Arts Education, Arts Admission and Arts Careers… Oh, my!
Pablo Picasso once observed that “art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” And while plenty of students know they want to help dust off our souls, some are less sure about how to reach this goal while others wonder whether the arts is a viable career worth pursuing.
To close out our Admissions Chat Extravaganza, and answer your questions and dive into the details of arts admissions, join us this Sunday, April 30 at 6:00 pm PT for a Chat with Laura Young, UCLA’s Director of Enrollment Management at UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture. You can register for free HERE. And as an artist herself, Laura has a lot of light to shed on how arts careers can look different but still be a real way to make a living.
To whet your appetite while you wait for Sunday’s discussion, we’ve included some of the most important elements to consider and our pro-tips below.
Last things first
For creative types, it’s helpful to start with the end goal, then work backwards to figure out how to get there. And it’s different for each area of the arts. For example:
- Aspiring film students – consider whether you want to land a job in the industry, or simply want to learn the craft. To land a filmmaking job, having hands-on experience can be more helpful than a BFA in directing or film editing. A degree in something like marketing, creative writing or even psychology would provide a student with something unique to bring to the table, and allow them to work as an apprentice in film production. And when considering film programs, it’s important to identify what they offer: internships? practicum opportunities? portfolio development?
- Musicians – you’ll need to be audition-ready to land gigs, so focus on the quality of individual teaching in the programs you’re looking at. “Will the teachers at a given college prepare me for those auditions?” Music students should consider whether they want an intensive conservatory experience, or whether something interdisciplinary might better suit their interests and ultimate career goals.
Once you have a better understanding of where you want to go with your art, you can consider the applications themselves.
Arts Supplements
Arts program applications often include strict requirements around portfolios or auditions. And beyond requirements, some programs seek students with potential, while others want polished artists with a proven track record in their given discipline. (Syracuse University is a fantastic example of a unique school that offers portfolio options to support both kinds of applicants.) So if you are passionate about the arts but who don’t yet have a portfolio, there are plenty of amazing programs that don’t require one — you just need to know where to apply!
- Pro-tip for film students: film portfolios are often writing-heaving, and applicants may be asked to write four or five additional essays for each college. Start these early!
- Pro-tip for all visual arts students: The National Portfolio Day Association (or NPDA) is composed of industry professionals — and offers online and in-person events for students to receive helpful feedback… from the folks who will eventually be making decisions about their applications.
- Pro-tip for performers: quite frequently you’ll be required to submit a pre-screening video in advance of the general application deadline. The trick is that you typically aren’t able to submit those materials until after you submit your application – so make sure you’re well aware of deadlines and work backward to ensure your success.
Student artists are important – and keeping the arts alive through education provides us all respite and a well-needed dusting off of our souls in a hectic world. If you have an artist in the family, reach out to us – we’d love to support you. We hope you join us on Sunday to learn from artist/admissions extraordinaire, Laura Young of UCLA, and if you have further questions or would like to discuss your specific artist, reach out. We’re here to help.
