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The traditional fine arts are painting, writing, music, architecture, and sculpture. When extended to performing artists, you have dramatic arts and dance, as well. Today, the ever-growing scope of fine arts includes multimedia design, animation, graphics, cinematography, editing, direction, etc., but are these good career options?
The fine arts are a good career option due to the financial returns and long-term growth. Like all major careers, the fine arts specializations offer significantly higher salaries for experienced professionals. Also, fine arts graduates can aspire to standout careers.
Historically, the fine arts relied primarily on patronage, whether from royalty or the elite class. That is no longer the scenario because modern fine arts have as structured and expected career progressions as engineering, medical, or law. Let’s find out why the fine arts are a good career.
The fine arts are a solid foundation for a good career due to the several specializations you can choose. There are also numerous available jobs based on or related to the niche. Also, fine arts professionals can earn more than just a livelihood by pursuing their passions.
The fine arts are integral to most of the largest industries in the United States and worldwide. Here is a list of these industries and their global valuations:
You are probably familiar with the various roles of different fine arts in film, television, video, multimedia entertainment, and fashion, including textile and apparel. The fine arts are equally critical for consumer electronics, automobiles, e-commerce, and the food industry.
The consumer electronics and automobile industries rely heavily on industrial design, a domain that is a common specialization among fine arts majors. The food industry depends on creative logos, smart packaging design, and clever copywriting, all of which are in the fine arts ambit.
Likewise, graphics and user interface designs are crucial for e-commerce, traditional and digital advertising, and entertainment. Also, fine arts professionals with specializations in architecture play a key role in construction and commercial real estate. Then, we have the entire scope of applied fine arts, ceramics, painting, visual branding, interior design, merchandise, and others.
Cate Blanchett, Sharon Stone, Kenneth Branagh, and Timothy Olyphant majored in fine arts, as did Asif Kapadia. The popular French painter William-Adolphe Bouguereau studied fine arts. Also, the renowned sculptor Jim Sanborn has a Master of Fine Arts degree.
The famous people aside, let’s find out what a typical career progression in fine arts looks like in the real world. Here are a few examples:
None of these statistics factors in the standout careers fine arts professionals can have if they have exceptional talent. Those working in the fine arts-based departments of major film and television productions earn a lot more money than these figures, and that too per project.
Everything from screenwriting to storyboarding, production design, costume, editing, and special effects are fine arts. Likewise, theater, orchestra, dance, choreography, and many fine arts disciplines have immense potential for financially rewarding, successful, and famous careers.
Fine art degrees are worth it, provided you choose a major in which you can excel. Also, some specializations are in greater demand than others, like in any academic discipline. Furthermore, your choice of college or university and portfolio are significant factors.
Paul D. Bell studied fine arts and went on to become the senior vice president and then president of Dell. Essentially, he was in charge of the entire business of Dell in the Americas.
Similarly, Edward T. Welburn, Jr. was the vice president for global design with General Motors. A Philadelphia native, Welburn studied product design and sculpture while pursuing a bachelor’s degree at the College of Fine Arts in Howard University, Washington, D.C.
Thus, whether or not a fine art degree is worth it depends on your passion, skills, pursuit, and the specialization you select. There are many majors available at dozens of universities and colleges throughout the country. So, you must choose the major and college wisely.
Here is a glimpse of the majors you can choose:
| Acting | Dramatic writing | Illustration | Music | Sculpture |
| Animation | Drawing | Industrial design | New media | TV production |
| Ceramics | Fiber/textile art | Interior design | Painting | Technical arts |
| Creative writing | Film production | Metalworking | Photography | Visual arts |
| Dance | Graphic design | Musical theater | Printmaking | Visual effects |
The table is not exhaustive. Also, some fine art schools have programs for students with specific professional objectives, such as film or television editing, copywriting, branding, advertising, etc.
Here is a list of the top institutions with the best fine arts programs:
The most in-demand fine arts professionals are:
Most fine arts degrees offer a projected career path, such as art teachers to lecturers, curators, and directors. Also, the gig economy presents emerging and evolving opportunities. Plus, artists can always explore self-employment or independent careers and make it truly big in their niche.
