the last place on earth you probably want to be

Having explained why I think art education is effective, I suppose I should also note what I think art education is sorely lacking. Currenly, aspiring artists can attend a post-secondary institution and have access to studio education, history, and networking. However, one of the most critical aspects of achieving and maintaining success as an artist is understanding the business of art.

More and more, artists are becoming fluent in the “system” and using it to their advantage. The less artists rely on agents and dealers, the more control they have over their success. Some may argue that worrying about the practical aspects of art might distract an artist from their work. Well, this is where art is going.

We live in an entrepreneurial society where skills in marketing and PR mark the difference between success and failure. We measure quality by what everyone thinks of it. Artists who show and sell inevitably show and sell more. This means that brilliant artists who don’t work within or in response to the system can never make a living off of their work.

It is actually shocking to me that art schools don’t offer courses in practical matters of being a professional artist: writing grants, artist statements and proposals, the roles of dealers, galleries and museums, marketing and PR, and a slew of other business considerations that artists are surely to encounter when pursuing a career in their work. Opportunities in commercial realms should also be made known to art students. Lots of companies hire artists to fulfill creative projects for corporate purposes. Maybe not every artist’s dream job, but it pays the bills. Art schools should be offering classes that result in students having a greater chance of working as artists.

Knowing these things is helpful on two accounts. First, emerging artists can use these skills to promote their work, curate themselves, and try to gain attention. Second, knowledge of the business realm means that artists can be more cognizant of the practical matters that others might be taking care of for them.

Technical, aesthetic, conceptual and historical considerations obviously compose the foundation of art education. Students should, however, be given the option to learn more about how to further their artistic careers. Focusing on your art is important, but focus alone is not going to make you a living.

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