Stunning artist CV examples to use this year

Many artists showcase their artistic competencies through portfolios that include their best work. Though, that doesn’t mean they don’t have their CVs like all other professions. A professional artist’s CV is as important as their portfolio when it comes to getting a job in the fine arts.

But, an artist’s CV also contains elements that are different compared to CVs in other professions. They use it to showcase their work experience and competencies. But, they also use art CVs to showcase their portfolios, productions and exhibitions.

You should follow a different set of guidelines when it comes to writing your artist CV. This is true whether you’re applying for an art exhibition or a job position as an art director at an art gallery.

Think of your artist CV as your sales pitch to potential employers. It accomplishes the following:

• It sells your greatest strengths and competencies as an artist. It does so by making them relevant to the position or affiliation you’re applying for. This may include art group exhibitions, fellowships, or residence programmes.
• Showcases your real-world skills that are necessary for most professions. These are skills like effective communication, project management or problem-solving skills.
• Catches the attention of recruiters or potential employers in the art industry. This is good for you to stand out from the many other similarly skilled artists.

This article will walk you through the essential elements you should highlight on your artist’s CV. We’ll then take an in-depth look at the structure of an artist’s CV. Then, we’ll go over some essential dos and don’ts to keep in mind when crafting the perfect artist CV.

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An artist’s CV can contain other elements depending on your field of art. This can include a list of exhibition works, music events, or theatre productions. An artist’s CV can include links to online portfolios of artwork, as well. They can also contain bibliographies that showcase or critique their work.

What you should highlight on your artist CV will largely depend on the field of art you’re in. A painter’s CV can highlight gallery exhibitions, solo exhibitions or juried exhibitions. An actor’s artist CV can highlight productions they’re involved in, such as theatre, commercials, TV or film.

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An artist’s CV structure can vary depending on the field of art and CV format. Though, all artist CVs are in one of the three most popular CV formats:

• Reverse-chronological. A reverse-chronological CV focuses on your work experience. It lists your work history in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent position at the top. This is the most common and preferred CV format.
• Functional. A functional CV, also known as a skills-based CV, focuses more on relevant skills and training than work history.
• Combination/hybrid. A combination CV combines the reverse-chronological and functional CV formats. It emphasises both work experience and relevant skills.

No matter the CV format you choose, your CV should contain these essential elements:

Header

Your artist CV header should catch the attention of recruiters and be easy to follow. It’s important to keep in mind that employers will often use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan CVs. you should format your header with ATS in mind. The header includes the following information:

• Name
• Contact information
• Link any online portfolio pages

Professional Summary

The CV summary statement appears below the header, and is a few sentences long. It encapsulates an artist’s statement that sums up your career path, relevant skills, accomplishments and experience. An artist’s professional summary sets the theme for the remainder of the CV. Use this to impress potential employers with your top skills and achievements here.

Education

Your education section should include any relevant education, certifications or professional training you’ve received, starting with the most recent.

Skills

Your skills section should showcase your artistic skills as they are relevant to the position or exhibition you’re applying for. For example, because the art field is varied, a musician’s required skills can vary significantly from what skills an actor showcases. Regardless of their art field, there are some skills virtually all artists can showcase on their professional CVs:

• Self-motivation
• Ability to work independently
• Time management
• Effective communication (e.g., verbal, written, or visual)
• Self-promotion
• Technical skills, such as graphic design skills in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.
• Organisation
• Critical thinking
• Creativity
• Research and analysis
• Teamwork
• Flexibility

Work History

Your artist’s CV work history should showcase your professional experience, starting with your current or most recent job and working your way down. For each job, list three to five achievements or recognitions you’ve earned. You can include freelance work here, as long as it applies to your field of art and is relevant to what you’re applying for.

Bibliography

The bibliography section showcases reviews of an artist’s work, articles about their work and any relevant media interviews. These elements can be included in the exhibition section as well. If you decide to make your bibliography a separate section, place it before the exhibition section.

Exhibitions

The exhibition section should be used to list events where you’ve showcased your artistic work, as they are relevant to the position, exhibition or affiliation you’re applying for. Depending on the field of art you’re in, this section can also be called “productions” for actors, for example. You can include online portfolios of your creative work in this section.

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Below is a list of some valuable dos and don’ts when it comes to crafting the perfect artist CV:

Dos:

• Use an ATS-friendly artist CV template. Applicant tracking systems are software systems used by hiring managers to aid in the hiring process, and collect, organise and track candidates and their applications. ATS scans filter out CVs to match the company’s needs, skills and any other relevant keywords. Therefore, it’s crucial to use a CV template with the ATS software in mind so your CV doesn’t get filtered out.
• Double-cheque your CV for any typos or misspellings. You should also make sure your CV’s layout and structure are formatted correctly and that your CV is compatible with all devices (desktop, mobile and tablet).
• Write a well-crafted professional summary that uses keywords and skills relevant to your art field and the position you’re applying for. Use a professional summary if you’re applying for a full-time art job, residency or grant.

Don’ts:

• Don’t send the same artist CV for every art job application or exhibition proposal. You must tailor your CV to every position or exhibition you’re applying for to match your relevant skills, qualifications and exhibitions to the position’s needs.
• Artists’ CVs tend to be longer than standard CVs in other professions. However, try not to exceed three pages in length when writing your CV.
• Don’t send your artist’s CV without a cover letter. Whether applying to a full-time art job or an exhibition, a cover letter gives you the perfect opportunity to sell your greatest artistic strengths and competencies. 

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