Job search for artists
Since the pandemics, employment platforms grew a lot. Locally, most of those platforms are targeting the US or Europe while remote jobs are taking advantage of the global economy with delocalization. Few artists can live from their art, so one of their alternatives is to find a job related to their art. It won’t be then just about making money with the resentment of wasting life. There are 4 online ways to find jobs for artists:
1. General Job Search Websites
Sites like Freelancer, Upwork, Jooble are the leading job and employment websites and are not focused on artists at all. Yet, they have huge traffic and propose a broad range of freelance, part-time, internship, or full-time jobs. Artists there might find opportunities but the competition is fierce and frauds are not absent. Bigger sites are more difficult to be moderated.
2. Job Search websites for artists
Those platforms are specific to artists and creatives so they may be more interesting and adapted for them.
Art Job
(New York, New York City, 80K monthly visits)
This is the biggest marketplace for creatives in search of their next job. For illustrators, writers, graphic designers, and other creatives there are many opportunities.
ArtsJob doesn’t have a great reputation for its support, but you can focus on looking for the open calls page.
Art Rabbit
(United Kingdom, London – 80k monthly visits)
This website also has a list of job opportunities but also competitions, awards, and exhibitions and is consequently highly related to the Art World. It might be a good choice if you want to enter in the art market while looking for a job.
Art Connect
(Germany, Berlin – 50K monthly visits)
ArtConnect is presented as a very intuitive database to explore and apply to current open calls by leading art organizations around the world. There are almost no jobs there but it can be great for building your network. The best jobs are the ones you get indirectly.
Art Deadline
(United States, Ohio, Hudson – 10K monthly visits)
Art Deadline is smaller but probably the oldest platform with job listings from art artist publications for art professional community
There are many others (CallForEntry, Re-Title, ArtFrankly and so on) Feel free to contact us if you had some experience with one of them.
3. Artist Communities
Art Station
Focused on digital art, you have a marketplace where you can sell your tutorials and content to help others with their art. It has also job opportunities. Here the logic is different: you need to show your portfolio as a reference. It can be intimidating as you’ll compete among the best digital artists. It is now the best place to post if you’re looking for employment in the entertainment industry. Otherwise, don’t bother.
Deviant Art
DA was the best platform for digital artists a long time ago. Now it has a smaller audience and not the kind to hire you. Opportunities there are more for commissioned fan art, gender fluid, or NSFW content.
4. Social media
Good if you already had jobs with recommendation letters from previous employers.
Twitter is a great place if you follow the right people. Follow art curators, art directors, and people with the creative job you seek and socialize. Don’t beg.
The best place to get some advice about finding a job like on the Art Business or Artist Lounge channel.
I wouldn’t recommend it for finding art jobs. It is a good way to reach people if they are following you but the algorithms are constantly changing. And you cannot really base any strategy on that.
