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Job outlook for artists in the United States
Artist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected artist job growth rate is 6% from 2018-2028.
About 2,900 new jobs for artists are projected over the next decade.
Artist salaries have increased 7% for artists in the last 5 years.
There are over 10,600 artists currently employed in the United States.
There are 3,870 active artist job openings in the US.
The average artist salary is $68,690.
Are artist jobs in demand?
Artist job and salary trends over time
Artist jobs over time
Artist job growth rate over time
Year  | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,600 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 11,203 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 11,970 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 10,939 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 11,418 | 0.00% |
Average artist salary over time
Artist salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $68,690 | $33.02 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $67,323 | $32.37 | --1.4% |
| 2023 | $68,262 | $32.82 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $66,331 | $31.89 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | $64,055 | $30.80 | +5.0% |
Artist jobs by state
Most common states for artists
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 44 | 6% |
| 2 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 191 | 3% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 175 | 3% |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 45 | 3% |
| 5 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 16 | 3% |
| 6 | California | 39,536,653 | 954 | 2% |
| 7 | New York | 19,849,399 | 403 | 2% |
| 8 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 162 | 2% |
| 9 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 119 | 2% |
| 10 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 117 | 2% |
| 11 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 112 | 2% |
| 12 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 99 | 2% |
| 13 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 96 | 2% |
| 14 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 77 | 2% |
| 15 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 75 | 2% |
| 16 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 60 | 2% |
| 17 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 25 | 2% |
| 18 | Delaware | 961,939 | 16 | 2% |
| 19 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 16 | 2% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 11 | 2% |
Most common cities for artists
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Culver City | 5 | 13% | $74,511 |
| 2 | Kentwood | 2 | 4% | $65,190 |
| 3 | Carlsbad | 3 | 3% | $72,816 |
| 4 | Aventura | 1 | 3% | $59,997 |
| 5 | Glendale | 4 | 2% | $74,570 |
| 6 | Burbank | 2 | 2% | $74,663 |
| 7 | Hoover | 2 | 2% | $58,397 |
| 8 | Alpharetta | 1 | 2% | $58,433 |
| 9 | San Francisco | 6 | 1% | $79,403 |
| 10 | Boston | 4 | 1% | $69,451 |
| 11 | Orlando | 3 | 1% | $59,158 |
| 12 | San Bernardino | 2 | 1% | $73,745 |
| 13 | Ann Arbor | 1 | 1% | $65,946 |
| 14 | Los Angeles | 9 | 0% | $74,540 |
| 15 | Chicago | 4 | 0% | $62,945 |
| 16 | New York | 4 | 0% | $70,244 |
| 17 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $58,437 |
| 18 | Aurora | 1 | 0% | $62,551 |
| 19 | Bakersfield | 1 | 0% | $76,495 |
| 20 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $69,002 |
Artist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of artist experts
Michigan State University
Florida Gulf Coast University
Xavier University
University of Missouri - Kansas City
Rider University
University of Indianapolis
Western Illinois University
Art Academy of Cincinnati
Keene State College
What general advice would you give to an Artist?
Beth Secor: Keep your eyes and ears open for job opportunities, find a job at an arts non-profit, and never quit making art. Actively engage in the profession, as it can lead to unexpected opportunities.
What Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Beth Secor: For studio artists, it is important to steer away from AI, as AI-produced artworks are devoid of real emotion or soul. A skill that is very important is having the ability to put yourself out there, promote your work on social media platforms or in exhibitions, and have a gallery representing your work.
What will help Artists increase their earning potential?
Beth Secor: Many of the students I went to undergraduate and graduate school, including myself had aspirations of becoming famous artists, but it is best to develop other skills that are art-related that can help you make a living in the meantime. Internships with local arts non-profits organizations, museums, and/or galleries are a great place to start, and while working with them, it is a great opportunity to build networks with others in the arts community.
What general advice would you give to an Artist?
Michalis Andronikou PhD: Be open-minded and creative. You may need to combine a few different skills to find your own professional path.
What Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Michalis Andronikou PhD: You may be able to combine different jobs that support and promote one another. If you are a performing artist and a teacher, your students could be a supportive audience and they can learn a lot from your performances.
