The difference between an art resume and an art CV is that a resume is a summary, typically one page of recent work experience (employment) including relevant background for a job while a CV is typically a longer summary of artistic activities, endeavours, experiences, publications, skills and only relevant work experience would be necessary.
The content of an art CV differs depending on what you are applying for including residencies, open call submissions, exhibitions, funding, studio applications, MA courses, creative industry, employment, project proposals, teaching, museum work, and gallery work.
Master CVs – A master CV is required and it is something to which you add everything so that it builds a structure for all future CVs depending on what is required at the time. It is used to copy, edit, rearrange and structure specific CVs. Making CVs is a continuous process through life that will consistently change as more experience is gathered.
Master CVs include everything related to your professional artistic life. This includes but isn’t limited to:
- Artist statement (short) = usually a paragraph, changes as your work develops. Summary of the content and drive you have for your project, summary of practice, not you.
- Awards
- Biography = section for more established artists could start to articulate this now for a head start. A short narrative describing your journey, where you started to where you are now. Look at examples online
- Collaborations = consider putting together some proposals, get comfortable talking to people about your work, consider how you can develop your work
- Collections = tricky one but could motivate you to be more visible. Anyone who purchases your work such as art collectors, museums, or galleries. Organisations or colleges which hold your work. Consider donating work to organisations?
- Competitions = sign up to newsletters for new opportunities, apply for as much as you can
- Contact details
- Curation = consider putting together some proposals, get comfortable talking to people about your work, consider how you can develop your work
- Education = only ever need to put your BA or above onto artist CV
- Exhibitions = college, second-year exhibitions. Use a narrative approach to give more information including rationale, curator, artists, type of work. Enter competitions, open calls for exhibitions, organise your own exhibitions, collaborate, add forthcoming activities
- Internet platforms = only have art-related content on social media outlets. Professional and focused, keep social life off of them
- Networks = join a-n (artists information company), axis, arts professional, artists union England. Could consider more professional networks like outdoor arts in the UK, printmakers council, for art history, royal society of sculptors. Memberships of local art collectives, studios and specialist workshops.
- Publications, press/text = hone writing and pitch ideas to build/encourage others to engage with your work. Has anyone written about your work or you? Be proactive and contact the press, journals, blogs to encourage writers to review the work. Pitch your own writing, ideas, reviews on online blogs, websites, magazines. Approach online art sites to feature work or offer interviews or q+a. Use links to direct readers to sites where your work has been written about. Use the blog to develop a critical voice. Put together publications, zine, pamphlets.
- Professional memberships = join a-n (artists information company), axis, arts professional, artists union England. Could consider more professional networks like outdoor arts in the UK, printmakers council, for art history, royal society of sculptors. Memberships of local art collectives, studios and specialist workshops.
- Projects = consider putting together some proposals, get comfortable talking to people about your work, consider how you can develop your work
- Residencies = apply for some
- Skills = what tech do you know such as photoshop, premier pro, laser cutting. Practical skills like spot welding, slip casting, screen printing, driving license, first-aid certificate. Taken any technical/professional courses to support creative knowledge
- Work experience = only included if you are applying for something involving employment. Vital to focus on activities within the art and creative industries, don’t include a list of retail jobs. If you haven’t done arty jobs then consider how you have extrapolated skills and experience which would be relevant or transferable. Apply for employment in more related areas. Volunteer for creative organisations
If you don’t have a lot of experience, you can approach it in two ways by building on what you have done from an honest viewpoint or working harder to gain more experience.
To do’s:
- avoid clutter, faces, bright colours and patterns
- Stick to monotones
- Don’t include photo unless it is asked for
- Personal details vital including name, number, email, website, blog, social media
- Use clear layouts and formats
- Aim for one or two pages maximum when established
- Reverse chronological order (most recent at top)
- Concise and relevant information
My CV:
Gemma Sly
Currently based in Leicester
Email – gemmaslyxxxx@gmail.com
Artist, Painter
Education:
- 2019-2022 Fine Art BA (hons) De Montfort University
- 2018-2019 Foundation in Art and Design, De Montfort University, Distinction
- 2016-2018 BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Art and Design, Leicester College
Exhibitions:
- 2022 Degree Show, De Montfort University
- 2020 Southwark Park Open Exhibition
- 2019 Foundation Show, De Montfort University
- 2018 Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Art and Design Show, Leicester College St Margaret’s Campus
Awards:
- nil
Collections:
- nil
Commissions:
- nil
Curation:
- nil
Publications:
- nil
My CV is quite empty as I haven’t had a lot of experience and never had the confidence or money to apply for exhibitions when I was younger. I wish I would have tried to find more free opportunities but I can’t change things and I’m hoping to apply to a lot more opportunities in the near future to make my CV a lot more impressive.
My Master CV:
Gemma Sly
Leicester
12/08/2000
Gemmaslyxxxx@gmail.com
07505******
Experience working in retail and a school
Currently studying Fine Art BA (Hons) at De Montfort University
Employment
Exam Invigilator – Fullhurst Community College, Leicester
April 2019 – June 2019
Setting up exam halls with adequate equipment, helping students with enquiries, being a scribe for students who need help, enforcing exam boards rules and regulations, tidying up exam hall
Crew Member at McDonalds – Meridian Park, Leicester
November 2016 – October 2017
Greeted customers and handled payments via a POS system, prepared raw food materials to cook over 30 menu items, maintained clean dining areas, restrooms and work stations by routinely sweeping, mopping, replenishing supplies and getting rid of waste, worked with colleagues to maintain a smooth operation and high standards of customer service during high volume rushes
Education
Fine Art BA (Hons) at De Montfort University, Leicester – October 2019 to 2022
Diploma of Higher Education: Foundation in art and design at De Montfort University (Distinction), Leicester – September 2018 to June 2019
Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Art and Design at Leicester College (St Margaret’s Campus – Triple Distinction*), Leicester – September 2016- June 2018
GCSE’s at Fullhurst Community College, Leicester: Art (A*), English Language (A*), English Literature (A*), Maths (B), Core Science (B), Additional Science (B), French (B), Geography (A) – September 2011 – June 2016
Skills
Adobe Photoshop
Microsoft Office