The bogus starving artist myth debunked
The starving artist myth is just that, a myth, and that is according to a recent report.
Arts graduates are finding ways to put together careers and be utilised — and a lot are happy with their work.
The study found:
- Ninety-two per cent of arts alumni who would like to work now are, with the majority of finding employment shortly after graduating.
- Two-thirds stated their first job was a close match for the sort of work they wanted.
- Over half (57 per cent) are now working as professional artists.
- Over six in ten (63%) were self-explanatory since graduating.
But more than half hold at least two jobs simultaneously; 18 per cent are working three or more jobs, and few had the company or marketing skills they had to start their own business or to start their careers.
Art leaders, teachers and policymakers will need to better understand the status quo for arts instruction is missing a couple of things; namely, the value of business savvy and the rising demand for arts trained executives.
A panel which discussed these findings at the recent annual convention of the Americans for the Arts appeared satisfied — even happy — with SNAAP’s report possibly because they thought things were worse than they were.
Another thing is happening in business and engineering colleges alike, i.e., they’re incorporating sciences and arts to produce a more well-rounded program but also, laying the basis for the workforce many corporate executives say will be in demand in the so-called new market. The U.S. based Conference Board, a global research firm representing companies globally, found that.S. Employers rate creativity and innovation among the top five skills which will increase in value over the next five decades, and stimulating imagination and innovation and enabling entrepreneurship is one of the top 10 challenges of U.S. CEO.
In the Institute For Arts Entrepreneurship in Chicago, there’s a clear recognition that the artist in society can and must play a more significant role in societal and financial affairs. They consider that Artistic training ought to be regarded as a high degree of educational pursuits like the practice of a doctor or lawyer. And since most artists are smart enough to become a doctor or lawyer, there’s just no reason they can’t become lively, relevant, and meaningful contributors to society when provided the remainder of the training they need to do so.
Significantly, they also discovered that arts-training and, to a lesser degree, communications studies, are crucial to developing creativity.
There should be no doubt that arts education is vital to the future of America and in fact, the rest of the world.
