Pursuing higher education is like stepping onto a blank canvas — there are countless possibilities. If you have a passion for artistic expression and creativity, you may be looking into an art degree. We’ll delve into the brush strokes that make up art degrees and paint a picture of the possible careers out there.

What Is an Art Degree?

An art degree is a program or course of study that provides students with a higher education qualification encompassing an often broad spectrum of varying artistic disciplines. Students who pursue art associate degrees engage in visual arts, design and overall creative expression through different mediums.

You could explore painting, sculpting, photography, ceramics and even filmmaking as part of your program. Most courses offer practical elements as well as theoretical knowledge and art history.

What Is a Fine Arts Degree?

What is fine arts? Traditional fine arts are visual art forms,��such as painting and sculpting. As art has evolved, though, fine arts degrees encompass categories like:

• Visual arts
• Design
• Music
• Theatre
• Dance
• Creative writing
• Photography
• Film
• Art history

The easiest way to think of fine art is as a specialized subset of an art degree focusing on creative and visual arts. Depending on your major, fine arts students focus on practical, theoretical and historical aspects of disciplines such as drawing, painting, printmaking and much more. The program encourages students to explore and experiment with materials and mediums to improve understanding and develop more specific skills within their chosen field of specialization. An associate degree in art may be a good step on the way toward a degree in fine arts.

What Jobs Can You Get With an Art Degree?

Pursuing an art degree was once seen as limiting. However, even in a world where AI and generative text and art are ever-increasing, to innovation in many fields. Here are some potential career paths for art students:

• Graphic designer: Graphic designers create visual concepts and designs using computer software according to client specifications.
• Art director: There are art directors in various fields, but the overall position involves overseeing a project to ensure the message aligns with the goal.
• Animator: Animators use illustrations, both drawn and computer-generated, to bring ideas and stories to life.
• Art therapist: Art therapists help people face mental health conditions like anxiety and depression through art.
• Art museum curator: This role requires individuals to manage, organize and oversee collections in museums, galleries and other cultural institutions. They ensure the proper presentation and preservation of artistic pieces.
• Art educator: Depending on your skill level, degree and preferences, you can teach art at various education levels.
• Freelance artist: A freelance artist works independently or collaborates with others to create artwork in different mediums with the intent of selling, exhibiting or taking commissions.
• Web designer: In the internet age, artists with technical expertise can help design visually appealing and user-friendly websites.
• Creative director in advertising: This fast-paced career involves leading creative teams to develop effective and competitive advertising campaigns.
• Set designer: If you enjoy design and working with your hands, designing sets for theatre and movie productions may be a good fit.

Average Salary for an Art Degree

Calculating the average salary for an artist depends on a few variables, including experience, field, specialization and industry. You can to search for more information on your desired career, see average pay with an art degree and more.

We broke down the average pay with an art degree for the following careers in North Central Massachusetts:

• Graphic designer: The is $56,873.
• Art director: The is $53,099.
• Animator: Salaries may differ slightly if you work as an animator or special effects artist, but the is $44,378.
• Art therapist: Art therapist salaries can vary greatly, depending on your location and experience, but the is $64,271.
• Art museum curator: The is $58,918.
• Art educator: You can expect as an art teacher, depending on the grade you teach and your location, but the is $72,130.
• Freelance artist: As a freelance artist, particularly a fine artist, business and networking skills are just as important as artistic skills. The is $27,927.
• Web designer: For those focusing on web and digital interfaces, the is around $72,515.
• Creative director in advertising: The or advertising and promotions managers is $81,883.
• Set designer: The is $46,849.

Is an Art Degree Worth It?

The following factors can help you determine if an art degree would be fulfilling for you.

Passion and Personal Fulfillment

Pursuing an art degree can be immensely rewarding and fulfilling for those passionate about creative expression and creation. If you find joy and value in creating art and sharing it with the world, then the intrinsic value may be enough to keep your passion alive while earning compensation for your talents.

Skill Development

One major misconception about art degrees is that all you learn is how to draw, paint or sculpt — in reality, comprehensive art programs equip you with skills such as critical thinking, communication and problem-solving. Many of these skills are transferable to various professional settings.

Job Market Realities

Before embarking on your art degree, research the common limitations and obstacles, and keep an eye on the job environment to see how to overcome them. Specific art careers are highly competitive, while others promise lower annual salaries than others. Thus, consider the transferability of the degree skills and determine whether you’re open to a related career in education, technology or marketing.