What will help Artists increase their earning potential?
Michalis Andronikou PhD: It’s difficult to predict what skills will become more important in the field in the next 3-5 years, but creative people and people with a will to improve their skills will find a way to prevail and lead.
What general advice would you give to an Artist?
Wanda Sullivan MFA: In addition to full time practicing artists, our studio art graduates work in a variety of jobs. We have alumni in art administration positions, a tenured professor at Auburn, elementary and high school art teachers, an education director at the Center for Craft and even a curator at the Field Museum in Chicago. The common thread that they all have in common is a strong foundation in creative problem solving. Art is fundamental to the human condition. We are born wired to create. In a sense, art gives flavor to life through color, form, line, texture and shapes. Art is communication, a non-verbal language that connects us across backgrounds, cultures and generations, it is what makes us human.
What Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Wanda Sullivan MFA: Making art or working in an art related field is one of the most rewarding ways to earn a living. It is a privilege to contribute to the tradition of culture in one's community, region and country. People shape the creative fiber of communities, they do not happen on their own. The most common frustration creatives face is lack of funding in the arts and lack of understanding. These obstacles can be overcome and should not deter young people from studying art. Art was here before we were all born and will be here after we all leave, it gives life flavor and it will never go out of style.
What general advice would you give to an Artist?
Assistant Professor Trish Gianakis: A fine artist's day-to-day activities are basically focused on creating art. There are other tasks as well, such as marketing, networking, collaborating with other artists, research and teaching workshops or classes. At a beginner level when someone is entering the field of fine art, typical activities focus on building their skill and a specific style to stand out. While developing their portfolio, going to art shows and getting into the art community to meet other artists and gallery owners to establish themselves in the artistic community. Many artists work multiple jobs in order to sustain their income while they figure out the specific style to make themselves stand out.
What Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Assistant Professor Trish Gianakis: I like to say we are in the beginning of the digital Renaissance. Digital art is finally accepted as an art form. This career can be a dynamic and rewarding career if you have a passion for creativity, expression, and want to make a cultural impact by meaningful contribution to society.
What will help Artists increase their earning potential?
Assistant Professor Trish Gianakis: The politics of being a fine artist can be tricky to navigate. There are some basic unsaid rules an artist must follow in order to become successful to reap the rewards. Learning these unsaid rules can be frustrating for artists which is one of the things artists dislike. While others once they understand the rules thrive.
What general advice would you give to an Artist?
Teresa Dunn: In general artists make because they are driven by internal impulse to create. I would not describe that as like or dislike, but as being compelled to make something from nothing or transform something into something else completely new. There are many layers to why a person chooses to be an artist including the personal satisfaction of making something beautiful, compelling, incredible, shocking, or even disturbing. There is also the pleasure of providing joy to others, being provocative or evocative—the reaction of an audience is exciting. Downsides to the profession are learning to cope with failure—not everything an artist makes is worth keeping or is well received; rejection—an artist does not always get the exhibitions, sales, awards, and opportunities they would like or are worthy of receiving; the bureaucracy—dealing with things like taxes, paperwork, and organization of schedules are the necessary but less glamorous aspects of being an artist.
What Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Teresa Dunn: Entering the profession in practical terms is complicated as being an artist can be challenging on many levels, leaving many artists to balance their creative practice with other work such as education, arts administration, or jobs unrelated to the arts. I would rephrase the question: why is it critical to be an artist today? Artists have the capacity to see and to distill the world around us in sensitive and rich ways that invite viewers to understand themselves or others, view the past/present/future in unexpected ways, and identify topics of vital importance that audiences may not have considered without the perceptiveness of an artist through their artwork. Communities, cultures, civilizations are rich because of the dedication of artists and other creatives to make artwork that helps one find meaning, validates the self, makes the unknown known, reveals purpose, provides hope, challenges the status quo, and asks us to grow as individuals and as collectives.
What will help Artists increase their earning potential?
