The curriculum vitae is a record of all of your professional activities
​and is intended for use in academic situations.
​

Learn how to construct a CV

This section contains:
  • What is a CV?
  • What is an artist curriculum vitae?
  • How to construct a CV for an Artist or Art Professional
  • Formatting a CV
  • The Covering Letter
  • Famous artists - the CV facts
  • More tips about producing a CV - including samples

What is an artist curriculum vitae?...and what does it contain? 
​

CV stands for some Latin words Curriculum vitae. These translate as "[the] course of [my] life".
"What is a CV?" is a question people often ask.

You are not alone in wondering what these letters mean!

The Curriculum Vitae (CV) is
  • an overview of all information wholly relevant to a person's working life.
  • often used by employers to screen people who apply for jobs.

The standard CV is
  • Factual 
  • Focused on Achievements

A graduate /emerging artist CV:
  • Summarises studies and qualifications.
When people are starting out CVs focus more on educational qualifications.

CVs for more mature artists
CV content changes as you mature - add in:
  • prizes,
  • exhibitions and
  • employment

 As people mature it tends to focus more on the jobs they have had, their experience and competences and what they have achieved
More creative CVs (see advice further down this page) are more focused on explaining who you are and telling a story about your life as an artist. They're probably more accurately described as a biography
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Different types of CV are required for different purposes.  Note also that CVs vary depending on where you are in the world

Below you have guidelines for CVs - including sample CVs for different artistic occupations - from two authoritative sources:
  • one for the USA (The College Art Association) and
  • one for the UK (the University for the Creative Arts)
For the most part they are required for the more academic or museum oriented type of work with resumes being used for commercial galleries

CV Guidelines for artists in North America
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This section includes the College Art Association Guidelines (USA) for:
  • artist (professional)
  • visual artist (academic)
  • art historians
  • museum professionals
PLUS other guidelines from people based in the USA
College Art Association Guidelines (USA)

The following are Standards and Guidelines from the College Art Association for different types of CVs/resume
  • Artist resume: recommended conventions - The artist resume conventions presented here are designed primarily for use in proposals to professional venues e.g. commercial and non-profit galleries, museums, and art centers. 
  • Visual Artist Curriculum Vitae: Recommended Conventions - The curriculum vitae conventions presented here are primarily for those beginning their academic careers. Approaches to cv development can vary based on years in the field, your area(s) of specialization, specified institutional formats, etc.
  • Curriculum Vitae for Art Historians: Recommendations - The format CAA recommends is the "long" cv, designed to serve as a framework on which to build. It takes into account the needs of both the art historian and those reading the document. 
  • Curriculum Vitae for Museum Professionals - The curriculum vitae conventions presented here are primarily for those beginning their museum and curatorial careers. Approaches to cv development can vary based on years in the field, area(s) of specialization, etc.​
Other Guidelines

  • ARTSPAN BLOG: Tackling the Artist Resume
    Whether you're tackling your artist resume for the first time, or updating a resume that you've managed to avoid for years thanks to a well-honed talent for procrastination, make sure that you list only the most relevant and impressive details.
  • Writing your Artist Curriculum Vitae | Hamilton Arts Council
    The following is a list of the information that should be included in your CV followed by some suggestions on what to look for when you go to write your own CV. Just remember that not all of these suggestions necessarily apply to all artists.
  • Formatting Your Visual Artist CV - artbiz - WordPress for Artists School: Formatting your visual artist CV in WordPress.

CV Guidelines for the UK 
​

The Creative CV Guide by Jon Cole is a booklet available as a pdf download.

This was published in 2010 by a consortium of leading arts organisations in higher education in the UK - namely:
  • University of the Arts London (UAL)
  • University for the Creative Arts (UCA)
  • University College Falmouth (UCF) 
Picture
The Creative CV Guide
I look for specific information in a CV, such as experience, and an understanding of personal goals and achievements. I look for CVs that communicate quickly, that include something interesting about the applicant, and a CV that stands out. It is important to communicate both visually and with the written word in a professional presentation. 
Karen Millen
Guidelines from the University for the Creative Arts

This section includes the University for the Creative Arts Guidelines (UK) for:
  • artist (professional) - CV - Artist - UCA - The Artist CV is primarily used by fine artists, though can be used by creative practitioners from other disciplines. Artist CVs are sent to galleries and exhibitions for the purpose of showing your work, and are designed accordingly. 
  • designer - CV - Designer - Designers customarily produce CVs that reflect their particular skills. They are mostly sent out electronically to agencies and prospective employers and therefore need to be designed both for email and for print.
  • multi-media artist - CV - Multimedia - The multimedia CV is an increasingly important promotional tool for any creative, no matter the discipline. They can range from fully functioning websites to interactive presentations such as DVD based animation showreel / CV.
It also provides ​CV - Standard Text - THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PERFECT CV. Different individuals, companies and industries look for different criteria, so it's crucial you do your research and tailor your CV accordingly.


University of the Arts London Guidelines

These are guidelines for how to write a CV produced by the University of the Arts, London. They provide guidelines for writing your CV,  and information about structure, content and layout - plus a template
Writing a good CV can be challenging. The skills or experience needed for each application may differ. You should adapt your CV for each position you apply for to make sure the relevant skills are highlighted and the tone is right.
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University of London standard CV template - with tips
Other Guidelines

The Covering Letter ...and the follow up phone call
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Don't forget the importance of the covering letter - which may be
  • the first thing they read and
  • your one chance to get them to read more about you in your CV, biography or resume

But remember, the chances are it will be "skim read" in the first instance.

​

Famous artists - the Facts
​

These are some links to pages which set out the facts about famous artists.

​Note that words used to describe the facts vary from site to site.

Often as you become famous your CV seems to morph into becoming known as a biography!
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MORE TIPS about producing a CV
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Creating a Creative CV - use with care
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CVs can involve lists - and there are different ways of formatting lists for a CV. 

If you're an artist, there's an argument that your resume should reflect it! There's also another argument that if your design makes your information difficult to scan read then you need to think again!
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Some Sample Resumes and CVs
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Illustrations of what a CV should look like
BACK TO How to write an Artist's Résumé or CV (introduction)

​NEXT PAGE The Résumé for Artists
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