Fine arts includes a number of career opportunities and job titles, from performers and artists, to arts administrators, to filmmakers and designers. For as many different careers as there are in the fire arts field, there are even more pathways into these roles.
So where to start? These resources can help you find a variety of opportunities and learn more about what possibilities are out there for creators and creative supporters.
General Resources
Springboard for the Arts: a Minnesota non-profit that provides a job board of fine art and fine art-adjacent jobs, offers information on grants and funding, and provides a wealth of resources such as career consultation, gear and equipment rentals, and health and wellness support.
Minnesota State Arts Board: offers grants and other opportunities for Minnesota fine arts creators, also provides a list of Minnesota arts organizations to get involved with
Metropolitan Regional Arts Council: information on grants, funding, and accessibility resources for Minnesotans; connected to the Minnesota State Arts Board
Art Jobs: a job search site featuring career opportunities in arts, theater, culture, education and libraries, and museums across the country
McKnight Artist Fellowships: provides funding and support to Minnesota artists within specific venues such as the Loft, American Composers Forum, the Playwrights’ Center, and many others.
Americans for the Arts Career Center: offers a job search for a variety of fine art careers across the US
New York Foundation for the Arts: includes a job board for art and art-related careers across the US
Art Career Café: another job board for a variety of career paths
National Endowment for the Arts: offers grants and a number of other resources for artists of all kinds
For Visual Arists
Juxtapostition Arts – Programs: a Minneapolis-based organization to engage and employ young urban artists; also provides classes and events for teens and college students
Forecast: an organization in St. Paul offering resources, grants, and opportunities for artists of color, Indigenous and/or Native artists, and groups that are traditionally excluded
Indigenous Roots: a cultural space and organization dedicated to building, supporting and cultivating opportunities for Native, Black, Brown and Indigenous peoples.
Kennedy Center – Visual Arts Career: an outline of what it takes to have a career in the visual arts (also available for download)
For Performing Artists/Musicians
O*NET Performing Arts Job Search: job openings related to the performing arts for searching and exploration
The Dramatists Guild: the national trade association of playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists; offers membership and a variety of career services
Entertainers Worldwide: job listings for musicians, actors, and many other performance styles across the globe
Theatre Communications Group: offers grants, a job board, professional development, and other resources for those in theater
Association of Performing Arts Professionals – Job bank: job listings for opportunities in performing arts across the US
National Association for Music Education: job and internship resources for music educators
Musical America Worldwide: job opportunities, festivals and contests, service organizations, and more
Musicians Page: listings for freelance and gig work
Musical Chairs: job listings for those interested in classical music
American Composers Forum: a community space for musicians based in St. Paul; offers a variety of programs and services across the US
Mandy: opportunities for a variety of preforming arts across the world
Walker West: music education, concerts and community events in the Twin Cities rooted in the African American experience
Minnesota Playlist: job board and volunteer opportunities in the Twin Cities as well as audition listings; also includes a business directory and articles
Playwrights Center: offers membership and classes, free readings, and a variety of opportunities to playwrights and performers
For Creative Writers
The Loft: offers courses, career services, festivals, and a number of other resources for creative writers
Poets and Writers: a publication that helps writers connect with others, promote and publish their work, and search for opportunities, grants, MFA programs, agents, and other tools
Association of American Publishers: represents publishers in the US on matters of law and policy; offers internships and a variety of information bout the world of publishing