Career Resources for Artists:
(The School of Arts: Thank you to the founding director, staff, and faculty who have graciously shared resources and specialized knowledge that have been used to help create materials for this guide.)
Whether you’re studying fine arts, design, photography, or any other creative field, building your artistic career begins long before graduation. The earlier you start learning about professional practices, like how to price your work, apply for grants, build a portfolio, or navigate residencies, the more prepared you’ll be to grow your creative career with confidence.
This guide highlights several credible and widely used platforms that offer free tools, guides, and insights to support emerging artists. These are excellent places to explore at your own pace and revisit often as your goals evolve.
How to Use These Resources as a Student:
- Explore One Section at a Time: Don’t feel like you have to read everything. Start with a topic that’s most relevant to you, like building a portfolio or understanding grant language.
- Bookmark & Revisit: These resources are great to return to at different stages, whether preparing for a gallery show, internship, or grant application.
- Think Beyond Class Projects: Use these tools to develop your identity as an artist and start shaping your career path outside of the classroom.
- Take Notes for Future Applications: Many guides share real examples or templates that can help you prepare materials for jobs, residencies, or exhibitions.
Top Resources for Artists:
| Platform | What It Offers | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Highly Recommended Job/Internship Boards & Strategies to Enhance Your Search: (Tailored to Creative Arts, Media & Marketing Career Cluster) | Using popular job/internship boards is a great way to maximize your job search options. Different platforms offer unique features, and employers may post their openings on only one or two sites. By exploring multiple boards, you give yourself the best chance to find the opportunities that fit your goals. | Click here |
| NYFA – Knowledge Base | Maintained by the New York Foundation for the Arts, this is a comprehensive database of how-to articles, FAQs, and best practices related to grants, proposals, budgeting, and career development. | Guides/Articles/Resources Jobs The go-to jobs board in the arts and culture industry |
| College Art Association (CAA): Career Services (Resource shared from the School of the Arts) | The College Art Association offers resources for emerging and established professionals in the visual arts and academia. Their Career Center provides access to job boards, grant opportunities, and professional development tools tailored to artists and art historians. (Resource shared from the School of the Arts) | CAA Job/Internship Board Fellowships and Scholarships |
| Pro Fellow: 10 Visual Arts Fellowships for Emerging and Established Artists | “Whether you’re an early-career artist seeking your first residency or an established creative looking to deepen your practice, visual arts fellowships can offer transformative opportunities. From generous project funding and studio time to cross-disciplinary residencies in inspiring settings, these programs support artists at key moments in their careers. This curated list highlights 10 competitive fellowships that provide time, space, funding, and community to help visual artists thrive. “ | Click here |
| Pro Fellow: Filtered by Creative Arts Fellowships | 444 listings as of September 2025 | Click here |
| ArtConnect Magazine – Resources | A curated list of free resources for artists across disciplines, including residencies, grant tips, pricing, and open calls. Easy to browse by category. | Guides and Resources Artists Opportunities |
| GYST-Ink – Professional Practices for Artists | Focused on teaching the business of being an artist, GYST offers guides on writing artist statements, documenting work, contract basics, and managing your career. | Click here |
| Format Magazine – Resources for Creators | Features helpful articles and interviews for photographers, visual artists, and designers. Includes portfolio tips, business guides, and creative entrepreneurship content. | Click here |
| Community Arts Partnership: FREE Professional Development Workshops! | View recorded webinars on various topics that will help you advance your professional skills in the arts. Topics include: musical gigs, careers in music, marketing for artists, fundraising, selling your work, and business strategies in the arts. | Click here |
| The Creative Independent – Artist Guides | Thoughtful, candid guides and interviews focused on navigating creative life, mental health, money, and self-management. Excellent for honest, reflective advice. (Resource shared from the School of the Arts) | Click here |
| The Print Center New York: Artist Opportunities (Resource shared from the School of the Arts) | This site curates a comprehensive list of opportunities for visual artists, with a focus on printmaking and photography. Resources include grants, residencies, calls for entry, and exhibitions to support artists at various stages of their careers. | Click here |
