Society for Arts Leadership Educators

Examining the Role of Student Loan Debt, Race, and Ethnicity in the Careers Choices of Arts Graduates
Presenters: Antonio C. Cuyler, Richard J. Paulsen
Recent research by Albana (2022) and Paulsen (2024) has found that student debt negatively impacts the likelihood that college graduates with degrees in the arts pursue work in the creative sector. As systemic racism has led to significantly lower wealth levels for global majority populations in the United States, we hypothesize that global majority arts graduates accumulate more student debt, and that this debt inhibits their transitions into working in the creative sector following graduation. We use National Survey of College Graduates data to estimate regressions to test these hypotheses. Relative to White arts graduates, we find that Black arts graduates are nearly 20% more likely to have taken out student loans to fund their degrees. Among those that borrowed, Black graduates borrowed on average about $5,000 more. Black arts graduates are over 12% less likely to work in jobs closely related to their degrees relative to White graduates. Student loan debt explains nearly 15% of this gap in differences.

Diminishing the Starving Artist Trope
Presenters: Bex Ferrell, Heather McDonald
The stereotype of the "starving artist" has long pervaded the arts, discouraging many talented individuals from fully pursuing their creative passions. However, the modern arts landscape offers more opportunities than ever before through the gig economy, freelance work, and digital platforms. To ensure that our students are prepared to navigate this evolving field, our curriculum must expand beyond traditional artistic instruction to include essential professional skills, including entrepreneurial strategies, self-promotion, digital marketing, and financial planning within arts programs. Additionally, critical legal aspects such as contract negotiations, intellectual property rights, unionization, and advocating for fair compensation should be integrated into arts programs. These components are essential in safeguarding artists' rights and helping them achieve long-term success.
 
This presentation explores practical ways to equip our students with the tools and knowledge necessary to build a sustainable and fulfilling career in the arts. Emphasizing the bridge between creative expression and practical career management, we will discuss how to better prepare the next generation of artists for both the creative and business aspects of the industry. A robust group discussion will follow to explore these ideas and share insights on fostering a comprehensive approach to arts education.