Educational Policies and the Labour Market in the Visual Arts – the Paradigm Shift

Abstract

This paper presents the key findings of an extensive research into the role of university-level visual art education in the preparation of visual artists for the successful transition from the academic environment to the art ‘labour market’. Starting from an assumption that higher visual arts education may be a significant factor in redefining the career paths of the visual arts graduates in Serbia, it reviews the recent changes in concepts and programs of university-level visual arts education in Europe and in Serbia. Education policies increasingly foresee the necessity of conscious compliance of education with society as a whole, bearing in mind the wide range of social roles that visual art and professionals from this field may assume. This is especially important for Serbia, since culture is considered one of the country’s most important assets in re-positioning itself on a mental map of Europe. In this paper I will map the main issues, briefly present the historical development of art school programs in Europe and in Serbia, and I will present the concept of the Management in Fine Arts course designed for the BA level at the Fine Art Schools which was designed to endow students with the opportunity to attain basic ‘labour market skills’, and provide them with knowledge and skills necessary to direct their professional development in such manner to enable them to easily find their place in various areas of contemporary society.