Overview of Arts and Entertainment
Careers in Arts and Entertainment use a variety of methods to produce creative content that tell stories, share information, and amuse or move audiences.
Get details on the salary and job security of these Arts and Entertainment careers:
Get Career Ready for Arts and Entertainment
Find out what it takes to land a career in Arts and Entertainment
Earn a Degree
To work in Arts and Entertainment it is recommended to have a strong background in artistic imagination, connecting with an audience, technical skills, collaboration, and the ability to receive criticism. Majors, minors, and degree information can be found in the Mason Catalog.
Proactively seek ways to develop your talents through master classes, audition classes, and entrepreneurship-based courses. Find opportunities by talking to your instructors and classmates or follow artists and organizations that inspire you. Here are a few organizations with helpful resources for artists:
For Game Design, a ScrumMaster certification can increase your marketability.
Gain Experiences
Employers are expecting candidates to have at least six to twelve months of related experience to be competitive for full-time positions. Gain experience while you are a student at Mason.
Here are the types of experiences most valued by Arts and Entertainment employers, and where to find them:
Jobs/Internships
- ArtBound Initiative
- Backstage
- College Art Association
- Creatively
- Entertainers Worldwide Jobs
- Entertainment Careers
- Gamasutra
- GameDevMap
- Gamejobhunter
- New York Foundation for the Arts
- Mandy Jobs in TV and Film
- Playbill
- Production Hub
- Show Biz Jobs
Freelance (typically paid)
Volunteer
- Mason Cable Network
- City of Fairfax Theatre Company
- VolunteerMatch for organizations in the area
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships include a structured training plan, with a focus on mastering specific skills an employer needs within their organization. Seasonal apprenticeships are commonly offered at performing arts venues like Studio Theatre.
Market Yourself
It is important for you to be able to clearly communicate the knowledge, skills, and experiences you have gained in and outside of the classroom.
Below are top ways to showcase your qualifications to Arts and Entertainment employers:
Demos and Videos
Portfolios
Resumes
Career Ready
Career ready Mason grads have gone on to work for Arts and Entertainment employers, such as:
Bethesda Softworks |
Fairfax County Public Schools - Choral |
Smithsonian Institution |
Breakout Games |
Hylton Performing Arts Center |
Virginia Serious Game Institute |
Dance for Chicago |
Shakespeare Theatre Company |
Washington West International Film Festival |
Join the Arts and Entertainment community
Get involved with academic and professional Arts and Entertainment societies to grow your network while you're a student.
Mason Student Organizations
- Delta Kappa Alpha
- Game Analysis Design Interest Group (GADIG)
- Green Machine
- GMU Printmaker's Guild
- Illustrators at Mason
- The Voice of GMUK
- Visiting Filmmakers at Mason
Funding, Research, and Service Organizations
- Americans for the Arts
- Candid-Foundation Directory Online
- Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund)
- Humanities DC / CultureCapital
Professional Associations
Music
- American Choral Directors Association
- American Federation of Musicians
- International Society for the Performing Arts
- National Association for Music Education
Theatre, Film and Television
- Actors' Equity Association
- Educational Theatre Association
- Screen Actors Guild/American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
- Stage Directors and Choreographers Society
- Theatre Communications Group
- United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT)
- Women in Film and Television (Washington, D.C.)
Visual Art and Game Design