Careers in Art and Design

Job Descriptions and Canadian Education Options

Whether you are a parent or student looking for higher education avenues, use the information below to be encouraged, inspired, and motivated to get more clarity on what a career in the arts can include and how to prepare for a rewarding work life.  

With an interest in the arts, students can choose from a variety of careers in art and design. The following categories describe several career options and the post-secondary education that is helpful or required for the different roles.

  • Fine arts
  • Teaching and digital
  • Design and art director

Fine Arts Careers

This category focuses on professional careers in the arts, such as

  • Gallery owner
  • Curator
  • Art Historian
  • Museum CEO/Executive Director
  • Fine art restorer

 

Gallery Owner

A gallery owner is someone who owns and runs a business acquiring and selling artwork on behalf of artists and finding parties interested in buying artwork. In order to run a successful gallery and business, a gallery owner will need to interact with a variety of people: clients, employees, shipping companies, professionals, and others. As a gallery owner, it is important to be able to adapt to changes, have a willingness to try new things, and enjoy working with and handling art such as paintings, sculptures, jewellery, pottery, and more.

Galleries are located in big cities, in small towns, and in areas which cater to tourists. A gallery can operate year-round with full-time hours, seasonally, or perhaps be run as a home-based business.

Educational Requirements

A degree is not necessarily required, but a gallery owner may have a related degree in areas such as Fine Arts, Art History, Business Administration, or Marketing.

You would be a good fit for this role if you 

  • Like the risks and rewards of running a business and appreciate art.
  • Enjoy interacting with many people in different roles.
  • Like to see people find the right artwork for their space.

You may not be a good fit for this role if you 

  • Aren’t excited about being an entrepreneur.
  • Don’t look forward to interacting with people constantly throughout your day.
  • Don’t enjoy paperwork and creating organizational systems, like keeping track of a gallery inventory.

Canadian Education Options

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                    Myles Johnston - Canadian Artist and Gallery Owner (April 18, 2017)


Curator

A curator’s job entails learning about different artists, styles, techniques, and media from past and present art periods. Curators usually work indoors in a setting such as a museum or gallery and like being around and learning about art. Curators assist in planning exhibits and are responsible for writing, talking, or explaining about art and artifacts to others, whether as part of an exhibit or to a tour group. 

Educational Requirements
Requires an Art History degree, at least a Bachelor of Arts (BA) but usually a Master of Arts (MA) degree is preferred. Usually, there is a foreign language requirement as part of an Art History degree.

You would be a good fit for this role if you 

  • Like learning about art, artists, and artifacts.
  • Like working indoors and being around art. 
  • Enjoy writing and sharing with others about art and history. 

You may not be a good fit for this role if you 

  • Don’t enjoy planning events or displays, like creating content for and putting up poster boards. 
  • Aren’t excited about speaking to or leading tour groups. 
  • Don’t enjoy learning other languages.

Canadian Education Options

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                    Curator On the Go - Listen to her podcast with art professionals and other creatives.

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                    Interview with Kitty Scott - a curator of 25 years in prominent art galleries, institutions, and art                                                                                        venues

 

Art Historian 

An art historian is someone who studies, researches, and preserves and restores artwork for shows, exhibitions, and museums. Art historians can choose an area of art to specialize in (painting, drawing, sculpture) or an art period (Greek or Roman, Renaissance, Impressionism). Art historians usually work in a gallery or museum setting.

Educational Requirements

At minimum, a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in History or Art History is required, but usually a Master of Arts (MA) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is preferred.

You would be a good fit for this role if you 

  • Like to learn by researching and presenting information through writing. 
  • Are eager to learn about history and art. 
  • Like to spend time in museums and galleries.

You may not be a good fit for this role if you 

  • Aren’t passionate about learning, studying, or researching history.
  • Do not look forward to finding solutions to preserve and restore items, like artwork or furniture.
  • Are more excited about current artists and art trends rather than art periods from the past.

Canadian Education Options

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                    Colleen Cutschall - Sharing about the Manitoba Art Scene (January 12, 2007) 

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Museum CEO/Executive Director

A museum CEO/Director usually brings several years of experience working in the arts whether as a gallery manager, curator, or arts organization manager. Being able to know what programs and exhibitions would be of interest to the public is important as is being knowledgeable about various sources of funding such as grants or endowments and finances in general to ensure the financial planning and health of the museum. As a museum CEO/Director, you will need to meet and talk with many people from city or government officials to employees and visitors of the museum.

Having good management skills and an understanding of what various departments do will be helpful in this role. Being familiar with human resources may also be beneficial. A museum CEO/Director may report to a Board of Directors.

Educational Requirements 

A Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Art History or a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree is generally required although courses or a degree in Business or Human Resources may prove helpful.

You would be a good fit for this role if you

  • Like providing leadership and direction for an organization such as a museum and its team. 
  • Enjoy overseeing many departments and functions such as finance and human resources. 
  • Like meeting with people in a variety of roles.

You may not be a good fit for this role if you

  • Aren’t excited about leading a museum or being in a management position.
  • Don’t enjoy being in meetings or sitting on a board of directors for arts or non-profit organizations. 
  • Don’t like interacting with public and/or private sector organizations.

