Tennessee Art Schools

Guide to Tennessee Arts School Programs

Do you find yourself reading magazines and thinking about how you might have designed your own advertisements and layouts?  Do you watch television commercials and notice all the details, colors and props in the images?  Then you might be a perfect candidate to become an art director.  Students looking to pursue a career in this area may choose to pursue a two-year degree that focuses on design and layouts. Those who opt for a four-year degree will likely earn a bachelor’s in fine arts.  Students looking to pursue their education in Tennessee have the choice of both online and traditional programs.  With all of the design elements that go hand in hand with the music industry, opportunities for art directors may be found in the Nashville area.

Tennessee Arts Job Outlook and Salary

Art directors are generally salaried positions, with a full benefits package.  To reach this level of employment, several years of experience in the field are necessary. Many entrants into this area will start as an assistant art director or may need to first complete an internship.  In Tennessee, assistant art directors can expect to earn a starting annual salary of around $33,000.  Art directors in the state typically earn salaries that range from $59,000 to $149,000 per year. Those working in more urban areas such as Memphis or Nashville are more likely to earn salaries at the upper end of the scale.

The job outlook for art directors in Tennessee is slightly less favorable than that for other occupations, less than one hundred new positions are expected to be created over the next ten years.  Art directors are typically employed by publishing companies, advertising agencies, or design firms.  Those working in this area will likely be expected to a normal workweek, with overtime hours to meet tight deadlines.

To become an art director, the employee must demonstrate not only an intelligent eye for design, but also must display excellent leadership skills.  The art director will often have to manage several employees while working on specific projects.  Therefore, many art directors will achieve advancement in their careers by taking additional courses in business programs with an emphasis on management skills.

Local Art Festivals & Events

Regional Fine Arts Exhibition – April 2nd – 30th, 2010
Dogwood Art DeTour – April 24th – 25th, 2010
Gatlinburg Fine Arts Festival – May 15th – 16th, 2010
Firefly Fine Arts Festival – June 26th – 27th, 2010

Largest Cities in and Around Tennessee

Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Clarksville, Murfreesboro, Jackson, Johnson City, Kingsport, Hendersonville…

Tennessee State ZIP Codes

38103, 37201, 37902, 37402, 37040, 37127, 38301, 37601, 37660, 37075…