| Explore Careers in the Arts with The Art Career Project | Art Career Profiles: Hundreds of detailed profiles covering skills, education, income potential, and job prospects for creative careers. These profiles include advice from seasoned artists. The Art Career Project Blog: offers inspiration, tips, and advice to help you get ahead in your career. Art Schools: Discover programs that help students stretch their creative muscles, experiment with ideas, and refine artistic abilities. | Click here |
| Fleishman Resources: Online Portfolios, Art Residencies, and Artist Statements, Bios, & About Me’s | These resources are a collection of industry expert resources, organized in a way to help you engage with your own career goals. | Online Portfolio Guide Artist Residencies: A Guide for Creative Career Exploration Artist Statements, Bios, and About Me’s: A Creative Writing Guide |
| Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts | “Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA) is the leading legal aid and education organization dedicated to New York artists and its arts and cultural organizations.” | Click here |
Career Support & Sources:
As you explore this resource, we encourage you to take advantage of everything available to support your career journey. Below, you’ll find the sources and contributors that made this guide possible, multiple ways to connect with our office for personalized career support, and some important reminders to keep in mind as you plan your strategy. Be sure to check them out, and remember, our team is always here to help you move forward with confidence and clarity.
| Reminder | What This Means for You |
|---|---|
| Use Multiple Sources | Information about careers and education can vary depending on where you look. Try checking several websites and resources when researching anything related to your career development (for example: job outlooks, salaries, industry trends, graduate programs, or fellowships, etc.). This will help you get a fuller, more accurate picture of what employers or admissions committees are looking for. |
| Make Sure to Network | Talking directly with people associated with your career goals or the programs/companies you’re interested in can give you the clearest and most useful insights. Reach out to professionals, recruiters, alumni, or current students to learn what really matters in your field (for example: company expectations, hiring timelines, résumé preferences, graduate program requirements, etc.). Even within the same industry or graduate program type, different organizations and admissions committees may value things differently. Listening carefully to their guidance can help you put your best foot forward. |
| Use AI Ethically in Career Development | AI tools can be a great resource for brainstorming, polishing materials, or practicing interview questions (for example: outlining position description details to guide your documents, generating practice questions, etc.). But it works best when you use it thoughtfully and make sure the final work reflects your own skills and voice. Some employers and graduate programs may not allow AI, so always check instructions carefully. Think of AI as a helper, not a replacement—and remember, Career Consultants are happy to guide you on how to use it effectively! |
| Be Aware of Employment Scams | When searching for jobs or internships, it’s important to stay alert for potential scams—especially when exploring positions outside of Binghamton’s Handshake. Common warning signs include requests for personal or financial information upfront, job offers without interviews, or anything that seems “too good to be true.” To learn more about what to watch for, see real examples, and find out how to protect yourself or respond if you encounter a scam, check out Employment Scam Information – Binghamton University. Staying informed helps you pursue opportunities safely and confidently. |
Drop-ins: When classes are in session, Monday-Friday, from 12-4 p.m., you can visit our office to schedule a 20-minute drop-in with our staff.
Appointments: You can schedule your 30-minute career session on Handshake. These are offered all year and can be done virtually and in person.
Online Resources: Visit uConnect, our virtual career center that is always accessible to support your career needs.
Picture Source: Gemini (AI-generated image by Google Gemini)
Website Sources: Special thanks to the organizations, industry experts, and thought leaders who share valuable career resources, research, and articles with the public. Your work provides important insights that support students’ career development.
- Thank you to the founding director, staff, and faculty who have graciously shared resources and specialized knowledge that have been used to help create materials for the Creative Arts, Media, and Marketing Career Cluster
AI Assistance: Portions of this resource may have been developed with support from AI tools (such as ChatGPT by OpenAI or Gemini), used to help synthesize research, generate summaries, and refine formatting. All final content has been reviewed and customized for Binghamton University students.
