Employment Trends in Animation and Related Fields

Visual art includes everything from animation to painting to photography to visual effects. A typical visual arts degree program offers courses in all areas of art as a foundation with a focus in areas such as print media, cinematic arts, animation/interactive media, intermedia, and photography. This means, successful graduates can expect open doors to a variety of careers. Just a few include animator, designer, museum curator, art historian, textile art therapist, photographer, forensic artist, graphic designer, and many others.

From the resorts and small towns of Central Vermont to the vistas of Northern Vermont, The Green Mountain State has been the backdrop for dozens of Hollywood films from classics such as Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) to modern sci-fi films such as Sucker Punch (2011). Other credits include Thank You For Smoking (2005), What Lies Beneath (2000), The Spitfire Grill (1996), and Wolf (1994).

With a population of less than 650,000, Vermont is the nation’s 49th largest state. The Green Mountain State may be small, but the art and design scene attracts more than seven million visitors each year. To find out why, head to Burlington where you’ll find University of Vermont's Robert Hull Fleming Museum of Art. Visit Shelburne where you’ll spend hours exploring the galleries, gardens, and historic houses of the Shelburne Museum. Stop by Brattleboro where you’ll find the Museum & Art Center or take a day trip to Middlebury where the magnetic Middlebury College Museum of Art attracts thousands of visitors each year.

From animation to photography, “visual arts” is a broad field that features elements of multiple art forms. A typical program touches on all areas of art, with concentrations in animation and interactive media, cinematic arts, intermedia, photography, and print media. This means, the average graduate is versatile enough to tackle a variety of careers such as set designer, museum curator, textile designer, animator, art therapist, and even forensic artist.