Is a career in Arts worth pursuing?

The art market is now big in India and there are more creative opportunities than ever before.

A career in the creative fields is not only fulfilling, but is also highly in demand today and a background in art and design is much sought after. While a fine arts degree can lead to several job opportunities in the Arts industry — from artists to art handlers, to careers in galleries, museums, auction houses as well as in teaching, there are innumerable possibilities at other workplaces too. An artist's natural choice is to be a freelance, but there are several artists who look for alternative jobs for various reasons, ranging from personal to professional and financial stability. Freelancing is usually not easy, especially in the initial stages of one’s career and it can be years before one can establish a reputation.

The good news is that the art market now occupies a large space and ancillary services are equally important and growing at a fast pace, and therefore, there are increased opportunities within the industry too, which can offer a steady income. Galleries, museums and auction houses offer opportunities as curators, appraisers and archivists as well as jobs in research and cataloging, art handling, promotion, conservation and education. Art critics, consultants, educators, therapists and restorers are a few other job possibilities, all of which allow one to work independently or have the possibility to be associated with galleries and museums.

Commercial artists

Apart from these, an artist, designer, photographer or an illustrator can work in a commercial capacity with advertising agencies or any other company that requires such a profile. A fine arts degree can also lead to a career in retail as a visual merchandiser, in films and theatre as a set designer, in the gaming and digital media as an animator, designer or a digital artist. Some of these areas may involve additional specialisation or on-the-job training. For instance, graphic design, animation or a special effects' artist will require specific skills, perhaps an additional qualification and an interest in technology. An art historian or an artist can also take up part-time or full-time teaching in art and architecture schools.

Creative thinking is much valued at the workplace and helps in problem-solving, conflict resolution, innovation and several other areas. Also, as corporates and other businesses incorporate art-based programmes, such as training and workshops for employees, activities as part of a corporate social responsibility initiative and other areas where art knowledge and creativity is essential, there is a requirement for artists and design thinkers as consultants or even in full-time roles.

The author is a Bengaluru-based art consultant, curator and writer. She blogs at Art Scene India and can be reached on [e-mail]

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