Дипломы по искусству открывают карьерные перспективы в банкинге и образовании

For Arts Sake - Fine arts degrees open doors beyond the art world University of Maine at Presque Isle offers two art-related degrees amid statewide demand for art educators PRESQUE ISLE, Maine (WAGM) - A degree in fine arts can lead to a career as an artist, but it can also lead to careers in fields such as banking, according to Heather Nunez-Olmstead, assistant professor of fine art and art education at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Nunez-Olmstead said she grew up surrounded by visual artists, painters, illustrators, musicians and sculptors in her extended family. “I’ve always been an artist, as long as I can remember. I come from a long line of visual artists, painters, and illustrators and musicians and sculptors are in my extended family, so I kind of came into it naturally,” Nunez-Olmstead said. Discovering a passion for teaching While an undergraduate, Nunez-Olmstead discovered a passion for teaching art. She said the realization came while working for a non-profit after-school program for children in the Midwest. “I was working for a non-profit and this was in the mid west that was an after school program for children and I just realized, you know what, kids really like me, I like teaching art, this is super fun, so that caused me to think about, well maybe I’m supposed to teach art,” Nunez-Olmstead said. She said she became focused on helping people, especially teenagers and young adults who feel they are not creative, connect with art. “These skills are skills that can be learned, even creativity is a skill that can be learned,” Nunez-Olmstead said. Two degree paths at UMPI Nunez-Olmstead now works at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. UMPI offers two degrees connected to the arts: a bachelor of fine arts and a bachelor of science in art education. “There’s the bachelors of fine arts which is a fine arts studio degree. It’s actually a professional degree in learning how to build both those professional skills and professional art marketing skills to market yourself as a working studio artist,” Nunez-Olmstead said. The bachelor of science in art education program trains teachers for K-12 certification, including pedagogy classes and fine arts studio classes. “That is specifically geared around training teachers to go out and teach art in the world and that’s a k through 12 certification,” Nunez-Olmstead said. Demand for graduates Nunez-Olmstead said there is a statewide need for art educators due to retirements and what she described as an art teacher drain following the COVID-19 pandemic, both in Maine and nationally. “There is a need state wide for art educators, it’s been on the list of job openings for the past couple of years because there has been a lot of retirements and post covid there was a lot of art teacher drain throughout the state of Maine and actually nationally as well,” Nunez-Olmstead said. She said there is also an increase in demand for studio artists and graphic designers. UMPI offers a graphic design certificate and minor program available online and in person. Skills that translate across industries Nunez-Olmstead said art degrees can lead to careers outside the arts because students develop resiliency and flexible thinking skills. “I can’t even name the number of times that people across industries like in banking have said oh yeah, I hired somebody with a BFA and they are really great, they can do anything I ask of them and it’s because your constantly just stretching and growing and thinking about new ways to solve problems,” Nunez-Olmstead said. She said art also connects people across language barriers and time. “Arts help us connect with something really human. You know, people are making art, mark making, before there’s even a lot of developed language,” Nunez-Olmstead said. More information on UMPI’s art programs is available at umpi.edu. Copyright 2026 WAGM. All rights reserved.