Art Teacher | The Art Career Project (2024)

By TACP Staff on July 05, 2021

Art Teacher | The Art Career Project (1)

Few careers in the art world offer rewards and personal satisfaction afforded an art teacher. Passion transformed and converted into instruction is one of the most powerful tools in education. Whether the classroom is filled with aspiring college students or youngsters acquiring their first skills; transference of artistic talent through teaching is a gift worth having, and giving.

What Is an Art Teacher?

Art teachers are creative and talented professionals who teach students of all ages drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, and printmaking skills and techniques. In secondary school, they might also teach art history. Art teachers might show students how to use photographic darkrooms, kilns to fire sculpture, and other equipment. They plan lessons and organize projects to ensure all art supplies are available for students’ use. Sometimes art teachers will also arrange exhibitions of student artwork at school or in the community.

Art teachers must enjoy working with children, teenagers, or young adults, and have a love of art and high levels of creative and artistic talent. They should be able to motivate as well as encourage students, have great communication and organizational skills, be patient and open-minded and easygoing.

Art teachers must also be skilled with a wide range of materials, which may include paints, palette knives, and brushes, pencils, and charcoal, papers, canvases, clay, and dyes. When teaching art history or art theory, they may also use whiteboards or computers, especially when teaching digital art or grading and writing student reports.

In the simplest of terms, art teachers teach students about art, with a focus on inspiring and helping students to express themselves creatively. Many art teachers are practicing artists themselves. They have a passion for the field of art and education. Duties vary depending on the age or grade level of students. Some K-12 art teachers in public schools will work with students from kindergarten through high school, based on their certification. However, teaching at a private school, in an after-school program, community center, or art cooperative does not require certification.

At the elementary level, instruction is basic and meant to foster an interest in the arts and build skills. Students learn how to draw simple shapes, how to mix and incorporate colors, they work on different crafting projects, or make a pinch pot with clay. In middle and high school an art teacher will build on basic art techniques, while also introducing students to concepts in art history. They may also familiarize students with other visual mediums, such as photography, art theory, graphic design, and video. In high school, students who are artistically inclined are also encouraged to explore a career in art.

Art teachers who want to teach serious art students at the postsecondary level may want to explore a career as an art professor. It can be a very rewarding career in that you share your knowledge with aspiring artists while also continuing to work in your art form – the perfect combination. In the position, you will teach classes in your area of expertise, like painting or sculpture. You will also introduce students to new techniques and new mediums, teach studio classes and art history and art theory.

Although most art teachers teach in their own area of expertise, some may also teach dance or theater. They need good communication skills, must be able to work well in a team environment, and have superior time management and organizational skills. Art professors have a clear understanding of art at the postsecondary levels, why art belongs in a college curriculum and the many benefits of art. They must also have a passion for teaching and making their own art.

Little doubt that an art teacher does many tasks at once, such as teaching art techniques, setting op exhibitions, critiquing students work, advising students, grading students work, and departmental administrative jobs, but generally, an art teacher will guide students to find more innovative ways to make art. They will teach students to express their own individuality through art and expose students to different forms of art. In high school, art teachers will lead students to use a variety of mediums and techniques, and explore emerging technologies and tools, while encouraging and cultivating an enthusiastic appreciation of all forms of art.

Art Teacher Education Requirements

What Are the Education Requirements for an Art Teacher?

Nearly all jobs for art teachers require a bachelor’s degree in art. Some schools will require a master’s degree, especially at the high school level. College and postsecondary art teachers must earn a master’s or doctorate in art. Art student/teachers usually choose to enroll in an art education program, which combines courses in the practice and theories of art and art history with courses in education that leads to attaining their teaching certification. Another path is to major in art while also completing a teacher preparation program.

