I have always thought of college as a place to gain the skills to practise the career you have chosen as your life work. And, of course, it is! I have an associates degree in art from my local community college and feel that I gained skills that I have used to help improve my artistic technique.
But she also asserts that going to college is about making connections and using a learning institution as a platform to further my attempts to "break out" in the art world. This is a new idea to me. I have always understood that having a diploma from certain schools add to a person's cache, to make them more appealing to those who may be interested in hiring them.
I would like to know what others think about this. Will you look the questions below and give answers in the comments.
1. Do you feel that having a BA or a BFA makes a difference in your professional life?
2. Do you feel that having your BFA gave you an advantage?
3. Did you use your attendance at your chosen school to make an artistic statement while attending? Were you able to make business connections on campus or through professors and/or staff?
4. Did you consider that to be a reason for attending the college that you chose?
5.What about exposure? Did you exhibit work at your school with the intention of parlaying that into a career? Did it work?
6. Do you feel that your school provided a "platform" for you as a student?
I truly appreciate any insight anyone can give me.
Thanx!
