Are you currently deciding what to study at college or University? Perhaps you’re unsure of the best subject to choose? Well, if you’re creative, love visiting museums and exhibits, and spend your free time doodling or taking photographs, then studying the arts could be the best choice for you. Art degrees were once considered ‘soft’ subjects, with few career or financial prospects.

Contrary to popular belief, however, creative subjects offer plenty of benefits and are an excellent choice for a growing number of students. We’ve put together our top reasons why studying the arts is an awesome thing to do!

1. Plenty of career choices

With an art degree, there are plenty of career choices once you graduate. Just because you major in the arts, doesn’t necessarily mean you have to become an artist, creating your own exhibits and selling pieces. While this is still a great career option, the skills learnt through an art degree can be applied to a huge variety of different careers. Here are some potential career paths you could follow:

*Art therapist - Art therapy is a form of expressive therapy, that uses the creative process of making art to improve a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Art work has been shown to help clients understand their emotional conflicts, develop social skills, improve self-esteem, manage addictions, and restore normal function to their lives.

• Fashion designer - Becoming a fashion designer allows the freedom to express creativity and can be a highly rewarding job. Many designers say there's an amazing sense of accomplishment and joy seeing your final product on people and in stores.

• Photojournalist - A photojournalist is a visual storyteller that uses images to tell a news story. Photography can communicate events in a way that no other media can, by evoking emotions and allowing us to feel like we are part of the scene.

• Theatre designer - In this role you would be responsible for creating breathtaking sets and mind-blowing special effects, to bring theatre performances to life. There are many different opportunities within the theatre; you could create ‘brilliant special effects’ or ‘authentic, detailed costumes’ as described by Omega Breaks. Once you gain experience, you could have the opportunity to work on the sets of some legendary performances like The Lion King and Les Miserables.

2. New opportunities with the internet

The internet has created an explosion of exciting, new opportunities for artists. The world is filled with computers, smartphones, and other portable electronic devices. This has created a high demand for digital artists. According to The National Endowment for the Arts - “A surge in demand for multimedia artists, animators, and illustrators - especially those who are computer and technology-savvy - is projected for 2019, due to companies’ demand for advertising in online and digital formats.” If you’re Insta-savvy, this could be the perfect opportunity to get yourself out there. By showing your passions through your account, you could meet people and find new opportunities. Don’t forget to utlilise your LinkedIn, too.

3. Artists can reach a worldwide market

The internet also means that for the first time ever, artists who make fine art, fashion garments, and other hand-crafted products, are able to market and sell these directly on a worldwide scale, using platforms like Etsy. This means that artists are able to sell their products directly, without the need to go through a third-party like a gallery. Print-on-demand services also provide artists with a low-risk way to make money from their art, as it allows merchandise to be produced on an as-needed basis, eliminated the need for bulk inventory.

4. Art marks are not solely dependent on exams

There are many reasons why examination performance might not reflect the true ability of a student, for instance - some students panic in exams so don’t perform their best. Most Art subjects are not assessed through exams. While some have an examination component, a large percentage of the work that is assessed is completed, depending on your subject, with coursework or performance pieces. This can be a significant advantage for students who suffer from exam anxiety. Coursework also helps teach students self-discipline - having to manage a heavy coursework load throughout the year allows students to develop strong focus, organisational and time management skills.

Making a successful career in the arts can be challenging and the competition is fierce. But fortunately, there are now a huge variety of careers choices available, and the internet has provided artists, actors, dancers, and more, with new ways to market and sell their work to a worldwide audience. With the right amount of skill, commitment, and dedication, an arts degree offers you the chance to express your creative side, and get paid for doing something you love!

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