What can you do with a degree? Fine Art

Higher Education Careers Services Unit and Graduate Prospects.(2010) What can you do with a degree?

Guardian Newspaper (London edn), 22nd May 2010, p.4


The Guardian stated that 'while arts funding will be scarce in the coming years, recessions have historically allowed creativity to flourish, as fine art graduates of the late 80s and early 90s, such as Daiem Hurst showed.


What skills have you gained?

'First and foremost you should have begun accumulating a hefty portfolio of work with which to showcase your technical and creative talents. The theoretcal side of the degree should enable you to put your work into proper context, explaining your influences, the reasoning behind your choice of subjects and why you used certain materials'.

Fine art graduates often specialise in a particular form of art as painting, drawing, installation, sculpture or printmaking but finding regular work or a permanent job as an artist is not easy...self-employment, short-term residencies or commissions are the main career opportunities', says Margaret Holbrough, careers advisor at Graduate Prospects.

The creative arts sector has more to offer though and roles in art galleries and museums, theatre, film and crafts would be suited to fine art graduates. Holbrough points out that 'in business, the artistic flair of fine art graduates is also recognised in roles where VISUAL IMAGE IS PARAMOUNT, SUCH AS ADVERTISING AND MARKETING, EXHIBITION DESIGN, PUBLISHING AND ILLUSTRATING'.

'Teaching, art therapy and working for community arts projects offer socially and educationally focused careers'. Holbrough, M. (2010)

What 2008 fine art graduates did next?

Entered Employment 56%
Entered Further Studying 2.1%
Working and Studying 7.7%
Unemployed 10.7%
Other 12.7%


Types of work (%)

Retail/Catering 23.4%
Arts/Design/Culture/Sports 19.0%
Clerical/Secretarial 9.0%
Commercial/Public Sector 6.3%
Education 4.9%
Socail/Welfare 3.2%
Marketing/Sales/Advertising 3.2%

Gender Breakdown


Male: 29.8%
Female: 70.2%


Sector breakdowm-Arts/Design/Culture/Sports

Artists (Fine Art) 60%
Photographer 4.7%
Graphic artists/designers 4.7%
Commercial artists 3.7%
Arts officers/consultants 3.2%
Web designers 2.7%
Other 18.9%