Teresa Dunn: For many artists a typical daily scenario and often the main priority is to be in the studio making their artwork. However, for those whose work is primarily performative or social practice, the studio might not be the most important place for creative discovery. In addition, artists have such varied practices and unique demands that there is not a simple way to answer this question. It can be a combination of many activities such as being in the studio making artwork, preparing materials to create their work, reading, doing research, traveling to see artwork in galleries and museums, attending exhibitions or residencies, working with assistants, networking, applying for shows, engaging with community, teaching, etc.
Steve Hughart II
Laboratory Coordinator I/ Adjunct ProfessorFlorida Gulf Coast University
Fine And Studio Arts
What general advice would you give to an Artist?
Steve Hughart II: Advice I would give to a graduate beginning their career in Art would be to enter as many shows and exhibitions as possible. Not just in Florida either, expand your focus to regional and national exhibitions as well. Gain as much exposure as you can and make a lot of work to show off. To put it simply, the more you make the better you will get. People will always appreciate a well-crafted handmade item before and artificially made one.
What Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Steve Hughart II: If you want to maximize your salary potential, I always say you need to have a lot of tools in your toolbox. Take your foundation courses seriously and learn as much as you can from the faculty and staff here at FGCU. Ask questions, devote time outside of class to work, time management and understanding how long it will take to complete tasks is very important. Another important aspect is social networking. Meet as many people as you can in the field you are interested in. A lot of times finding the best position isn’t based on what you know, but who you know.
What will help Artists increase their earning potential?
Steve Hughart II: The most important skills that I would suggest would be to learn and understand the Adobe Creative Cloud Applications such as Photoshop and Illustrator for example. These platforms will benefit you immensely in the art field in a ton of different ways. All artists will use these applications in one form or another. That being said, I would also encourage everyone to do as much work as possible with your hands. Learn to use power tools, pick up a piece of paper and pencil instead of the iPad, use a real camera instead of your phone. With AI growing so fast digital media work will all be AI generated, so focusing on improving your editing skills and creating with your hands will be where the jobs are.
What general advice would you give to an Artist?
Professor Kelly Phelps M.F.A.: Fine Artist work! We have professions like any other. Many fine artist have art as his or her primary gig. Some have use art as their secondary job. Fine Artist try to work in his or her craft on a daily basis. Artist work in the studio, work on self -promotion, fix equipment, seek opportunities, exhibit, network/collaborate with other artist.
What Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Professor Kelly Phelps M.F.A.: Fine Arts is a great profession because creativity is needed everywhere. Artist/Designers are the makers of everything! There is an opportunity where art can be found in nearly any career.
What will help Artists increase their earning potential?
Professor Kelly Phelps M.F.A.: The biggest dislike about being about being a Fine Artist is the societal stigma …What are you going to do with that career? Having to constantly explain and validate what fine artist do is exhausting. Artist make or design everything. From the clothes on our backs to the toilet you set on we (artist /designers) have designed or created everything. Art has so many practical applications outside of visually creative things displayed in a gallery or museum.
Carla Noack
Associate Professor of Theatre, ActingUniversity of Missouri - Kansas City
Drama/Theatre Arts And Stagecraft
What general advice would you give to an Artist?
Carla Noack: My advice is to be patient and generous with one’s self and others. A career in this field is built over time through nurturing relationships, staying curious, being kind, taking creative risks, and being willing to forgive and be forgiven. Any job “counts” in this field when viewed through an artistic lens. It’s about staying interested in the human condition, finding ways to express your perspective, and encouraging others to do the same.
What Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Carla Noack: Be a good collaborator: always show up and on time; treat everyone as a potential scene partner; embrace surprises and challenges; connect with audience members; find “day jobs” between production work that are flexible and engaging; nurture a desire to learn everything about everything.
What will help Artists increase their earning potential?
Carla Noack: The world needs humans who know how to solve problems creatively and joyfully; who can express themselves clearly and tell stories effectively; who are willing to connect to others in real space and time through vulnerability and empathy; who have skills in listening—helping others feel heard and valued; and who can inspire all of us to envision new ways of working, learning and living together.
What general advice would you give to an Artist?