Portfolio, Networking and Trends

Regardless of how talented you are and how hard you work, you need good networking skills backed up by an impressive portfolio in art. Bolstering your portfolio of work, constantly staying abreast of trends and interacting with other arts professionals go a long way to enhancing career prospects.

Making the Choice

Artists and creatives are often dreamers, and this is essential to creating innovative works, remaining inspired and growing artistically. However, when enrolling for an art degree, you must determine whether you would thrive in a competitive, challenging and gratifying field of study.

Kickstart Your Art Career at Mount Wachusett Community College

The Mount is an accredited institution that cherishes the arts and believes creative expression and ingenuity are vital skills many industries require to grow and thrive. The �ڰ������� Art Degree equips students with vital knowledge and allows them to earn credits to transfer later, should they wish to pursue a bachelor’s or master’s.

If you want to start your art journey, apply to �ڰ������� online or download a PDF application. For any questions, request more information or call The Mount at 978-630-9447 — your future starts today!

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We had the pleasure of getting to know Katelyn Murphy as she was launching her first Venture at Oakmont Regional High School. Soon after she became an intern with UWYV, helped launch another Venture Team, and later she co-hosted the UWYV Fall Kickoff in 2020. This gal is a STAR in so many ways. She has numerous talents, artistically and professionally. We are a better organization and team by knowing Katelyn. We will always be grateful for the work she has done for us and the laughs we’ve shared together – – though we hope that eventually we may be all in the office together again at one time. I’m happy she agreed to let all of YOU learn more about what she’s up to these days.

How many years did you participate in UWYV and what team(s) were you on? I participated in UWYV for all 4 years of high school. I was in two Ventures while I was there, one called L.I.F.E. and my last one being APUSH for Peace.

What was your fondest memory of your years participating in UWVY? I think it had to have been the panel for APUSH for Peace. There were so many people, and the energy in the room was amazing. At the end of it, we had a party in the library. It was amazing.

What did being in UWYV mean to you? Being in UWYV meant that I had a voice in my community and in my school. It showed that I could make a difference where I was.

You did your internship with UWYV, talk about your experience. Would you recommend this internship? I would 1000000% recommend doing an internship with UWYV, they are an amazing group of people. You always feel at home with them, and you learn so much about the inside work of UWYV and the hard work that goes into it. I had an awesome experience there, and love each and every person that I worked with.

Let’s shift gears and talk about what is going on in the world today. How are you doing? What does a typical day-at-home look like for you? I am doing well. I just graduated high school so my days have been pretty free. Right now I’m helping people in my community care for their dogs and horses, and every Friday I go up to my local cat shelter and help take care of the cats. Other then that my days are spent doing crafts, doing a ton of baking, and just enjoying the time I get with my family.

How has the stay-at-home/social distancing of COVID-19 affected you positively? It’s given me more time to spend with my family and animals. It’s also given me time to learn some new skills! I recently made bread, which came out surprisingly well.

What are you struggling with during this time?�� I’m struggling a lot with my time. Before all this I was go go go, and now, I have slowed down so much because everything is closed and/or done at home. It’s made me realize that time to yourself or time relaxing is just as important as time helping others, and you have to have that balance to be the best you possible.

Congratulations on your graduation from Oakmont! What are your plans for the future? My plans? Well in the fall I’m starting online school at UMASS Dartmouth, with the hopes to study English or education. I want to become a teacher one day I think.

The post Interview with Venturer and Intern Katelyn Murphy appeared first on Mount Wachusett Community College.

But let’s rewind a bit, back to when students were in school attending UWYV meetings once a week, and Brian was informed that the students wanted their cause to be child abuse.

He talked to the students about CASA and his involvement in the organization. The team voted in favor of partnering with CASA. of Worcester County is a not-for-profit organization committed to speaking for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the Worcester County Courts. Brian also arranged for Robb and Julie from CASA to visit students, so that they could learn more about the organization. Read more about that in this post I wrote about CASA’s visit to Northwest’s UWYV Team.

NW CAB Launch Was Just Weeks Away

After weeks of hard work, the students at Northwest were just finishing up their slides for their final UWYV Team presentation.�� The Northwest CAB (Child Advocate Buddies – We take you to a better place.) Team was just a couple of weeks away from launching.

Not to spoil the ending for you, but…………

With Brian’s guidance, this group of dedicated fourth and fifth graders will be the next UWYV team to launch, whether virtually or back in their Northwest classroom! Mark my words!

