College and Careers in Visual Art

The Impact of Art in South Carolina

Overall, the cultural industry in South Carolina supports $686.7 million in labor earnings, 29,348 jobs, and $1.8 billion in output. Of every $100 of wages and salaries earned in South Carolina, $1.30 can be linked to the cultural/creative industry. Of every 100 jobs in the state, 1.6 are directly or indirectly linked to the arts. A total of 9,126 jobs are directly linked to the for-profit cultural firms. Ultimately, it is the arts' addition to the quality of life in South Carolina that is perhaps the most important impact. Indeed, the arts exist primarily because of the numerous qualitative ways they enrich our lives. The full range of positive impacts of the cultural industry in South Carolina justifies ongoing support of the arts.
Information taken from a study completed by the Division of Research, Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina, in April 2002.

Did you know...

  • On average in both 2000 and 2001, the arts in South Carolina directly and indirectly supported $700 million in wages and salaries, 30,000 jobs, and 1.9 billion in economic output. 
  • Counting all the art forms and types of participation in the arts examined in the SPPA (Survey of Public Participation in the Arts), 76 percent of adults, or 157 million people, made the arts part of their lives. The survey investigated different forms of participation, including viewing or listening to performing arts on television or radio, reading literature, visiting historic sites, performing and creating art, owning art and taking classes.
  • 1,250,000 Americans work in the art and design industries, representing a total of one in 111 jobs.
  • The creative industries are an important international export industry for the U.S., estimated at 30 billion annually.

Careers in the Visual Arts

Performance/Studio:
  • Exhibiting Artist
  • Performance Artist
  • Visiting Artists, Artist in Residence, Artist in the Schools
  • Art Critic/Writer
  • Foundry Worker/Welder
  • Professional Craftsman-Ceramics, glass, printmaking, furniture making, metals
Education:
  • Art Education- K-12, post secondary, workshops, continuing education
  • Art Therapy
  • Art Historian
  • Art Criticism
  • Museum Exhibit Designer
  • Museum Curator
Technology:
  • Web Design
  • Film and Video-Directing, Cinematographer, Editing (film, music, sound, and FX), Art directing, Visual Effects
  • Scientific Visualization
  • Technical Director
  • Architecture
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Industrial Design
  • Scientific Illustration
  • Soft-ware Design
  • Bio-Medical Photography
  • Interior Design
  • Packaging Design
Business:
Art Director
Communications Director
Appraiser
Project Manager
Gallery Director
Marketing Analyst
Artist Representative/Agent Copyright and Business Lawyer
Film Production Manager
Business Owner-web-based, photographic studio, gallery, publishing
Accounting/Grant Writing

Check out the following resources for more information about Visual Art careers.