Make Money by Becoming an Art Instructor

One can teach children, adult, amateur, professional or special art classes as part of some schools' curriculum or as a full course in a private art institution. One can even open a private practice teaching others some craft in which he is an expert at, example, photography, painting or drawing. The setting may be a home, a local community center, or a studio.

Requirements to Become an Arts Instructor

What qualifications are needed to become an art instructor? Minimum requirement for those wanting to teach in elementary and secondary schools is a degree in art teaching. An art-related degree plus experience (translated to: acceptance of work into exhibitions) could qualify one to teach in private institutions. A teaching certificate may be required by public schools and colleges. Anyone with any of these qualifications may start a private practice, backed up by a degree in business management.

Starting an Arts Instructor Career

What are some arts degrees that one can take up to prepare for an art career? Fine arts, studio art, photography, fashion design, creative writing, sculpting, visual art, and drama and theatre arts. To start a teaching career, you can try applying as assistant instructor or as instructor in summer workshops. A visual art instructor can earn $60 for 1 to 2 hours of work daily. A short stint as a teacher will give you the feel of how it is to communicate your knowledge and ideas as an artist to others. You may have reached mastery of your craft, but translating that expertise into a form that can be learned by others is an entirely different challenge. If you found out that teaching gives you a new satisfaction separate from that brought by doing your craft, then you may have found a new career.

Miscellaneous Tips to a Career as Art Instructor

* as a teacher, you will have to work with people of varying degrees of interest and talent. Understand that in some instances, your job as a teacher is not to make a famous artist, but just to motivate a student to express himself
* To continuously improve, read books, attend workshops, study works of art, work with fellow artists
* Aside from a regular teaching job, you can open an independent business teaching on the side, for example, during weekends
* To enhance students' appreciation of the arts, take them on field trips to galleries and exhibits