At the elementary level, most states require art teachers to have earned a bachelor’s degree in education. Some states require teachers to earn a master’s degree within a certain timeframe after accepting a teaching position. Graduate programs require advanced coursework and may also offer a practicum or internship. To become a high school art teacher, students are required to earn a bachelor’s degree in art or art education, along with completing coursework in general education and a teacher assistant internship. Many programs allow aspiring art teachers to specialize in the grade level they wish to teach. Coursework may include learning issues, curriculum development, classroom management, human development, critical thinking, pupil assessment, and teaching resources. Students will also take studio classes in areas such as painting or life drawing, and are expected to create an art portfolio.

Prerequisites for an art professor are different than if teaching at the elementary, middle or high school levels. Most art professorships require a minimum of a master’s infine artswith a concentration in a student’s chosen medium. Although not required, a doctoral degree increases a teacher’s competitiveness in gaining employment in a college or university setting. It should be noted that most art professors also have at least several years of professional experience in their specific field, such as photography, sculpture, or graphic arts.

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The US Bureau of Labor Statistics states that public school teachers must be licensed or certified in all 50 states, but that the requirements differ from state to state. Licensure is based on subject taught or grade level. To be eligible for theNational Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS)certification, aspiring art teachers must hold a bachelor’s degree and have a minimum of three years of experience (usually as a teaching assistant).

Where Do Art Teachers Work?

Most art teachers work in public or private schools throughout the US, with the highest levels of employment in colleges, universities, professional or private schools, junior colleges, and technical or trade schools. Some art teachers will find employment at a charter or magnet school, within programs that focus on the arts. Art teachers can also find employment at daycare centers, the YMCA, at summer camps, or an after-school program. Adult learning centers also hire teachers to teach art to their residents.

Some states also have programs called ‘artists-in-schools’ that provide opportunities for practicing artists to work in schools. They may offer one-day workshops or establish long-term relationships with a single school. They are not required to be licensed.

Art teachers can also teach classes and provide art demonstrations via online video presentations on sites like YouTube, CreativeLive and Lynda.com. The majority of these artists work as adjunct professors at colleges, teaching on a contract basis.

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Art Teacher Salary & Job Outlook

The average starting salary for a certified art teacher varies a great deal; anywhere from $40,000 to $47,000 per year. On average, charter and private school salaries are about $10,000 less than art teachers working in the public sector. Art teachers who have earned a Master’s of Fine Arts (MFA) can earn about $9,000 more than those holding a bachelor’s degree. According to the USBureau of Labor Statistics,postsecondary art teachers can make upwards of $76,000 per year. Those working in technical or trade schools make slightly less, at about $60,000 per year. There were about 99,000 teachers (art, drama, and music) working in postsecondary positions in 2015, which is an increase of about 2.3 percent. Of course, salary varies based on education, geographic location, and by the school district, as well as state/school budgets.

Helpful Organizations, Societies & Agenecies

Related Careers in Art &Art Studies

  • Art Dealer
  • Art Historian
  • Art Professor
  • Art Therapist
  • Journalist
  • Museum Curator
  • Poet
Art Teacher | The Art Career Project (2024)

FAQs

What is the art career project? ›

The Art Career Project is a leading destination for artists to explore career paths, search programs, and find the resources they need to build careers with longevity and meaning.

What is a good art career? ›

Other potential career options include: Multimedia Specialist, Film Director, Curator, Product Designer, Art Director, Museum Director, Art Teacher, Art Therapist, Medical Illustrator, and Systems Designer.

What do art teachers do? ›

Art teachers instruct students how to produce, appreciate, and understand the fine arts. Like teachers in other fields, they develop teaching outlines and lesson plans, give lectures, facilitate discussions and activities, keep class attendance records, assign homework, and evaluate student progress.

How do I make a career project? ›

Career Research Project
  1. Step 1: Choose a career that interests you. ...
  2. Step 2: Sketch a “rough draft” of your poster indicating where you will place the title, information sheets and photos. ...
  3. Step 4: Find pictures, graphs and/or diagrams that illustrate your career and make it look visually interesting!

