What happens when you leave art school?
It is sometimes difficult to understand how you can financially support yourself after graduating from an art & design degree.
There may be perceived concerns around being self-employed as an artist and how you can support your creative work through other earnings. This may seem daunting, and you might have concerns about prospective low earnings and lack of job security when considering applying to a fine art degree.
However, fine art offers graduates many opportunities. It gives you a wide range of skills that we call ‘transferable skills’. During your studies, you will develop knowledge and skills that can be applied to many different employment areas: team-work, problem-solving, communication and being an independent. These transferable skills are in demand and will be an asset when job-hunting.
Fine art is not exclusively a studio-based practice. As a learner, you will be reflecting on society as a whole, addressing questions and concerns about how art relates to people and the wider social world. A fine art degree will equip you with wider skills relevant to more destinations than that of a self-supporting, practising artist.
Testimonies from Slade Alumni/Alumnae
Many graduates go on to be practising artists and designers in their field as freelancers undertaking residencies, commissions and have gallery representation. Some are employed by design companies/agencies, postgraduate study, teaching, curating, film production, theatre design, marketing, working in museums, galleries, advertising or work in the technology industry… the possibilities are endless!
Zenaib
(BFA painting)
Job: artist and Lecturer
What transferable skills did you learn while being at Slade that you are now using in your job?
When I was choosing a place to study I first thought about the university environment. Norwich looked like a nice place to study with a good environment. Also, I looked at the successful progression rates to university and I saw that compared to other places INTO had a good progression rate.
Taylor Smith
Job: Illustrator
What transferable skills did you learn while being at Slade that you are now using in your job?
When I was choosing a place to study I first thought about the university environment. Norwich looked like a nice place to study with a good environment. Also, I looked at the successful progression rates to university and I saw that compared to other places INTO had a good progression rate.
Claire Boyd
(Slade BA 2013)
Job: TV Games Producer
What transferable skills did you learn while being at Slade that you are now using in your job?
Slade provided me with the space and time to discover and develop my creativity – through the crits, to the studio set-up, to the incredible range of staff, students and technicians that you get the pleasure of learning with; studying here gave me confidence in my ideas and made me believe my art is whatever I want it to be. My peers also taught me to never stop pushing and questioning everything. In my job I am constantly generating new ideas and trying to push my creativity to new levels so the skills I developed at Slade help me every day.
Polly O’Flynn
(Slade BA 2012)
Role/Job: Set design and creative direction
What transferable skills did you learn while being at Slade that you are now using in your job?
How to create a theoretical premise and framework for an idea, how to discuss it with a client and back it up with a conceptual argument. How to take criticism; both constructive and unconstructive. Knowing the difference, understanding the value and power in both. To always make friends with the technicians.