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Need help deciding between AAA (Associates of Applied Art) or BFA
Hi,
I am an adult 1st year college student, and am experiencing major anxiety over this decision. Originally I registered for an AAA (Associates of Applied Art)degree, then a friend in one of my classes said I should consider a BFA because no one is going to hire me with an AAA. The thing is I have Attention deficiet, pretty bad/I take meds, so going back to school was a very difficult decision for me to begin with. I had decided to go for the AAA because then I can get a contration of studio art classes, and not so much of the other academic classes that I am afraid to take. Basically I want to be a fine artist and do studio work. I have also been thinking of opening an an Art Center to include studio space, gallery space, and provide the community with classes, workshops, events, etc... I am hoping someone here might have experience with determining what educational background is necessary for this endevor. Or whoever wants to offer your opinion or advise, it will be welcome.
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A BFA opens more doors than an associate's degree in applied arts. That much is very true.
A BFA leaves more doors open for further study, it's a degree that more clearly understood internationally and it conveys a sense of academic understanding of a subject, which is useful if you are seeking employment pretty much anywhere: A gallery, to teach art classes. Anything like that.
If you know what you really want is to be a practicing fine artist, then for that, the BFA's value doesn't help you much.
HOWEVER, no one pops out of school and makes a living simply practicing their art. You'll need jobs to supplementing your income. Gallery work is good, so is teaching amateurs.
A BFA is not completely irrelevant to your goals, because a BFA is likely to lend you greater credibility faster, and you'll be more competitive and demand higher prices for the things you'll need to do to make ends meet.
And welcome to working in the arts darling: You will have do to quite a few crappy jobs. That's the price anyone with a passion pays: You can't spend every moment on your passion. Maybe, when you are older, you'll get closer to that, but you need to be willing to work you don't like, that surrounds the work you do.
I work in Theatre, got an applied degree at the same time as my BFA in Performance. The applied program was vital for me, because it taught me what to do. The BFA gave me the academic credentials to get full time, regular work. I would have struggled a good deal more if I didn't have both.
Having said all that, you have to have the schooling that makes sense to you. If the BFA program doesn't excite you, if you don't see a value in doing it (not just having the degree) but doing the program, then you shouldn't. And I'm certainly not saying you CAN'T get what you want with an Associates, just that it's liable to be a bit harder for you starting out and competing with people with BFAs and MAs.
My advice to you is to take a year of the Assocaite, and then consider switching to a BFA after your first year. The Associate's feels right to you right now, and that's important. After a year of post-secondary school at the Associate level, the BFA might look more valuable too you. Go with your gut for now, but keep the BFA in the back of your mind.
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