Indiana University Fine Arts Career Fair debuts, connecting students with creative career opportunities

This semester, studio art and design students at Indiana University have a new opportunity to explore the diverse professional paths for which their education is preparing them. Together, IU Indianapolis’ Herron School of Art + Design and the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design at IU Bloomington have organized the inaugural Indiana University Fine Arts Career Fair, taking place October 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Herron’s Eskenazi Hall, 735 W. New York St. in Indianapolis.

Employers offering traditional fine arts career paths in the museum and nonprofit worlds will be represented at the fair alongside retail corporations recruiting for creative teams. The event is “more than just a career fair—it’s a celebration of the incredible talent and creativity that our students bring to the table,” says Erin Bruce, Associate Director of Employer Relations and Alumni Engagement at the Eskenazi School. She explains that she and co-organizer Michelle Winkelman wanted to create a “chance for employers to meet and be inspired by the next generation of artists, designers, and creators from both campuses.” Winkelman, who is Herron’s Associate Director of Career Services and Alumni Engagement, is excited about the fair because it will “demonstrate to students the vast diversity of potential career paths in the arts. We have everything represented from small nonprofit entities to national brands, and the positions themselves also show that there are a lot of ways to work in fine arts."

Among the employers represented will be AMACO (American Art Clay Company, Inc.), Arts For Lawrence, Aurora PhotoCenter, Ignite Studio, Indianapolis Art Center, Kamans Art Shoppes, Kohl’s, Lids, Newfields, Prism Specialties, and The Children’s Museum, which is recruiting for its internship program. Additionally, the Indy Arts Council will be present to share resources related to artist services such as grants, job boards, and artist directories. Information about graduate programs at both the Eskenazi School and Herron will also be available.

Peg Faimon, professor and founding dean of the Eskenazi School and Greg Hull, dean of Herron and the Valerie Eickmeier Professor of Sculpture, jumped at the chance to partner on the career fair. “I’m so pleased to support an event that provides an opportunity for our students to connect with industry leaders, nonprofits, and other creative professionals,” Hull says. “We want to help students get jobs after graduation, but we also want to give them a chance to begin building relationships in the creative economy that can shape their future careers and inspire their artistic journey. We're thrilled to showcase the talent and vision of our students to such a diverse group of employers.”

“Now more than ever, the world relies on the skill sets that our art and design students have acquired through their training at IU. We’re excited to collaborate with Herron on this great new opportunity to introduce students to prospective employers in the state”, says Faimon.

Participants can register for the event on Handshake. Students are encouraged to reach out to their school’s career coach for a pep talk, résumé review, or other forms of career coaching before the event. Herron students can contact Michelle Winkelman at miwink@iu.edu and Eskenazi School students can contact Trenton Rowlett at terowlet@iu.edu.