Why More Arts Graduates Are Finding Success Outside the Creative Industries
A new special report was released this month from the Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative (IWERC), a collaboration housed at the Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) that aims to research, report on, and support the Illinois creative workforce.
Authored by Aisha Motlani, “Branching Out Series: Artists and Arts Graduates Beyond the Creative Fields” explores why many Illinois artists and arts graduates are building successful careers outside the creative industries—and why it matters. Despite Illinois having one of the nation’s strongest creative economies, low wages, job insecurity, and inequities push many artists into other fields. But it’s not all loss—many are pulled into roles that offer better pay, work-life balance, and a chance to apply their creativity in new ways.
The study reveals that creative skills are highly transferable and valued across sectors. It also shows that career satisfaction often comes from purpose-driven, flexible work environments—not just working “in the arts.” This has major implications for educators, employers, and policymakers seeking to support today’s working graduates.
The Branching Out Series is a group of reports that use interviews and surveys to examine the pathways and experiences of Illinois artists and arts graduates working in occupations or industries outside the arts. This report is the first in the series.
The Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative is a collaboration between Arts Alliance Illinois and three entities within the University of Illinois System: Discovery Partners Institute (DPI), the College of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts at the University of Illinois Chicago.