Canadian Education Options

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                    Article on CanadianArt.ca about the Salaries of Some of Ontario’s                                                                                                      Museum and Gallery Directors (April 11, 2019) 

                    Respected Educator and Researcher Named New President and CEO                                                                                               of Canadian Museum of Human Rights (June 29, 2015)

                    Museum of Contemporary Art Names Terry Nicholson Interim CEO (July 6, 2016)

Fine Art Restorer 

A fine art restorer’s job will entail maintenance and damage repair to artwork such as paintings, murals, sculptures, textiles, and other media. A restorer works with others in art settings such as curators or historians and will need to coordinate the delivery and pick up of artwork. They may also need to consult scientists and others to solve complex restoration issues.

Educational Requirements
Fine art restorers generally start in the field with an apprenticeship. Obtaining an undergraduate degree in a related field such as Studio Art, History, Art History, or Anthropology can also increase knowledge and skills. 

You would be a good fit for this role if you 

  • Are detail- and science-oriented. 
  • Like working with others to solve complex problems. 
  • Are passionate about fixing and restoring items.  

You may not be a good fit for this role if you

  • Prefer to work alone rather than with others. 
  • Do not enjoy handling or working with a variety of art media. 
  • Do not like handling antique or historic items.

Canadian Education Options

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                    Business Website of Fine Art Restorations

                    Images Showing Parts of an Art Restoration Process and Before and After Images of Paintings                                       That Have Been Restored (From Koolen Fine Arts in Stratford, Ontario)

Artist, Teaching, and Digital Careers  

This category focuses on professional careers as an artist and other jobs related to teaching and digital arts such as

  • Artist
  • Illustrator
  • Animator
  • Art teacher
  • Art professor

 

Artist 

Usually artists like working on their own and creating art in their studio. Many artists are self-employed, but there are options for them to work or collaborate with others (e.g. other artists, art programmers/exhibition managers, gallery owners) on projects such as murals and commissions or opportunities such as exhibiting in galleries. 

In order to showcase their artwork with an audience, an artist needs to develop some knowledge of marketing and sharing artwork with an audience through a website, social media, art shows, or gallery representation. It is also important for an artist to have the creativity and imagination to think of new designs and images to develop into art as well as an interest in being knowledgeable about available materials and which materials to use.

Educational Requirements

An artist can be self-taught; take classes, courses, or workshops at a local art studio; or pursue higher education with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and/or a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree.

You would be a good fit for this role if you 

  • Enjoy working on your own in a setting such as a studio or room to work on art. 
  • Have an interest in learning about and taking the initiative to market and share your work.
  • Like using your creativity and imagination to think of new projects to work on.

You may not be a good fit for this role if you 

  • Don’t look forward to spending your work hours alone.
  • Aren’t excited about being self-employed.
  • Don’t look forward to researching and brainstorming to discover images or designs to turn into art.

Canadian Education Options

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Illustrator 

An illustrator’s job is to create the images, drawings, and pictures which accompany text found in books or magazines, ads or brochures, CD and/or DVD covers, movie posters, and more. An illustrator can be self-employed, work as a freelancer for several publications, or be an employee working on behalf of one company or organization. 

Being able to work with deadlines is important in this field of art. Having a portfolio available of your work, ready to present to potential clients or companies, is a great way to show your style and approach to illustration work. Illustrators may use programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, or others.

Educational Requirements 

Illustrators can be self-taught or have a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree or graphic design training.

You would be a good fit for this role if you 

  • Are able to visualize and bring to life illustrations which support the text. 
  • Like to work both with art materials and computer art programs.

You may not be a good fit for this role if you 

  • Don’t like spending lots of time working on the computer. 
  • Don’t get excited about creating images for books and CD covers.

Canadian Education Options

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Animator 

An animator creates the artwork and images which are then seen as part of films or animated series. The artwork and images created by the animator are then photographed and arranged in such a way that it appears that the image is moving. Animators will also use computer programs to assist them in generating the desired outcomes.

Educational Requirements 

A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Animation is usually needed.

You would be a good fit for this role if you 

  • Enjoy creating images which viewers of films or animated series will like watching. 
  • Have an interest in working in the film industry.

You may not be a good fit for this role if you

  • Don’t look forward to working behind the scenes on a film or animated series.

Canadian Education Options

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Art Teacher 

An art teacher is someone who teaches art techniques and skills to others of all ages (children, youth, adults) although some art teachers may find that they prefer instructing one age group more than another. Art teachers can teach classes at a school, community centre, art studio, or home studio. An art teacher can also be an artist and vice versa.

Educational Requirements 

Some art teachers are self-taught while others attend post-secondary to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and then a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree in order to meet requirements for teaching in a school setting. Usually, an education degree is needed if an art teacher wants to work in schools.

You would be a good fit for this role if you

  • Like interacting with others to bring out their creativity.
  • Enjoy teaching art techniques and seeing students progress in mastering art skills.

You may not be a good fit for this role if you

  • Don’t like teaching or instructing others. 
  • Aren’t excited about creating a plan for art projects and techniques to teach and lead.

