As a child, I daydreamed about being a world-renowned designer and would create different designs with my mother’s good bed linen. Needless to say, my mom wasn’t thrilled about finding numerous holes in our sheets. However, she still supported my dream and when it was time for me to select a college, she encouraged me to apply to one of the top design colleges on the west coast. Unfortunately, after touring the campus, I didn’t apply because I was intimidated by the other’s applicants’ artistic skills. Later in life, I was blessed to do design numerous printable party themes with my husband for numerous kids’ films. If you are creative but not as artistic as some, here are 5 Careers in Art That Don’t Require You to Be an Artist.
Are you passionate about art, but don’t necessarily want to pursue a career as an artist? You’re not alone. Breaking into the art industry can be extremely difficult, not to mention competitive. Furthermore, if you don’t make it big, then you may become intimate with the condition commonly coined, “starving artist.”
Furthermore, the process of making music, poetry or masterful paintings is an expression of the soul for many artistic types. Therefore, many artists choose to keep their creative endeavors to themselves so they can savor the pure joy of being artistic without having to sacrifice their creativity. After all, once art becomes a job, very often it can suck the spontaneity out of any attempt to create something magical.
Luckily, there are employment opportunities that can place you right in the middle of the art world while still generating a dependable income. Here are a few careers in art that don’t require you to be an artist or force you to sell your art as your only means of income.
Art Law
If you have an interest in law as well as a desire to be involved in the art scene, then you could be an art attorney. To start, you should take the LSAT practice test, then work towards earning a law degree and ultimately pass the bar exam. While that sounds like a lot of work, it’s definitely worth it to be an advocate for artists who need proper legal representation in the art world. The average salary for a law attorney is about $75,000 per year.
Marketing for Artists
Having a love for art can be a strong motivator to market the works of other artists. You don’t need a specialized degree. However, if you are looking for a job in arts marketing, many employers look for a bachelor’s degree in marketing or business. Your job entails promoting artists and their work. This is done through social media strategies, arranging promotional tours, speaking engagements and other means in which you can get your client in front of the right eyeballs. The average salary for an art marketer is around $60,000 a year.
Art Instruction
There is something deeply satisfying when you teach your passion for art to others. If you choose to be an art instructor in the academia realm, you will need a bachelor’s degree in education with coursework in art. However, you can teach others independently if you are gifted in a particular art medium. For example, you can teach master classes online if you are skilled at playing guitar. An art teacher’s salary in an educational institution can range anywhere from $20,000 – $50,000 per year. If you choose to teach independently, the pay is commensurate with the amount of effort you put into getting students and how much you charge.
Art Critic
It’s been said that “nobody loves a critic” but art critics serve a valuable function in the art world. This is a tough position to land if you are working as an independent critic, but it can be done – especially if you have a blog with a strong following that you can monetize. In most cases, art critics have at least a bachelor’s degree in art history, fine arts, or art appreciation. Critics commonly share views and opinions about art displays, galleries or shows in news publications, so an education in journalism might also be required to gain employment in this field. The medium salary for art critics is about $50,000 per year.
Art Therapy
If you love art and love to help people, then you might want to pursue a career as an art therapist. These specialists use art to help people cope or overcome emotional hardships such as PTSD, chronic depression, anxiety and/or psychotic disorders. A master’s degree in counseling, art therapy or a similar field of study is required. Some employing facilities may also require additional education in psychology or clinical hours in a behavioral therapy facility. The average salary for art therapists in the US ranges around $45,000 to $55,000 per year.
Choosing the Right Art Career for Your Needs
These are just a few art careers you can pursue without having to be an artist or hustle to sell your craft. Of course, there are other opportunities available if you do some research. Any of these career options can be incredibly rewarding as well as keep you active in the beauty of art. What’s most important is that you feel comfortable with your choice to pursue a certain path in the art world.
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