There are schools available in North Carolina for virtually any type of artist.
Whether you aspire to be a pottery maker, a painter, a graphic artist, a filmmaker or an art director, there is a school for you in North Carolina. Art and design fields are expected to see job growth through 2016, with graphic designers and multimedia artists showing the biggest gains. Depending on your goals, there are several types of schools available, including vocational and technical, community colleges, art academies, four-year art schools, colleges and universities.
Careers in Art
Though many art majors work in museums, galleries, schools, advertising agencies, magazines, newspapers and movie studios, more than 60 percent are self-employed. At the top of the salary scale is the art director, with an average salary of about $90,000 per year; a craft artist can earn about $30,000 per year. There is a lot of competition for jobs in the art world, but prospects for job growth are estimated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to be about 16 percent through 2016.
Art Academies and Workshops
For those who may simply want to dabble in art, an art academy or workshop may be the quickest and cheapest way to go. Classes are usually hands-on and can last one day or a few months. You don't need previous experience for most of these schools, and you can get experience in drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, fine crafts, home decorating or any number of things. Classes such as these are mostly offered by local art studios.
Vocational and Technical Schools
The Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham and the Art Institute of Charlotte are part of a nationwide organization of 45 schools that specializes in the creative and applied arts and offers master's, bachelor's and associate's degree programs, as well as diploma and certificate programs. You can take classes and specialize in design, media, fashion or culinary arts at one of these schools. They also offer an open house, which allows prospective students to visit the school campus.
Colleges and Universities
The University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem offers studies in dance, design and production, drama, filmmaking, music and visual arts. The university boasts graduates in the American Ballet Theatre, the Metropolitan Opera, Broadway, television and movies. The school awards high school diplomas, college arts diplomas and professional artist certificates as well as bachelor's and master's degrees. Prospective students must audition or interview for admission and study with resident master teachers who remain active professionals.
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