Professor Kate Jordahl: It is an excellent time to begin in the visual and performing arts because we have such a need for creativity and our approaches to the problems of the world, the challenges of our society, and the ever-changing fabric of business. Whether you work directly in making things and performing or you are a supervisor who organizes other people's creative tasks, this is a very rewarding area with a balance of using all of your skills to create and make projects successful
What Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Professor Kate Jordahl: Visual and performing arts professionals will do a variety of jobs and tasks. Part of the point of working in this area is both the creativity and the flexibility that a career a creative career can offer you. Many visual and performing arts professionals will work for themselves, so really, they are small business owners needing to negotiate, organize, and then create their artwork or perform their skill. Generally, creative professionals will find that they will spend approximately 30% of their time in their chosen area of creativity and about 70% of their time in the business of organization, negotiation, and client relations. These specialties need people who are self-starters, who really enjoy working collaboratively, and who can work independently to make deadlines and realize projects. For most visual and performing arts professionals, the last decade has been a time of great change, and being flexible is probably one of the most important things you can bring to the table.
What will help Artists increase their earning potential?
Professor Kate Jordahl: People like that they can be flexible in the performing arts and that there is a myriad of ways to work and thrive in this area. People dislike that the pay is sometimes less than for other professions and that the hours can be very long. Being a visual and performing arts professional means working when the work needs to be done, and it can mean long days, but the rewards are worth it.
What general advice would you give to an Artist?
Jeffrey Fracé: An artist at the beginning of their career, unless they are lucky enough to have a trust fund, has the unique challenge of effectively managing at least two businesses at once. Most of you will begin as a freelancer, and earn most of your money not from your art. To minimize the time it takes to earn a living with your art, keep your cost of living low, and try not to wear yourself out at your day job. Create day-to-day stability, but put your energy — your best self — into your art. Keep meeting people, keep practicing, and keep creating and producing original work. The more you diversify your skills — scripted and improvised, stage and camera, artistic and commercial, learning and teaching — the better chance you’ll have achieving a balance of satisfying work and satisfying income.
What Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jeffrey Fracé: More and more, the actor, director, or designer who is also a creator has a better chance of succeeding in the field. This means creating new work in any medium — original live performance, writing and shooting your own movie (low-budget or no-budget is absolutely legit), or creating online content, for example. This also means creating opportunities for yourself instead of waiting for them to arrive — “put yourself out there” is a cliché, but more necessary than ever. To have the best chances for success with your original work, you will also need to be a producer and marketer. The next most important skill is interdisciplinary collaboration. Learn how you work with other people and practice to get better at it. Hone your listening skills, and develop interest in other disciplines and how they intersect with yours. Practice bravery and flexibility in how you approach new projects and collaborative partnerships.
What will help Artists increase their earning potential?
Jeffrey Fracé: I recommend that before you graduate, you think about where you want to live and make a plan to move there. Consider factors such where are the artists doing the kind of work you are interested in doing, whom do you already know there, and are there opportunities to earn a living as you break into the field. Meet as many people as you can in your chosen place — whomever you want to work with, get to know their work better and reach out to them. Meanwhile, keep active by continuing to train yourself, because in theater or film/TV, it’s very common for there to be gaps between projects as you are starting out. Keep your cost of living low, and try not to wear yourself out at your day job. Do something every day that reminds you that you are an artist, whether it’s rehearsing your monologues, working on a scene with a friend, taking classes, writing, composing or playing music, whatever helps you feel creative.
What general advice would you give to an Artist?
Hartmut Austen: Go abroad for a while and travel. Build or become part of a community. Foster relationships with people that have an interest in your wellbeing and success. Maintain relationships with other artists and people in other professional fields. Attend professional development opportunities and consider continuing education towards an M.F.A. program.
What Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Hartmut Austen: Apprenticeships in an artist's studio or workshop, embrace physical labor. Develop soft skills such as connecting with others, having a healthy sense of self, and curiosity.
What will help Artists increase their earning potential?
Hartmut Austen: Attend graduate school or broaden your education. Declutter your life and studio. Make your art and yourself visible in the context you want to be seen. Build relationships, focus on your strengths, learn from others in the discipline, and maintain integrity.
What general advice would you give to an Artist?
Ananda Keator: 3D printing accessories, digital renderings, and (hopefully) revival of almost lost arts.
What Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ananda Keator: Don't work for free, know your worth and fight for it. Also make sure there is 'life' in your 'work/life balance'. Figure out what success means to you, and it will look different for everyone. You don't have to move to NYC, you don't have to win lots of awards, etc., if that's not what makes you happy.
What will help Artists increase their earning potential?
Ananda Keator: Be multifaceted, don't try to specialize just yet. And see #1
What general advice would you give to an Artist?
Todd Dellinger: Adaptability to change - it's inescapable and has been forever in the arts - but change comes so swiftly and from so many directions now - particularly those changes brought about by technology and media/communications. Be ahead of the curve when it comes to what new uses of AI, what new applications for social media and how to manipulate those to your advantage, to your 'business' of being an artist in this world. Entrepreneurial skills are vital in any business. You will need to be your own entrepreneur - exercising creative, innovative ways of using your talents and skills 'outside the box' and applying these in parts of the industry and in other settings to expand your earning and learning potential.
What Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Todd Dellinger: Know thyself. This response has many facets and implications - know your 'deep why' or vision of yourself as an artist and professional and frame around the impact you wish to have on others - this becomes a sort of 'lodestar' for the work ahead of crafting a career. Know who you are internally, as well as externally - as a 'package' because you are entering an industry where you - and the work you produce - are the commodity, for good or bad. As such, define and adhere to your boundaries - so that you cannot be taken advantage of, and can stay true to your vision. Know yourself in the context of the business - and know the business aspects of what you do. You are, at the end of the day, a business - too many artists ignore that. Then, stick to your knowledge of and vision for yourself as an artist and professional.
What will help Artists increase their earning potential?
Todd Dellinger: Have a diverse and relevant toolkit of skills and expertise - creative and artistic ones, yes - but perhaps even more importantly, skills and expertise which translate into multiple, diverse corners of arts & entertainment and into other sectors. Know how to translate your artistic wizardry from the stage to a phone, from the studio to a streaming platform, from one arts discipline or style or genre to multiple others. But also, know how to write up a marketing piece, a grant narrative, plan an event, manage a budget. You might find day-work in the very place where you're sharing your talent at night.
What general advice would you give to an Artist?
gerard brown: Folks starting out in the crafts and the fine arts often think the most important thing is the images of their work they put out in the world - through social media, on grant applications, etc. But you also need to be able to write and speak about your work in ways that inspire and motivate ordinary people to share your interests. Too often, people come out of school speaking the language of school and writing for an academic reader - I wish everyone would read more good journalism about art in magazines and news papers (yes, they are online!) and learn to communicate about their work in an accessible, approachable way earlier in their careers.
What Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
gerard brown: Obviously, this is going to vary widely depending on the field you're entering within the art, craft, and design professions. In design, the next three to five years will be deeply shaped by AI and we'll need designers who can bring the human perspective to an increasingly technology dependent world. I think everyone in design should be taking a UX course. In the fine arts and crafts areas, we may see a cultural pushback against the drive toward technology and a greater emphasis on the personal, the unique, the handmade, and the narrative. It will be important for artists and artisans in these fields to be able to communicate their vision to their clients and patrons.
What will help Artists increase their earning potential?
gerard brown: Obviously, this is going to vary widely depending on the field you're entering within the art, craft, and design professions. In design, the next three to five years will be deeply shaped by AI and we'll need designers who can bring the human perspective to an increasingly technology dependent world. I think everyone in design should be taking a UX course. In the fine arts and crafts areas, we may see a cultural pushback against the drive toward technology and a greater emphasis on the personal, the unique, the handmade, and the narrative. It will be important for artists and artisans in these fields to be able to communicate their vision to their clients and patrons.
What general advice would you give to an Artist?
Todd Dellinger: Have a diverse and relevant toolkit of skills and expertise - creative and artistic ones, yes - but perhaps even more importantly, skills and expertise which translate into multiple, diverse corners of arts & entertainment and into other sectors. Know how to translate your artistic wizardry from the stage to a phone, from the studio to a streaming platform, from one arts discipline or style or genre to multiple others. But also, know how write up a marketing piece, a grant narrative, plan an event, manage a budget. You might find day-work in the very place where you're sharing your talent at night.
What Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Todd Dellinger: Adaptability to change - it's inescapable and has been forever in the arts - but change comes so swiftly and from so many directions now - particularly those changes brought about by technology and media/communications. Be ahead of the curve when it comes to what new uses of AI, what new applications for social media and how to manipulate those to your advantage, to your "business" of being an artist in this world. Entrepreneurial skills are vital in any business. You will need to be your own entrepreneur - exercising creative, innovative ways of using your talents and skills "outside the box" and applying these in parts of the industry and in other settings to expand your earning and learning potentia
What will help Artists increase their earning potential?
Todd Dellinger: Know thyself. This response has many facets and implications - know your "deep why" or vision of yourself as an artist and professional and frame around the impact you wish to have on others - this becomes a sort of "lodestar" for the work ahead of crafting a career. Know who you are internally, as well as externally - as a "package" because you are entering an industry where you - and the work you produce - are the commodity, for good or bad. As such, define and adhere to your boundaries - so that you cannot be taken advantage of, and can stay true to your vision. Know yourself in context of the business - and know the business aspects of what you do. You are, at the end of the day, a business - too many artists ignore that. Then, stick to your knowledge of and vision for, yourself as an artist and professional.
Nathaniel Foley
Assistant Professor of Art & DesignUniversity of Indianapolis
Fine And Studio Arts
What general advice would you give to an Artist?
Nathaniel Foley: A career in fine art is never a linear path like other professional fields, so one must remain flexible and aware of all opportunities that they might fit or create. Additionally, they possess numerous skill sets that are unique and they must be able to highlight them to an employer to demonstrate their value.
What Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nathaniel Foley: Creatives must possess the confidence to sell and speak about themselves and their multifaceted and transferable skill sets. As creative problem-solvers, artists place themselves in a unique position to be able to engage all facets of the job market to positively contribute to today's society. Never place yourself in a mindset of only being able to function as a starving artist as you have gone through extensive training to think, take risks,communicate, and make differently than other disciplines, which sets you apart and provides you a unique opportunity to craft your own path. Do not be afraid to take risks by pursuing jobs that might not completely fit your perceived path because they will open doors and opportunities in the future.
What will help Artists increase their earning potential?
Nathaniel Foley: A career in fine art is never a linear path like other professional fields, so one must remain flexible and aware of all opportunities that they might fit or create. Additionally, they possess numerous skill sets that are unique and they must be able to highlight them to an employer to demonstrate their value.
Tammy Killian
Chair - Department of Theatre and DanceWestern Illinois University
Drama/Theatre Arts And Stagecraft
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Artists?
Tammy Killian: Yes, I believe that this group of graduates (2020 and 2021) will be impacted. I like to think that most graduates will be impacted in that they will be more innovative, more independent, and will have a greater sense of priorities.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Artists to find work opportunities?
Tammy Killian: Currently, no. With COVID-19 shutting down the industry, this is not a great time to look for work. Film and TV production companies are beginning to shoot again, with many precautions in place. The outdoor theatre has survived. Many small venue theatres have moved outdoors or are doing drive-in events. Finding a job now is about being willing to relocate, research, and being flexible.
How do you envision technology impacting Artists in the next 5 years?
Tammy Killian: Technology has impacted the profession tremendously already and will be a springboard to the future of performing arts. We've needed to be shaken up for many years, and this pandemic has definitely done that. We will learn and adapt to technology leading us into the future.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Artists?
Elizabeth McPherson: Yes, I think the coronavirus pandemic will have a profound impact on the dance field. Many small dance companies may find it impossible to keep paying dancers and staff. Some bigger dance companies have disbanded their second or junior companies. Virtual or outdoor performances are all that is possible right now for the most part. There is. However, some fantastic work being done in terms of dance film and online performance events. I think as the pandemic subsides eventually, that we will have live performances again, but also more virtual events. Dancers and choreographers are honing their skills with technology.