Canadian Education Options

 

Art Professor 

To be an art professor at a post-secondary institute, it is important to be passionate about instructing and preparing the next generation for art careers. Art professors not only bring professional experience in the field or classes they are instructing (such as painting, drawing, graphic design, animation, gallery manager or owner, etc.), but they are often also working in their field at the same time that they are professors.

Educational Requirements 

Art professors have at least a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree, but most have a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree.

You would be a good fit for this role if you 

  • Like working with young adults and helping them as they learn and develop their God-given talents. 
  • Like the post-secondary setting environment and setting.

You may not be a good fit for this role if you 

  • Aren’t excited about working for a post-secondary institution.
  • Don’t like grading art projects and providing feedback to students.

Canadian Education Options 

 

 

Design and Director Careers in the Arts 

In this last article of this three-part series Art Careers: Job Descriptions and Canadian Education Options, The Canadian Schoolhouse shares four more art careers that students may be interested in and consider pursuing. After reading through Part 3, follow up with any notes you made throughout this article series to learn more about next steps that may be required. We hope that this series has proved to be helpful and provided confirmation that it is possible to have a career in the arts.

Design and director careers in the arts are presented here in Part 3 of this series:

  • Fashion designer
  • Jewellery designer
  • Graphic designer
  • Art director

 

Fashion Designer 

It is important for a fashion designer to have an eye for the design, look, fit, and functionality of clothing. A fashion designer should be knowledgeable about the different qualities of fabrics and materials so that they would know how a garment would fit and drape depending on the fabric or material used. Fashion designers can be employed by a fashion house, or some fashion designers may prefer to start their own design company and fashion line. An understanding of fashion trends and history over time is also helpful to designers so that they would be familiar with the meaning or importance of certain looks and designs and be knowledgeable about incorporating elements from past fashions into their creations. Fashion designers may launch or show their designs at fashion shows.

Educational Requirements 

An undergraduate degree in Fashion Design is a usual requirement.

You would be a good fit for this role if you 

  • Enjoy drawing designs for clothes. 
  • Like to make clothes. 
  • Have developed a fashion taste. 
  • Like to dress up.

You may not be a good fit for this role if you 

  • Don’t look forward to finding distributors and vendors to create or carry your designs and clothes. 
  • Don’t like to work with fabrics and patterns. 
  • Aren’t excited about sewing.

Canadian Education Options

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                    Interview with Canadian Fashion Designer

Jewellery Designer 

A jewellery designer creates designs for and puts together different pieces of jewellery such as necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings. Jewellery designers can work for a company or be self-employed. As a self-employed jewellery designer, it is important to like selling one’s work and to find ways and places to display, show, and sell work. Having creativity and imagination for new designs will be beneficial for those interested in becoming a jewellery designer. Being familiar with basic jewellery repair - of bracelets, necklaces, and earrings - can also serve a jewellery designer well.

Educational Requirements

A jewellery designer can be self-taught or take a certificate, diploma, or undergraduate degree in Jewellery Design.

You would be a good fit for this role if you 

  • Can imagine and create new designs. 
  • Like making and wearing jewellery.

You may not be a good fit for this role if you 

  • Don’t like finding ways and places to show and sell jewellery. 
  • Aren’t passionate about working with jewellery materials such as beads, chains, clasps, or metal.

Canadian Education Options

 

Graphic Designer 

As a graphic designer, you will create and design images for different uses including logos, websites, invitations, brochures, and ads in magazines and newspapers. The job of a graphic designer often requires lots of time sitting at a computer working on designs and a knowledge of various design programs such as Photoshop and others. A graphic designer can be self-employed as a freelancer, work on contract, or work for a company.

Educational Requirements 

Many graphic designers take courses in or have a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design.

You would be a good fit for this role if you 

  • Enjoy creating designs. 
  • Can communicate well with others about design requirements and your vision. 
  • Have knowledge of symbolism.

You may not be a good fit for this role if you

  • Don’t like working in front of a computer for long periods of time. 
  • Aren’t excited about creating designs and images.

Canadian Education Options

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Art Director 

An art director’s job is to provide guidance and leadership in the art direction of the department they lead and the organization they work for. The guidance and leadership required may entail making sure that all art, photos, and graphics are consistent across platforms, meeting deadlines, and overseeing a team of graphic designers, illustrators, and photographers. 

An art director can be employed by a publishing company of magazines, newspapers, or books. The art director may also work with editors or other colleagues in management to decide on and set the themes of publications a year or more in advance.  

Educational Requirements 

A Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in visual art or communication design is usually required.

You would be a good fit for this role if you 

  • Are excited about working with a variety of creative people such as artists, illustrators, and graphic designers. 
  • Like providing direction in the theme and visual look of publications.

You may not be a good fit for this role if you

  • Don’t look forward to managing and overseeing a team to meet deadlines. 
  • Don’t enjoy staying on top of things, like checking to make sure that deliverables are completed on time.

Canadian Education Options

This article has been written by homeschooling staff writers of The Canadian Schoolhouse (TCS). Enjoy more of our content from TCS contributors and staff writers by visiting our themes page that has a new theme topic added every month!

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