The infamous question that all students pursuing an artistic career face is, “Are you going to make money out of this?” The urge to have a financially stable life with stable jobs and suitable salaries after graduation has always been a desire among young adults.
Since most artistic professions depended on demand and popularity, it can be harder for artists to maintain stability. That is why many talented young adults end up giving up their dreams of becoming artists for the sake of being financial security.
Mercedes Young, sophomore graphic design and visual experience major, explained why many students who want to pursue an art career often feel insecure about their future.
“Obviously, the main reason for that is the money,” Young said. “Technically, you are not making… as much as a doctor, unless you’re super famous.”
All professions have different challenges that people face daily. For artists, it is not only hard to make money, but also hard to find stable jobs and real-world experience, since most studios looked for more experienced people instead of giving young adults practical experiences.
Melanie Avery Bucio, sophomore film major, discussed the most common challenges young artists face while dealing with job search and academic life.
“Some challenges artists can face can be rejection and trial situations,” Bucio said. “Rejection from jobs or opportunities may occur, but the important thing is to experience that trial and error in order to gain more experience and have an outcome.”
The path toward a career can be scary and challenging for many students searching for jobs, but there are many ways to help young artists become more confident and proud of their work.
Danijel Bilaver, senior career counselor, expressed his opinion on what could make students more confident in their path.
“It is important that they start early on creating a portfolio as soon as freshman year. They should start working on personal projects. During the summer, I recommend not waiting to do projects just during school time; they should be working on projects during the summer as well,” Bilaver said.
Students first focused on developing their projects but also prioritized networking and building connections within their field.
“I would also say that it is very important to make connections. In art, connections are very important, so make sure to connect with the Career Center early on to establish a good LinkedIn profile and display your projects to get your name out there early,” Bilaver said.
Even though it can be hard for artists to pursue their dream career, it is never impossible. Collaboration, hard work and courage to step out are some of the most important ways to start building an artistic career.
“People are often afraid of that in-between area where a lot of regular people live. So if I’m not exceptionally talented, I’m going to be poor, and that is a common fear among artists. But, I don’t think that’s necessarily true,” Young said. “I don’t think that this should be a reason that’s going to stop you from doing something you love, because God is going to provide. If you are following His calling in your life, I think He is going to make it happen.”
Knowing that many students struggle with their future and many don’t know where to begin, Bilaver gave advice to those beginning their job and connection search.
“Definitely come to the Career Center and talk to us so we can provide you with the right resources, help you with your resume, and help you make connections on LinkedIn,” Bilaver said. “But for artists specifically, connect with your professors, ask questions, collaborate as much as possible and make sure to keep up with all the different opportunities your college provides to make connections.”
Having a job within the arts can be challenging, but it should never be abandoned out of fear of failure. Some artists might not have a famous name to keep them in the spotlight, but when their art is done with purpose and passion, it is impossible to go unnoticed.
