Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Visiting Assistant Professors in the Arts
Patrick, a Visiting Assistant Professor, suggests unconventional entry-level approaches for undergraduates interested in the arts, such as "creating your own space" and running a community project to demonstrate initiative and creative vision. While lacking traditional entry-level experience, Patrick's own career trajectory highlights the value of mentorship, proactive engagement, and finding "a more unconventional path."
Creative Vision, Community Building, Networking, Unconventional Career Paths, Mentorship
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Patrick Michael Ballard
Visiting Assistant Professor
Artist
CSU Long Beach (2011)
California Institute of the Arts: MFA in Fine Arts
Fine Arts, Music
Arts, Entertainment & Media, Education
Education
Video Highlights
1. Gain familiarity with the work pace and style through internships at game companies.
2. Create your own art space or community to showcase your work and build experience.
3. Seek mentorship opportunities with established professionals in the field and learn from their experiences.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
Depending on the fields I'm connected to, working at art spaces is a good option. Applying for jobs at artist-run spaces with financial support can be beneficial.
For game companies, internships are a great way to get familiar with the pace and style of work. Taking on design work is also a valuable experience.
The most interesting way to enter the cultural sphere is to create your own space and community. Run something weekly to bring people together.
This won't be a paying job, but it will be something you can point to when applying for other positions later. Being able to say you ran a weekly cooperative game playing community, organized events, and created promotional materials is a strong asset.
This demonstrates your ability to bring energy and creative vision to a space. I personally never did an entry-level job that wasn't part of my own practice.
I worked for artists and learned from mentors already in their careers. I jumped from opportunity to opportunity, finding an unconventional path to where I am now.
Therefore, I might not be the best person to ask about traditional entry-level jobs in a canonical industry.
Advizer Personal Links
https://www.patrickmichaelballard.com/, IG: @patrickmichaelballard, Bandcamp: LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-ballard-6742221bb