How much does an artist make? ›

National estimates for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators:
Percentile10%50% (Median)
Hourly Wage$ 9.34$ 29.24
Annual Wage (2)$ 19,430$ 60,820

What dies an art director do? ›

Art directors determine which photographs, art, or other design elements to use. Art directors are responsible for the visual style and images in magazines, newspapers, product packaging, and movie and television productions. They create the overall design and direct others who develop artwork or layouts.

What are the types of art careers? ›

The examples of Art, Photography, Sculpture, 3D Design, Game Design and Graphic Design jobs illustrated above are just a handful of the exciting career paths that are possible for high school Art students.

What other jobs can art teachers do? ›

Art education careers can vary widely, from teaching different grade levels, to museum, curation to arts administration, and other non-profit work. The positions below offer an overview of the variety of work you can do with an art education master's degree.

Is artist a good career? ›

In short, it is not easy being a successful fine artist (someone who makes a living by creating original, one-off pieces of art) -- but many people do succeed in supporting themselves through a combination of hard work, perseverance, and using their artistic talents and knowledge in a variety of ways to supplement ...

What is art teacher? ›

An art teacher is a professional who works in a school and teaches students how to create ceramics and sculptures, paint, take photographs and draw. An art teacher may also work privately or at an art center. They teach students about art theory, art creation and art history.

Why are art teachers important? ›

Art teachers teach creativity and innovation. They teach multiple answers to problems. They encourage mistakes and experimentation. They teach students to be thinkers – not memorizers.

What makes a good art teacher? ›

Being a great art teacher is about more than helping students create art. The best art teachers understand they are colleagues, professional educators, part of a staff, working for an administration, and a representative for arts education.

What should be included in a career project? ›

Project Questions and Outline
  1. Description of the occupation including main duties and responsibilities. ...
  2. What are the education, skills, and training requirements for the occupation? ...
  3. List other required qualifications such as licensing, certifications, etc.

What are career ideas? ›

In this article we discuss 10 career ideas you may find fun and we offer tips for finding your next career.
...
Ten careers to consider
  1. Software test engineer. ...
  2. IT manager. ...
  3. Web developer. ...
  4. Video game designer. ...
  5. Occupational therapist. ...
  6. Mechanical engineer. ...
  7. Market research analyst.
Nov 5, 2020

How do you do a career exploration project? ›

You are to include a synopsis of the career, the education needed, the job skills needed, the work environment and at least 3 other pieces of information that you found interesting, informative, surprising or that gave you specific insight to the type of career this would be over the long term.

Are artists rich? ›

You're More Likely to Become an Artist Than Someone From a Poorer Background. A recent study based on US census data suggests that artists tend to come from rich families. A new study suggests that a major determining factor in whether a person becomes an artist is his or her family's wealth.

Why do artists fail? ›

Lack of Knowledge: Many artists are willing to do the work but don't know what to do. Many don't know where to start or are afraid that they will do things wrong so they don't do anything. This includes marketing, performing, songwriting, legal issues, recording and other important facets of their careers.

How do I become an art editor? ›

Relevant degrees include graphic design, illustration, fine art, art and design, and publishing. You could still become an art editor without a degree if you have a strong portfolio of examples of your work. Paid or unpaid work experience, or a foundation course in art and design, are good ways to build your portfolio.

What skills do you need to be an art director? ›

Art Director Skills and Qualifications:
  • Coordination.
  • Creativity.
  • Vision.
  • Project management.
  • Graphic design skills.
  • Developing creative standards.
  • Proficiency with illustration tools.
  • Desktop publishing skills.

Why is art so important? ›

Art can communicate information, shape our everyday lives, make a social statement and be enjoyed for aesthetic beauty.

What is arts stream career? ›

Candidates or students who have completed Class 12th in the Arts stream may choose to pursue a study in humanities. They can also pursue careers in aviation, law, public communication, education, hospitality, and other fields.

Is teaching a good career? ›

Is teaching a good career choice? Again – yes! Whether you get into teaching for a few years or a lifelong career, it's a respected profession that is sure to enhance your professional skills in many ways. Firstly, you'll build skills such as organization, motivating others, coaching, creativity and public speaking.

