Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
I. Course Description
This course is designed to help NHIA seniors better anticipate and transition into a post-BFA world. Research
and discussion will attempt to make the many aspects of the profession of art understandable and attainable. In
order to approach commercial galleries, curators, not-for-profit spaces, and funding bodies, students in this class
must deepen their personal understandings of their work and learn to place it within historical and contemporary
contexts. As emerging artists seeking greater exposure for their work, students must also confront several
writing challenges, including developing effective resumes, artist statements, and press releases. Students will
discuss the business aspects of the profession of art including taxes and copyright law. Students will learn to
establish, and work through, realistic goals. Finally, all students of the Professional Artist class will generate
professional quality PowerPoint presentations that, among other things, chart the trajectory of their work,
examine artistic influences, and explicate elements of their process and style.
To build knowledge, skills and confidence so that graduates are able to engage, communicate, and
succeed in a variety of professional art settings.
To teach students to place and understand their work in historical and contemporary context in order to
plan and carry out professional career development.
To teach and develop writing and presentation skills necessary for excellent communication in the
profession of Fine Art.
Students will develop a professional presentation. They will present their work both in a historical and
contemporary context and be able to define their artistic direction.
Students will complete writing projects that will include an artist’s statement and a resume. They will be
able to adapt these to fit a variety of audiences.
Students will interact with curators, gallery owners and others in the profession in order to understand
how to develop and place their work.
Students will interact with guest presenters to gain specific skills and knowledge such as small business,
legal, marketing and tax information.
Students will understand where their work fits within the context of the profession of art and be able to
articulate and act on that knowledge.
IV. Course Delivery
In-class discussions which present and challenge ideas about the Profession of Art.
Exercises to encourage critical thinking and writing skills so that students may adapt writing to fulfill a
multitude of situations, including artist statements and resume, letters of introduction and grants.
Assignments which help students identify and understand their place in the professional art world and
which allow them to set goals and anticipate challenges.
V. Evaluation Procedures
Title: How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist; selling your art without selling your soul
Author(s)/Ed(s): Carol Michels
Publisher: Holt Paperbacks
Year Published: 2001
ISBN: SBN – 13: 978-0-8050-6800-9
VII. Grading: NHIA has instituted the following grading system: A=outstanding, B=above average,
C=average, D=below average, F=failure. For a more ample discussion on grading, please refer to your student
handbook and to the individual assignment descriptions that I hand out in class.
Student responsibilities:
• Timely submission of assignments – no late work will be accepted. No exceptions. This class is founded
on the fact that the real world does not operate within the realm of excuses and late notices. The
Professional Artist class assumes an attitude of responsibility and the highest level of work ethic.
• Attendance at all classes is mandatory. Tardiness is unacceptable for the reasons stated above.
• Commitment to reading all material presented
• Keeping a notebook/ folder of handouts
• Diligent email communication with faculty
• Contributing to peer review and group work. The Professional Artist needs to be able to interact and
work with a diverse range of individuals and groups.
• Participate in class critiques and discussions
• Give Oral presentations
• Do self-directed work and self-evaluations. The Professional Artists needs to be able to be objective
about their work and understand the market for their work.
• Writing papers and other writing assignments done to the highest level.
Evaluation Procedures:
NHIA has instituted the following grading system
A = outstanding
B = above average
C = average
D = below average
F = failure
For fuller description of specific grading criteria please refer to the information below, in the student handbook
and to individual assignments descriptions.
Participation: 15%
Participation is essential in this class and in the Professional Art world. Students will be required to be fully
involved in discussion and dialogue with faculty and each other. This includes listening to all instructions,
asking questions in order to fully comprehend instructions, being involved fully in group discussions and
critiques, asking questions about and making comments on information given by presenters. Asking questions
about and making comments on information presented by faculty and other students.
NO IPODS, NO computer use unless specific to class.
Homework: 10%
Students are expected to complete homework assignments that supplement and/or prepare them for class work.
Homework for this class is essential and in part is established as a way of encouraging independent attitudes and
generating good work practices that students can bring with them into the art world. Grading will be on
completion, comprehension, timeliness and other factors presented as criteria for specific homework projects.
Homework is required to be presented in a Professional manner.
2. You should think of your talk as a performance and therefore you should practice it. One page of double
spaced text can be read in 5 minutes, so plan accordingly.
• The content of your work and how it has developed over time, including the artistic context in which
you have developed it as outlined above. These are the artistic ideas that underpin your work.
• How the work is made and how this has effected the development/subject matter choices in your work
• The art world context(s) and other general contexts in which you expect your work to be understood
(historical, contemporary as well as subject matter) for example if your work is about mechanics you
should be able to explain the mechanics as well as the work itself.
• Which direction your work is going after NHIA