Introduction
It is commonly seen that many of us acquire Technical degrees and make a living doing something other than what we like or were naturally born to do. However, among us, there may be few, who have the courage and passion to follow their heart by studying arts and pursuing a career in it.
Visual and Performing Arts is part of a broad group called ‘the arts’. Visual and Performing Arts is about active art, such as acting, drama, music, etc. Today, we observe huge and successful industries like Hollywood, who have taken the world by surprise with their high quality work in Visual and Performing Arts. Moreover, a lot of talented people among us have demonstrated their flair in fields such as drama, design, fashion etc, thus setting examples for students who want to pursue a career in Visual and Performing Arts.
Education in Visual and Performing Arts
There are many people who are interested in professionally engaging in Visual and Performing Arts. While many people happen to get a lucky break in this field, there are others who study to achieve their particular positions. Many colleges and universities offer education programs in various areas of Visual and Performing Arts. These programs equip you with abilities required to step into the Visual and Performing Arts industry as a professional. However, it is seen that studies in Visual and Performing Arts is expensive and their prices are varied depending on your concentration area.
Eligibility Criteria
To gain admission, you need to meet the pre-requisite that each college has for Visual and Performing Arts studies. For some people, this is just a route through which they pursue their education, which is a usual progression through high school and onto graduation. For others, it might mean a change in their specialization, as they might have completed their education in some other field, and then felt the need to study film, theatre, etc. In addition to these routes, there are also courses and programs that people can take that are not part of a regular degree. This is especially for those who may not have the time to invest in a degree.
Portfolio Review
You need to prepare a Portfolio of your work to enroll into a program. Portfolio Review is a means of interim assessment of the student’s skills in their intended concentration area. During this review, preference is given to prospective artists with a depth of thought and originality in work
Different Flavours in Visual and Performing Arts
Education in art is available in disciplines such as Animation, CAD, Digital Arts, Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Music, Film, and Theatre. A flexible curriculum consisting of theory and knowledge of professional skills is taught in various renowned universities of USA. These programs prepare students for multiple career directions in industries such as media, business, design, entertainment etc.
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D artwork used to create an illusion of movement. Studying animation as a subject takes an experimental approach to the creation of art using the computer.
Many colleges offer various degree programs that include courses which merge the technical and aesthetic aspects of computer art. They provide Bachelor Degrees and many Diplomas in Animation and related fields such as Visual Communications, Game Design, Video and Motion Graphics.
Students learn digital image making, graphics programming, 3-D modeling, 2-D and 3-D computer animation, interactive multimedia, Internet technologies, and other contemporary computer art techniques. In the programming courses, students write their own animated and interactive work. Students are trained in using computer art for designing games. Students also learn to use their creativity to produce attention-grabbing communication design for film, television, and the Web.
Job Avenues
Graduates in related fields of computer art, work in areas that range from purely a fine arts direction to computer animation, special effects in film, interactive multimedia, graphics programming, broadcast graphics, and creative web development.
Graduates in Animation and Game Design are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as modelers, storyboard artists, animation artists, 3-D illustrators, digital artists, FX artists, video post-production artists, broadcast graphics designers, and game designers.
Graduates in Video and Motion Graphics are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as production assistant, assistant designer, visual effect specialist, or broadcast design assistant.
CAD
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) is the use of computer technology to aid in the design of a product. CAD is used to design, develop and optimize products, which can be goods used by end consumers or intermediate goods used in other products. CAD is also extensively used in the design of tools and machinery used in the manufacture of components, and in the drafting and design of all types of buildings, from small residential types (houses) to the largest commercial and industrial structures (hospitals and factories).CAD has become an especially important technology, within the scope of Computer Aided technologies, with benefits such as lower product development costs and a greatly shortened design cycle. CAD enables designers to lay out and develop work on screen, print it out and save it for future editing, saving time on their drawings.
Many colleges offer various degree programs and certified diplomas in CAD Architectural Drafting and Design.
Digital Arts
In the Digital Art program, students learn drawing, design fundamentals, lettering and typography, and graphic design. Many colleges offer diplomas in Digital Game Design that prepares graduates to learn art and design skills required to get into the gaming field. This program polishes talents to create applications used within the business, education, training, and entertainment industries.
Job Avenues
Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as production and design positions with advertising agencies, graphic design firms, corporate communications departments, and printing companies.
Fine Arts
The bachelor of fine arts (B.F.A.) degree program in art gives you choice to concentrate in either one of the areas such as Photography, Fashion Design and Merchandising, and Visual Communication.
Coursework in Photography provides thorough training in black-and-white, color, and digital photography, as well as an opportunity to explore many alternative photography-related techniques. Coursework in Fashion Design equips you with basic skills in garment construction, textiles, knit design, accessory design and fashion drawing. A graduate in Visual Communication is prepared to take a communication perspective on every dimension of his life: professionally, personally, and in his role as active community members.
Job Avenues
Graduates in Photography are encouraged to exhibit their photographs nationally and work for magazines, advertising agencies, museums, galleries, corporations, and educational institutions. Graduates in Fashion Design work for design houses in small-scale or mass distribution, trade magazines, fashion periodicals, and support industries.
Graphic Design
In the Graphic Design program, students learn design, typography, and color theory. Industry-specific software is utilized to help you learn to create everything from logos and posters to packaging, Web sites, and corporate identity packages.
Job Avenues
Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as advertising designer, computer artist, freelance artist, graphic designer, or layout artist.
Interior Design
Interior designers plan, design, and detail elements of interior space. Many Universities and Colleges offer major and minor courses in Interior Design. Within this professional, architecturally oriented program, you learn to design interiors for residential, commercial, public, and special purpose uses. Coursework focuses on the design, safety, and usability issues of space where we live and work thus making them comfortable and pleasant.
Job Avenues
Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as draftsperson, facilities planner, interior designer/decorator, or space planner.
Music
The Bachelors degree in Music offers a full range of musical resources that prepare students for competitive careers as performers, composers, conductors, and music educators. These colleges hold many concerts and Performances within their campus and community, thus giving students the opportunity to enhance their musical understanding.
Job Avenues
These programs equip you for a career as an orchestral musician, solo performer, studio teacher, and college teacher.
Film
The Bachelor Degree in Film encourages students to explore the medium of film from an intellectual, creative, and personal standpoint. Their goal is to provide you with a stimulating and rewarding experience of independent filmmaking, be it fictional, narrative, experimental, or animation.
Job Avenues
Graduates in Film work as directors, producers and as part of sound recording team.
Theatre
Universities provide the opportunity to go for a Bachelors degree in theatre to students seeking careers in theatre or theatre-related arts. Students can select one from the following concentrations:
Acting
Experience courses in acting, movement, and voice, and regular and special Performing opportunities.
Directing
Direct studio productions after completing advanced directing courses.
Design/Technology
Choose specialized courses in art and design and produce projects for the Department of Theatre and other area theatres.
Job Avenues
Graduates can seek multiple career directions in the entertainment industry.
Benefits of Studying Arts
While studying Visual and Performing Arts can be exciting and rewarding, professionally working in this field can be tough. Those who have entered this industry have rarely regretted it because of the amount of adventure it includes. Studying Visual and Performing Arts as a subject nurtures you with the ability to be creative and teaches you varied ways to communicate ideas, thoughts and feelings. It enhances your self esteem and poise and in return of your dedication, provides you with an enriched quality of life you have always dreamt of.
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