also need to build skills needed for jobs that can support them. After all, if there is no income they can’t make any art!

Students should start by examining their personal career goals and understanding of success. They need to consider what type of lifestyle can support them physically and mentally (to eat and be happy). 

Once long-term goals are articulated, students can consider what types of internships will be most effective helping them reach their professional goals. Most important, is that the artist selects an internship that will allow them real experience. Sitting at a gallery and greeting patrons won’t be as valuable as an internship that includes preparing press kits, sorting slides, or packaging and shipping artwork.

So where might fine art students intern? The most obvious answer may be a gallery. Interning at a gallery or exhibition space can teach students about handling artwork, hanging a show, marketing artwork, reviewing portfolios or making curatorial decisions. Of course, working at gallery receptions is fun and offers a great resource for networking.

Assisting established artists - preparing canvases, researching marketing opportunities, creating press kits, or helping with a large installation - gives students a lot of one-on-one time when they can learn about the professional’s career. In addition to understanding the industry and available resources better, students can also find out how the artist built his or her career and what it takes to sustain it.

Many fine artists find themselves employed in arts administration after college. When interning with community art centers, public art councils, or artist support organizations, fine art students can learn about opportunities and resources for artists and how such programs are run. For example, while interning at an organization that provides grants to artists, a student may be involved in coordinating the review process or meeting with the jurors. The intern can observe how applicants present themselves and later use that information when he or she is applying for his or her own grants.  

There are a lot of internships available at museums. Students may benefit from working with a curator, fundraiser, archivist, registrar, historian, or outreach facilitator. Many museums and art centers have classes that teach art history, theory, or technique. Gaining experience as a teacher’s assistant can be beneficial in preparing artists to teach in any number of settings. If a student decides to pursue teaching as a career, such experience may help them get into to graduate programs.

Props for theater, media production, or retail spaces employ people with skills in painting, construction, carving, and a number of other techniques. Internships in these industries can provide students with relevant portfolio material to aid in their job hunt. In addition to scenery, artists with painting and drawing skills may be interested faux painting or murals. Many communities have projects with independent muralists and a team of people working together on a piece for a public space.

Other areas of potential relevancy include model-making (for architecture or product development); art criticism (assisting a critic or writing reviews); developing surface design for merchandise; patterns for rugs, wrapping paper, or stationary; tattoo design; storyboards; courtroom drawings; illustration; screen printing; concept sketching; interior planning; metal casting; floral design; and any number of other things. Basically, any visible, person-made, object has been touched in some way by a creative person.  Sometimes the creative person is an intern learning how to support his or her career in fine arts.

By Joan Milnes
Director of Internships and Career Services
Montserrat College of Art

“If you ever hope to be a credible adult and want a job that pays better than minimum wage, then for God’s sake don’t pierce or tattoo every available piece of flesh. Otherwise, plan your future around saying, “Do you want fries with that?” – George Carlin

Artists and art students are independent thinkers. Their talent for creative expression often reflects the unconventional. Tattoos, body piercing, unusual dress and unnatural hair color sometimes serve as avenues for self-expression.

“The thing we often see missing is the ability to use the right side of the brain, the creative part.” - a VP at Hewlett-Packard, commenting on new hires.

Artists and art students are independent thinkers. Their ability to create new ideas is highly valued in today’s Creative Economy, the growing segment of our economy that includes artists, writers, consultants, and researchers. In fact, a recent study of metropolitan Boston shows that the Creative Economy represents 10% to 12% of the region’s private sector employment, more than biotech at 2% and more than manufacturing at 7%!

How can art students reconcile their independent-mindedness with conservative private sector internship sites seeking their creative talent? Can self-expression and conformity coexist?

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
When you were a kid, you probably had to take your shoes off before entering the homes of some of your friends. You removed your shoes because it was the accepted and expected thing to do at certain houses. Do you think that you were “selling out?” I doubt it because you know that removing shoes was a rule of the house that doesn’t change anything about you. Preparing your appearance for the workplace is similar to accepting and respecting the rules of the house.