What job can I do after teaching? ›

If you love motivating young people, perhaps a career in Learning Support is for you. You can find roles as a guidance counsellor, A-Level or GCSE advisor, university support staff[ii], or as a special education teacher.

Why is art a good career choice? ›

So an artistic career can still be a good choice for those who have a love for arts and enjoy being in an ambience they love. Moreover, they might get an opportunity to work with people who have an artistic mind and thus share their ideas or thoughts with people who value it.

Why did you choose art? ›

It is this use of creative problem solving skills that fosters higher level thinking skills. Art also offers students the opportunity to work cooperatively, to be responsible, and to appreciate cultures and the world around them. Art courses provide opportunities for students to learn: Drawing Skills Drawing Techniques.

Should I study art? ›

Learning through and about the arts enriches the experience of studying while at school as well as preparing students for life after school. Arts subjects encourage self-expression and creativity and can build confidence as well as a sense of individual identity.

What skills do art teachers need? ›

Personal requirements for a Teacher - Art
  • Artistic talent.
  • Enjoy creative work.
  • Enthusiastic, patient and tactful.
  • A commitment to ongoing professional development.
  • Creativity.
  • Good organisational skills.
  • Enjoy teaching and working with young people.
  • Prepared to work outside of school hours.

Who is the best art teacher in the world? ›

Three years ago, a miraculous thing happened to Andria Zafirakou, a 42-year-old art teacher at the Alperton community school in the north London borough of Brent. Out of all the 100,000,000 teachers in the world, she was named No 1, Global Teacher of the Year.

Why did you choose to be an art teacher? ›

As an artist and a teacher you have the unique ability to inspire kids…to help THEM become artists, critical thinkers, decision makers and creators. As art teachers, we strive to be completely original, to inspire passion through process and pattern, and hopefully our students will appreciate our efforts.

Why do you love being an art teacher? ›

I can't imagine my life without teaching. I love the fact that I'm able to share my love of art with my students and help them grow as artists and creative thinkers. Teaching has added purpose and meaning to my life. Art teachers–all of us–fill a world that sometimes can be all to gray with vibrant color.

How important is arts to you as a future teacher? ›

Increased self-confidence and self-understanding, enhanced communication skills, and improved cognition are among the many reasons for teaching the arts. The arts are as important as academics, and they should be treated that way in school curriculum.

What should be included in a career research paper? ›

A good career research paper should:
  1. Research your career goals.
  2. Describe your interests.
  3. Focus on a single career.
  4. Analyze various facts about the career.
  5. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of pursuing the career.
Apr 18, 2022

What is career exploration activities? ›

Career exploration activities refer to fun programming that introduces kids to a wide variety of occupations. These programs are typically focused on children in elementary and middle school, as high school students usually explore careers through more in-depth work-based learning.

What should I look for when researching a job? ›

Read interviews about specific careers. Attend career fairs or networking events related to a specific career cluster.
...
For each career, pay attention to:
  • the skills used (work activities)
  • education or training needed.
  • the median or average pay (wages)
  • the demand for the career in your area (outlook)

What is a successful career? ›

The traditional definition of career success is: “Career success is a combination of achieving a reasonable level of financial stability while doing work you enjoy and then finding that you are also happy and fulfilled with your life and career choices as well”.

How do I choose my career? ›

Choosing a career: 7 ways to explore your options
  1. Examine yourself. ...
  2. Reflect on your motivations. ...
  3. Think about your long-term goals. ...
  4. Take different self-assessment tests. ...
  5. Explore sectors. ...
  6. Explore industries. ...
  7. Seek out professional resources. ...
  8. Explore career options on your list.
May 31, 2022

How do I create a career plan for high school students? ›

Explore your interests
  1. Learn about yourself. Understanding what you enjoy—and what you're good at—is the first step in exploring careers, say school counselors. ...
  2. Identify possible careers. ...
  3. Do your research. ...
  4. Internships. ...
  5. Jobs. ...
  6. Other activities. ...
  7. In high school. ...
  8. After high school.

