Art & Art History (ARTA): Choosing a Career

There is a gap in knowledge about artistic careers -- few people fully understand the economics and sociology of the visual and performing arts. The public impression of the lives of artists are distorted because typically only the very successful get attention. Society generalizes based on those people who are statistical exceptions, not by looking at average careers, let alone those who discontinue their pursuit of arts professions. For emerging young artists, it is essential to know the histories of the different performing and visual arts, and their training and craft traditions. Additionally, understanding the role of informal learning, differences in types of institutions, approaches to teaching-learning, and the subsequent likely career impact is important. While some have hailed the advances in the arts as a result of new technology, changes in the finances of performers are greatly affected by the digital world. Many have commented on the greying audiences for classical music and opera, but the characteristics of the younger generations who appear to want to view, listen, and interact with visual and performance art differently may be even more impactful.

More career information from this series is available in the Salem Press database.

In this comprehensive manual, veteran art career professionals Stacy Miller and Angie Wojak show aspiring artists how to evaluate their goals and create a plan of action to advance their professional careers, using their talents to build productive lives in the art world. In addition, the book includes insightful interviews with professional artists and well-known players in the art scene. This newly updated third edition features a chapter on social media, and includes interviews with artists, museum professionals, and educators, as well as new chapters on how to navigate the post-pandemic art world and artists' wellness.

Published annually by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.