Some workplaces are more casual than others. For example, a successful hardcore/metal record label employs several talented illustrators who happen to be heavily pierced and tattooed. Art students with conventional and unconventional appearances are routinely accepted as interns at this company. Appearance typically is not an issue for students who are accepted for in-studio apprenticeships with established artists.

By contrast, interns with a conservative appearance only are accepted at one prominent law firm to design collateral print materials. A conservative appearance is also required to assist the fashion designer at her boutique featuring custom made couture. In general, the more conservative the appearance, the more workplaces into which that appearance will fit.

Tip
Articles of fine jewelry are displayed on plain background to showcase their attractive features and to eliminate distractions. Employers of creative individuals are looking for talent in their interns, so don’t let your looks distract employers from the talents to be showcased during your interview. When applying for internships, prepare your appearance in a manner that will not overshadow your talents. After you land the internship and have demonstrated your skills, intelligence, work ethic, sense of humor and other favorable qualities, there might be opportunities to introduce self-expression into your appearance.

Joan Milnes is the Director of Internships and Career Services at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, Massachusetts.

By Kathryn Evans
Assistant Director
Locks Career Center for Women in the Arts
Moore College of Art & Design

Historically, a young person hoping to become an artist would work with a master craftsman during a long apprenticeship. They toiled alongside the senior artist until they reached a level of proficiency that would allow them to set up a shop of their own. Many famous artists learned from other famous artists – think of Donatello as the apprentice to Lorenzo Ghiberi. With the evolution of the modern educational system, we now look to Internships to accomplish a similar task.

Internships are an integral part of gaining the experience necessary to have an active career in art and design. Just like in business, the relationships and network you build as a young artist help to support you throughout your career. To begin, focus your search for the right internship as specifically as possible, you can always broaden it later. Think about your main interests: Would you like to work directly for an artist? Do you know a design firm whose work you admire? Do you think you would rather have more interaction with a local community? Ask your faculty for help. You can research organizations through the online resources at professional organizations in your field. Check in with your Career Center. And start attending events in your field, even while still a student. If you find a firm, an arts organization, or artist that interests you, do as much research as you can, then contact them to ask when and if they accept interns.

For artists and designers, keep in mind you will be judged on your personal presentation skills, your portfolio, and your professionalism. Here is a bit more about how to be prepared:

Presentation: Be sure to follow the standard job-etiquette rules. Write a good cover letter that is very specific to the artist or firm. Be sure to dress appropriately, and write thank you notes after your interviews. For most arts organizations and firms, they will expect traditional interview attire. If you are interviewing for a welding position on a job-site, then you want to modify your attire a bit.

Portfolio: Include your most recent or most applicable work first. If you are submitting an electronic portfolio, orchestrate a slideshow using a program like Powerpoint, so you can set the order of your work. Be sure to include only good photographs of your work, and discard or reshoot any blurry images. Ask a photographer friend or a faculty member; often they can refer you to someone that can help. Learning to create good images of your work is of the utmost importance! Having good quality images that are presented in a well-designed portfolio is vital not only for jobs and internships, but also for grant applications, residencies, graduate applications, and exhibitions.

While building your portfolio, try to think like the employer. Is this the type of position that will want to see a lot of variety, or would they prefer pieces that show proficiency in a particular vein? For example, at an interview for an internship in a public mural program, a student might want to show the ability to render figures and portraits, while also demonstrating a strong color sense. On the other hand, if a design student is going to an interview for a corporation where they will be working entirely in one digital program, then most of the pieces they show should be composed in that program.

Professionalism: Be sure to set yourself apart by responding quickly, being humble, polite, and grateful for the opportunity. Also, be on time! And be sure to call if you must be absent – timelines in this field are often unforgiving! Remember the art and design field can be a challenging, personality-driven environment. Try not to succumb to gossip and negativity about your workplace or boss, during or after your internship!

Kathryn Evans is the Assistant Director at the Locks Career Center for Women in the Arts and Moore College of Art and Design. She can be reached at kevans@moore.edu and 215-965-4064.