Sarah Rose

What advice would you give to students who are unsure about choosing the right degree for their interests and career aspirations?

I would advise prospective students to approach their degree selection with a level of fluidity and not view it as a rigid or prescriptive pathway. Things change, and frankly, they should – and if they do, it’s okay! As you encounter new knowledge, experiences and people, your opportunities and notions of potential careers will widen and deepen. Your interests and directions will shift and morph, and what you originally thought you might do with your degree might transform. For me, I was initially enrolled in UNSW’s Bachelor of Fine Arts / Education (Secondary) degree, with the anticipation of becoming an educator in high schools. After two-years in the degree, I came to the realisation that I wanted to pursue a career in the visual arts more specifically and work in galleries instead. So I transferred to the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, which provided me with the foundation to go on to do my Masters of Curating and Cultural Leadership.

During the early stages, I would advise students to consider what your interests are, what subjects or activities you find most engaging; think about the different professions that are often associated with the degree and look at it more holistically; question if the degree aligns with your core values and long-term goals; reach out to professionals in the arts sector to get their insight and advice to help make an informed decision; choose a degree that allows you to leverage your strengths, enact passion, whilst also challenging you to grow and expand; and to always operate with a sense of curiosity.

What unexpected skills did you gain from your degree that you have taken into your current role and why has it been so valuable?

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree equipped me with a diverse range of skills beyond the development and production of visual art. Something that was unexpected was developing strong communication skills – both verbal and written – and the ability to network. Visibility and collaboration are at the nucleus of the arts, and so these skills have been vital across the progression of my career, whether this be when I work with artists, audiences and stakeholders, or when I am writing for and about exhibitions.

The degree also unexpectedly helped me to gain a criticality in understanding, perceiving and interpreting art in the context of a broader ecology. This enabled me to situate my own work in dialogue with others and across historical, cultural and aesthetic contexts, which has been a skill that I continue to use in my position as a curator by creating connections and conversations between artworks with broader conceptual frameworks.

Additionally, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree provided the impetus towards using a creative lens and thinking innovatively when developing projects and considering audience experiences. This involves a level of adaptability and problem-solving, which is a valuable skill when working with the sometimes unpredictable nature of artistic practice and exhibition-making. This ability to think on my feet and find creative solutions has been indispensable in navigating the complexities of curatorial work.

What extracurricular activities, work integrated learning programs or other opportunities helped you develop personally and professionally and how did you manage to balance them with your studies?

During my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree I actively sought out activities to enhance both my personal and professional development through an array of university endorsed and self-directed opportunities. It might feel like an obvious suggestion, but it is vital to make time to see exhibitions and art! To do this I often participated in weekly ‘gallery-hops’ organised by Arc or endeavoured on my own before or after class. It was quite surprising the slippage that can occur when you are consumed with your own practice, however as I mentioned before, it is important to have an understanding of the contexts in which your works are being made and what others are doing across visual culture.

I also did a lot of volunteering at open days and campus-based events, as well as invigilating and assisting on exhibitions outside of university to develop relevant gallery skills and exposure. This extended to developing proposals for exhibitions to gain experience with the process and apply the theoretical knowledge from my studies to real-world settings, as well as build valuable professional skills. It is great visibility and practice to apply for things, even if you don’t think you will get them!

The balance to juggle these activities came from prioritising these as integral to my degree and career more holistically, and that they weren’t emancipated from my education. Instead, I approached it as an avenue to bolster my education and incite what I was learning. Whilst retaining a level of ambition, it was important not to overcommit and ensure that these extracurricular activities didn't interfere with my academic responsibilities.

What role have the friendships and networks you made throughout your studies at UNSW played in your personal and professional life?

Many of the friendships and networks I made during university have been long-standing and current today. The arts sector is quite small, so many of the people you make connections with during that time, you are likely to encounter again as your contemporaries and peers. This includes fellow students, artists, lecturers, and other arts professionals.

For me, these connections have often led to collaborations on projects, introductions to industry professionals, and even career prospects. Building a strong professional network has been instrumental in advancing my profession as a curator, opening doors to new opportunities, fostering growth, and having invaluable peer support.

More specifically, I co-founded and am currently project coordinator for an artist-run initiative called More Than Reproduction, which I established with two of my closest friends who I met at university. This initiative focuses on female-identifying and gender-diverse printmakers in Australia, and is dedicated to strengthening printmaking practices nationally by building a sense of creative community. Our platform bolsters artists in the early stages of their careers by increasing their visibility and facilitating unique opportunities through an artistic program grounded in network building, peer-support, professional development and the diversification of audiences with print-practice.

Simply put, More Than Reproduction would not have existed if we did not all meet at university and nurture the intersectional passion we had for the medium within a feminist lens, that stemmed from our experiences during our degrees. 

“The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree provided the impetus towards using a creative lens and thinking innovatively when developing projects and considering audience experiences.”