How VCUarts students feel about finding work

The world of work is shifting, because of changes brought on by the pandemic and by rapid advances in technology. Students graduating from VCU’s School of the Arts are preparing to become professionals with no small amount of optimism.
The plans are as varied as the individuals. Winston plans to seek studio-based contract work, using training in communications arts. Shayne Herrera, with a painting and printmaking degree, hopes to trek to the west coast and exhibit in a respected, Black-owned gallery. Noren Gelberg-Hagmaier is skilled in kinetic imagery and sculpture and has long-term goals of becoming a gallery artist while in the short-term, working outside the field to make a living. All three of these soon-to-be alumni of VCU speak on the need to make art more accessible and to have artistic expression become more commonplace for everyone. They say not all art needs to be marketable and that the non-monetary rewards can be great for those who make art and for those who experience art as spectators.
Segment originally aired on VPM PBS 4/21/22.
Read More: vpm.org/news/articles/31594/v...
Credits
Interviewer: Angie Miles
Producer: Angie Miles
Videographers: Emmanuel Tambakakis
Matthew Wood
Audio: Fiona Walkington
Editor: Emmanuel Tambakakis
Artwork by Winston, Shayne Herrera, Noren Gelberg-Hagmaier
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[@flowercalls]

VCUarts students make it work one way or another. It takes immense talent to even get in. I’ve seen many go on to make six figures in creative fields like photography and graphic design after graduating, and some go the residency route. A friend from the program was commissioned by Hermes on a major storefront installation this year. It’s a very reputable program and anyone there deserves to be there!

[@AlexMint]

Unfortunately students who went during covid times will have a much harder time. It's frustrating, the utter lack of support the school has given during the pandemic and after.

[@AlexMint]

I went to VCUArts, and I believe that any students who went to school from 2020-2022 should be compensated for receiving an inferior education. I don't know anyone who's doing well, and many classes featured professors who did not do enough. It's been tough, especially graduating right into the school pivoting to AI.