What is exploration teacher? ›

During the exploration phase, teachers provide students with two or more activities that allow students to explore a new topic and ask questions. Students are investigating, questioning and developing critical thinking skills about the science topic.

What is career exploration for students? ›

A career exploration program enables students to gain insight into potential careers. Students learn what skills are necessary for a particular career and what those who are in the profession do as part of their job. With this information, students can imagine themselves in careers that suit them.

What are the 4 steps of the critical analysis process and what do they mean? ›

There are four basic steps: describing, analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating.

Who makes 100000 a year? ›

For example, according to the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, physicians, surgeons, chief executives, lawyers, pharmacists, and dentists in the U.S. all earn more than $100,000 per year, on average. So do some types of engineers and scientists, including astronomers and physicists.

What art career makes the most money? ›

Creative Director

How much do tattoo artists make? ›

Tattoo Artist Salary

Tattoo artists make $63,584 per year on average, or $30.57 per hour, in the United States. Tattoo artists on the lower end of that spectrum, the bottom 10% to be exact, make roughly $27,000 a year, while the top 10% makes $148,000.

Why do we need to study art? ›

It helps us to make sense of our own lives and identify with the lives of others. It is also increasingly recognized as a driver of the innovative thinking needed to solve our world's most pressing problems. Learning and practicing art, and tapping into your creativity, can make you better at whatever you do.

How do you analyze an artwork? ›

Analyzing Artwork (Art Criticism)
  1. Description (It answers the question, "What do you see?") ...
  2. Analyze (It answers the question, "How did the artist do it?") ...
  3. Interpretation (It answers the question, "What is the artist trying to say? ...
  4. Evaluation (What do I think about this artwork?

How do you write an art critique essay? ›

To write a perfect art critique paper, use the four elements mentioned before: description, analysis, interpretation, and judgment. Understanding these elements will allow you to evaluate any artwork thoroughly and objectively.

What is a good salary at 25? ›

Average Salary for Ages 25-34

For Americans ages 25 to 34, the median salary is $960 per week, or $49,920 per year. That's a big jump from the median salary for 20- to 24-year-olds.

What jobs pay a million a year? ›

Jobs that better your chances of becoming a millionaire
  • Professional athlete.
  • Investment banker.
  • Entrepreneur.
  • Lawyer.
  • Certified public accountant.
  • Insurance agent.
  • Engineer.
  • Real estate agent.

What is a fun job that pays well? ›

Jobs that pay between $60,000 and $90,000 and evoke minimal stress include dietician, audiologist, technical writer, hydrologist and geographer. With competitive salaries above $100,000, enjoyable careers include mathematician, astronomer, orthodontist, physicist and political scientist.

Is art a good career? ›

Kicking off with perhaps the most obvious of art careers, there is no reason why you cannot pursue a career as a professional artist if you have talent and dedication. You will also need plenty of self-belief, stamina and the ability to promote yourself, as this is a highly competitive career path.

Which arts degree is the best? ›

The following is a list of the best 10 degrees for artists:
  • Fine Arts. A fine arts degree gives you an education in the visual arts. ...
  • Graphic Design. ...
  • Business. ...
  • Digital Arts. ...
  • Game and Interactive Media Design. ...
  • Cinematography and Film/Video Production. ...
  • Theater Arts. ...
  • Fashion Design.

How many jobs are in arts? ›

List of top 25 arts stream jobs with salary
Job TitleExpected Immediate Salary
Industrial DesignerRs. 1,50,000 to 2,50,000 per annum
Game & Art DesignerRs. 1,50,000 to 4,00,000 per annum
AnimatorRs. 1,00,000 to 5,00,000 per annum
PhotographerRs. 1,50,000 to 5,00,000 per annum
20 more rows
Jan 19, 2022

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