Preparing for Careers in Fine Art at USM
Parents of high school students who have set their sights on careers in studio art can rest easier when wondering if a living can be made producing works of art.
The University of Southern Maine Art Department is beginning a program for studio art majors unique in the state and nationally this fall. The B.A. in Studio with a Concentration in Art and Entrepreneurial Studies requires courses in art history and intensive studio work, as one would expect, but also requires business and technology courses.
The business courses, taught in USM's School of Business, are in four categories: introduction to business, finance, marketing and entrepreneurship. The technology courses, taught in USM's School of Applied Science, Engineering, and Technology, may range from introductory classes in computers, technical graphics, desktop publishing, and Web site development. Another major component to the program is a required internship/mentorship. During the internship students work in artist's studios, with businesses, or in galleries, allowing them to experience and gain practical experience from working first hand with art world professionals.
Another career track in USM's Department of Art is the bachelor of fine arts with a concentration in art education. This degree offers an in-depth studio experience as well as a professional course of study in art education leading to teacher certification in Maine.
Both these degree programs are guided by the concept that individuals need to be prepared for work in an increasingly complex and culturally diverse world. Michael Shaughnessy, chair of the Art Department, said, "An art degree has always suffered under the image that it will only lead to certain starvation. We are seeking to challenge this with an understanding that the skills that one acquires in art are very adaptable to the marketplace. Although no one can guarantee success, in these programs we allow students to not only gain the skills of a professional artist, but also the knowledge of how to apply them in meaningful and economically productive ways. Ways that can allow for one to follow a dream and make a living at the same time."
For information on these programs, contact the USM Office of Admission at 780-5670, or Art Department Chair Michael Shaughnessey at 780-5276.
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