What Can I Do With a Career in Fine & Performing Arts?

There are a variety of career options available to those in the Fine and Performing Arts industry. Focus areas in Fine and Performing Arts include:

• Art Therapy  – plan or conduct art therapy sessions or programs to improve clients’ physical, cognitive, or emotional well-being.
• Museums and Galleries – restore, maintain, or prepare objects in museum collections for storage, research, or exhibit. May work with specimens such as fossils, skeletal parts, or botanicals; or artifacts, textiles, or art. May identify and record objects or install and arrange them in exhibits. Includes book or document conservators.
• Photography  – photograph people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects. May use lighting equipment to enhance a subject’s appearance. May use editing software to produce finished images and prints. Includes commercial and industrial photographers, scientific photographers, and photojournalists.
• Choreography – create new dance routines. Rehearse performance of routines. May direct and stage presentations.
• Performance – play parts in stage, television, radio, video, or film productions, or other settings for entertainment, information, or instruction. Interpret serious or comic role by speech, gesture, and body movement to entertain or inform audience. May dance and sing.
• Composing/Arranging – conduct, direct, plan, and lead instrumental or vocal performances by musical artists or groups, such as orchestras, bands, choirs, and glee clubs; or create original works of music.
• Directing – produce or direct stage, television, radio, video, or film productions for entertainment, information, or instruction. Responsible for creative decisions, such as interpretation of script, choice of actors or guests, set design, sound, special effects, and choreography.
• Video Production – set up, maintain, and dismantle audio and video equipment, such as microphones, sound speakers, connecting wires and cables, sound and mixing boards, video cameras, video monitors and servers, and related electronic equipment for live or recorded events, such as concerts, meetings, conventions, presentations, podcasts, news conferences, and sporting events.

For more info on the variety of career pathways available in the Fine & Performing Arts industry, check out the “Architecture, Art, Art History, Dance, Graphic Design, Music, Music Business, and Theater” major categories within What Can I Do With This Major?

Gaining Experience in Fine and Performing Arts

Devote time outside of class to internships where you can gain practical experience related to any industry that interests you.  For example, if you enjoy Fine Art, maybe you will complete your first internship in a museum and a second internship in a gallery.   If you enjoy creating fine art, then you can look for craft fairs and art shows locally to showcase and sell your work.  If you are interested in volunteering for your time, you can ask your place of worship or a local non-profit organization if you can use your time and skills to provide art to their organization at no cost.

Resources for Careers in the Fine & Performing Arts