Many exciting and fulfilling careers exist in the creative economy, and Wellesley’s rigorous liberal arts curriculum prepares students and alumnae with strengths that are especially relevant in the arts and media fields. Opportunities can be found in every sector— from nonprofit organizations, education, and government, to Fortune 500 companies. Whether you are interested in working in a museum, a lifestyle start-up, a civic arts council, a classroom, an established corporation, somewhere in-between, or somewhere beyond, you can find positions. Students and alumnae are encouraged to get started by exploring the resources below and scheduling an appointment in Handshake to meet with Hebert Labbate.
Arts Resources
The resources below explore a broad range of careers in art and design; from architecture, to fashion, to museum work, and beyond.
Nonprofits are mission-driven organizations dedicated to addressing a particular social issue or advocating for a cause. These resources provide an overview of the vast nonprofit sector, which includes numerous industries and many job functions.
Appointments can be scheduled in Handshake for Mon–Fri.
Sign up for newsletters!
Update your Career Interests in Handshake to sign up for Arts, Media, Nonprofit, & Human Services newsletters! You'll get advice from Hebert, learn about events, discover opportunities, hear alumnae stories, and more.
Like most art disciplines, careers in theatre span widely from performance and creative roles to technical positions to administrative functions and even educational and therapeutic professions.
Museums are educational organizations that collect, preserve, and present important artifacts and/or works of art for the public to view and study. Museums may be organized by their collections (art, history, natural history) or by their intended audiences (children's museums). Possible occupational titles include: museum director, curator, collections manager, archivist, museum technician, conservator, researcher, exhibit designer, educator, editor, photographer, and librarian.
Careers in media production vary from working behind the camera to editing, storyboarding, planning, producing, and managing client relationships. Most media production takes place in the realm of advertising, entertainment, or journalism, but some production companies are hired by corporations or non-profits to produce content for websites, training, or print.
Almost every career in journalism begins with writing experience. While many schools offer specialized degrees in journalism, with courses like Feature Article Writing, Digital Storytelling, Investigative Journalism, etc, students can use skills gained from a liberal arts education to prepare for this career In fact, there are very specialized areas of journalism that are advantaged by a background in science, economics, or other disciplines.
Practicing artists support themselves by teaching, selling artwork, being awarded grants and commissions, and a wide variety of other related (and non-related) professional endeavors. Growing and maintaining an active studio practice requires both training and resources— in the form of materials, equipment, space, and exhibition or performance opportunities. Many artists refine their work and begin to connect with the world of galleries, grants, and exhibitions in a graduate program (usually an MFA program). However, this is not the only path to a career as an artist.
Fashion is a fast-paced and exciting industry for those who love clothes, designs, and trends. This international industry includes careers ranging from modeling to fabric/clothing design, from marketing to retail, from business to manufacturing, from buying to merchandising. Possible occupational titles include: fashion designer, model, photographer, fashion editor, fashion writer, fashion stylist, fashion buyer, retail merchandisers.