Spotlight on Northwest Elementary School’s UWYV Champion Brian Prehna��

Now, on with this��Spotlight on��a Champion.�����������all��our��Champions, Brian is busy��at home, connecting with friends and family, and in the spirit of a true Changemaker, is spending time reading stories of inspriation an leadership.������

How long have you been a Champion for UWYV? And what do you like best about having this role?��

I’ve been a Champion for UWYV at Northwest for two years. The best part about having this role is being part of a student group that takes on real world problems and develops ways to help our community. Students are so invested in the program, because what they do positively affects their community. Students use their academic and social emotional skills learned in the classroom to build their Venture. The culmination of their hard work in the classroom pays off by lifting up the people around them.��

How are you doing? What does a typical day-at-home look like for you?��

Thanks for asking! I am doing well. A typical day for me has been waking up and making a healthy breakfast then starting my morning routines. After my routine to get ready for the day, I jump on my computer to check emails or join video calls. Often, I have been going into the building to support our principal with Chromebook distribution, so students have resources they need to engage in online learning. I am often reaching out to families to see how they are doing and working with our guidance team as well as teachers. I take time now for a meaningful lunch break to slow myself down and unwind from the morning. In the afternoon, I check in with the principal to see how else I can help and follow up on emails. Often, I sit outside to get some sunshine.��

How has the stay-at-home/social distancing of COVID-19 affected you positively?��

The stay at home/social distancing has given me a lot of time to reflect and improve myself. I’ve taken advantage of the isolation to read books about leadership coupled with stories of inspiration. I’ve been able to organize, clean and declutter my apartment, so I can focus on the here/now and future. I have been able to focus on my own mental and physical health. Reconnected with old friends, while strengthening connections with my family and friends has been very important to me. I’ve taken this time to look at myself and to improve, so I come out of this stronger than ever.��

Do you have a positive Changemaking story that has resulted from this?��

I have been connecting with family and friends all the time.�� I’ve had time to read 4 books and just started my 5th. Since the weather has turned for the better, I’ve been taking social distancing hikes and walks with friends too. I’ve slowed down and have been taking my time rather than rushing in all aspects of my life.��

Are you able to connect with your students remotely? (Zoom? Google Classroom, or email?) How are they?��

Yes, over the course of the “great slowdown,” I’ve been on Google Hangouts with classrooms. It is great to see students!��

Are you in touch with your UWYV team? �� If so, what are they up to?��

Over the course of the pause, we decided to have our students focus on their academics, so additional responsibilities were put to the side. I am proud of the work students accomplished this year.��

If UWYV was offered to you as a young student, what would your cause be and why?��

When I was younger, I was an active member of the Boy Scouts, and I wish this program was also offered in school. My cause would be to improve the life of people who have lost their homes and who fell on tough times. This would include providing assistance and educating the public about homelessness and food insecurities in America. My “why” is to open the eyes of the “haves,” so they can be educated and have empathy and compassion for the “have nots”. My cause would provide resources and dignity to those who feel like they have lost everything, so they can get back on their feet.��

What was one of your most memorable experiences (so far!) being Champion?��

The most memorable moment so far was last year during our fundraising event for the Gardner Animal Shelter. Our UWYV Team, the Northwest Animal Activists, decided to duct tape myself and Colleen (principal) to a wall during the school day. The positive buzz and fun had by all that day flowed through the building. We used Facebook Live, so parents could also see the event. The team raised a tremendous amount of funds while putting on a school wide event!��

What message would you like to send all of your students?

Take this time to improve yourself. Stay active, fuel your body with healthy food and READ! Learn a new skill and be kind to people including yourself. Take time to sit in silence and listen to the quiet. Allow yourself to be bored and disconnect from your technology; you’ll reconnect with nature. Focus your energy on what you can do, not on what you can’t.��

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I miss all of you!��

Thank you for taking the time to fill us in Brian! Enjoy your summer!

Other Champion Spotlights��

Thuy Bui – Gardner High School
Sharyn Tomasso – Sky View Middle School
Sara Carnabucci – McKay Arts Academy
Francine Meigs – Samoset Middle School

Stay Connected����

All of us at UWYV want to stay in touch with our students and champions. For the latest news from Youth Venture, please follow us and feel free to reach out via email, text or social media.

The post Spotlight On Northwest Elementary’s UWYV Champion Brian Prehna appeared first on Mount Wachusett Community College.