In terms of dance education, innovation is again the name of the game. One recent grad from Montclair State has just been hired to teach a 4- to 5-year-old dance class outside in someone's backyard. Many dance teachers are teaching over Zoom, and also creating videos of dance classes that people can do at their leisure, not in real time. I think this will also stay with us even after we return to teaching more classes in person. It allows for more global connection, in that I could take a dance class that is happening in Japan, for instance, through Zoom.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Artists to find work opportunities?
Elizabeth McPherson: I predict that NYC will continue to have a large concentration of dance companies. However, I do know that many young professional dancers have returned to their parents' homes across the USA since the pandemic hit. Perhaps this will result in a flourish of more theatrical dance, particularly modern and contemporary, happening outside of NYC.
What skills stand out on Artist resumes?
Paige Williams: The skills that stand out on artist resumes are skills that distinguish them from other applicants. Potential employers are looking for individuals whose resumes provide evidence of exploration, risk-taking, and the ability to adapt. These traits are evidenced through experiences with internships, study abroad, and other real-world experiences such as client-based projects, exhibitions, performances, and readings in public spaces. Art school is experiential. Students aren’t just observing but doing while they are in school. The ability to learn and adapt to new technology is also important. Art students don’t just learn but utilize technological skills with purpose in their own creative work.
What soft skills should all Artists possess?
Paige Williams: The World Economic Forum has identified the four most important skills that ALL students graduating from college in the 21st century will need to be successful. These are the same skills that artists, designers, and creative writers explore through 21st Century Art Education at the Art Academy of Cincinnati (AAC): Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication. 21st Century creatives will need to understand how to explore solutions to complex problems, think outside of the box, work with others, and effectively articulate their ideas. At the Art Academy of Cincinnati, our students in first-year experience engage in courses whose focus is communication, collaboration, ideation, research, and discovery from day one.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Artists?
Paige Williams: Students entering the creative workplace need the visual, verbal, and written vocabulary to articulate their ideas and provide meaningful and constructive criticism. Students at the AAC learn criticism methods and engage in writing across the curriculum in every studio and academic course. A rigorous capstone experience requires that students write a ten-to-twelve-page thesis that thoroughly explains what they make (subject), how they make it (form), and why it matters (content). They then are required to present their ideas in a public forum.
Learning the latest technological advances and adapting as technology evolves is important for every student entering the workforce.
What skills will help Artists earn the most?
Paige Williams: A combination of the 21st Century Skills: Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication will provide the most effective skill base for those seeking success in creative fields.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Artists?
Dr. Daniel Carberg: I do believe there will be an enduring impact on graduates. My graduates, in particular, are preparing for a career in music. Performance majors, especially, will have to navigate an entirely different way of forming their careers, at least until we have a vaccine. All live performances involving singing had been canceled for many months, and just recently, outdoor performances, socially distanced, and with masks, have popped up here and there, but with the cold weather approaching, this could all change. Singing with a mask certainly presents its own challenges, but it is something we all have to get used to. Performing artists are resilient and will always find a way to thrive. I believe there are many pathways that have yet to be explored.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Artists to find work opportunities?
Dr. Daniel Carberg: Focusing on performers, graduates usually find work in the field of music by moving to a city and building a network there. Cities such as Boston, New York, Kansas City, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and San Francisco, to name a few, have particularly strong classical music scenes, and there are numerous opportunities for an ambitious musician to make a living. Having said this, I am glad to live in a small town in New Hampshire during the pandemic. If I were just beginning my performing career, I believe this would be an incredibly difficult decision to make.
How do you envision technology impacting Artists in the next 5 years?
Dr. Daniel Carberg: Technology has exploded during the pandemic, and continues to daily. As a hands-on voice teacher, I am currently teaching through Zoom, using a soundbox and mixer, and high-quality microphone, and headphones. There are also many programs that can help with the lag time between the studio teacher and the student, who are in different rooms. I now also teach students from all over the world - thank this new technology. Virtual choirs have also become a new norm, as well as choirs rehearsing outside with ambient amplification systems. It is difficult to predict what things will look like in the next five years. It all depends if a vaccine is created. If not, we need to adapt to the new "normal" and continue to make music, using technology as our friend. It is not the job any of us signed up for, but it is what we need to do to move forward.