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The Angel of the North

Career Ideas

Get arty with our Angel of the North-related career suggestions!

Sculptor


After seeing the work of Antony Gormley you might feel compelled to become a sculptor. It can be a very uncertain profession unless you are immediately successful, which is very rare. Sculptors generally work from a studio and, depending on their chosen medium and scale of work, might need a very large workspace for storage and construction.

Often their success is built upon recognition of their work by collectors, and by building a reputation in the art world generally. It is therefore important to market, promote and network wherever possible. Exhibitions are important to raise awareness and the backing from the right gallery or venue can instantly increase status and collectability.

Another way to achieve recognition is to produce work for a public art commission, sometimes as a result of a competition (see the Artists’ Newsletter). Artists often take up teaching or become involved in running workshops. Other opportunities for developing work can come from applying for artists’ residencies (advertised in the Artists’ Newsletter).

Most sculptors have formal qualifications, including a degree/HND in fine art sculpture or a related field. Some progress to a postgraduate qualification.

Applicants for degree/HND courses in fine art are usually required to have achieved a Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art & Design) and to present a portfolio. Other preliminary routes and courses exist for mature students and under represented groups.

Further information

Contacts

  • The Arts Council of England, 14 Great Peter Street, London SW1P 3NQ. Tel: 0845 300 6200. Web: www.artscouncil.org.uk
  • a-n, The Artists Information Company, First Floor, 7-15 Pink Lane, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 5DW. Tel: 0191 241 8000. Web: www.a-n.co.uk
  • National Society for Education in Art and Design (NSEAD), The Gatehouse, Corsham Court, Corsham, Wiltshire SN13 0BZ. Tel: 01249 714825. Web: www.nsead.org

Angelologist


Perhaps your first sighting of The Angel of the North caused you to want to know more about angels. Angelologist is a term coined to describe someone who claims to be able to communicate with, and even see, angels. There are no formal qualifications – the most-used method is to sit quietly, open one’s consciousness and allow the angels’ presence to be felt. The major teachers in the UK are William Bloom and Diana Cooper.

Courses

Further information

Public artist


Seeing the visual impact on the landscape made by the Angel of the North might have started you thinking about becoming a public artist.

Being an artist of any kind can be a very competitive and difficult but rewarding occupation. The work of a public artist is usually commissioned with a specific location in mind and, depending on the medium and scale of the work, you may be directly or indirectly involved in the construction.

The work of a public artist can be in any medium: cast and carved sculpture, textiles, murals, installations, performance, and multi media, film and video… but obviously, with outside commissions, there are practical constraints if the result is intended to last.

Often success is built upon recognition by collectors, and by building a reputation in the art world generally. It is important to market, promote and network wherever possible. Exhibitions are important to raise awareness and the backing from the right gallery or venue can instantly increase status and collectability. Artists often take up teaching or become involved in running workshops. Other opportunities for developing your work can come from applying for artists’ residencies (advertised in the Artists’ Newsletter).

The majority of public artists have a degree/HND in Public Art, Fine Art, Fine Art Sculpture or a related field. Some students specialise in painting, photography, film, sculpture or performance, while others explore all media. Some artists progress onto a postgraduate qualification in their chosen field.

Applicants for degree/HND courses in Fine Art are usually required to have achieved a Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art & Design) and to present a portfolio. Other preliminary routes and courses exist for mature students and under-represented groups.

Further information


Contacts


  • The Arts Council of England, 14 Great Peter Street, London SW1P 3NQ. Tel: 0845 300 6200. Web: www.artscouncil.org.uk
  • a-n, The Artists Information Company, First Floor, 7-15 Pink Lane, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 5DW. Tel: 0191 241 8000. Web: www.a-n.co.uk
  • National Society for Education in Art and Design (NSEAD), The Gatehouse, Corsham Court, Corsham, Wiltshire SN13 0BZ. Tel: 01249 714825. Web: www.nsead.org

Art critic


Were you affected by your first sighting of the Angel of the North? Maybe you have a lot to say about it, or art generally. To be an art critic you will need to gain a thorough understanding of art history in context, be visually literate and a strong communicator. Some would say that you would benefit from some practical experience of art.

If you are considering this as a career, there are a number of appropriate courses, such as a degree or HND in Art History, or courses with titles such as Criticism, Curation & Communication for Arts & Design, or Fine Art (Studio Practice and Contemporary Critical Studies), or a course in Fine Art with a significant amount of theory content. You may want to follow with a research degree or MPhil in a related area.

As the course titles are so varied, it would be advisable to discuss your intention to become an art critic with the course provider to see if the course is appropriate for you.

Further information

  • Degree and HND courses and entry requirements, www.ucas.com

Contacts

Welder


If you are attracted to the idea of working on huge structural engineering projects, and contribute to the realisation of a sculpture like the Angel of the North, you could consider becoming a welder.

Most welders are employed in engineering construction, civil engineering, agricultural engineering, shipbuilding, vehicle manufacture, and opportunities can be found to work overseas. Training is usually undertaken through a Foundation or Advanced Modern Apprenticeship.

It is also possible to begin work immediately after leaving school with GCSEs/S grades, or you can start a course at college leading to a City & Guilds, BTEC/SQA award, or AVCE/GSVQ (Level III.)

Further details

Contacts

  • Vacancies are advertised in local newspapers, employment agencies and through the specialist website www.ukwelder.com
  • Apprenticeships may be available. To find the most appropriate log onto www.apprenticeships.org.uk or contact your local Connexions Partnership.
  • Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) in Fabrication and Welding, Keighley College (Lead Partner), Cavendish Street, Keighley, West Yorkshire BD21 3DF. Tel: 01535 618512. Web: www.keighley.ac.uk
  • ECIS (The Engineering Careers Information Service), 14 Upton Road, Watford, Hertfordshire WD18 0JT. Tel: 0800 282167 and 0808 100 3682. Web: www.enginuity.org.uk and www.semta.org.uk
  • NASEC Administration, Engineering Construction Industry Training Board. Web: www.ecitb.org.uk
  • The Welding Institute (TWI) Limited, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge CB1 6AL. Tel: 01223 891162. Web: www.twi.co.uk


Structural engineer


The Angel of the North was constructed using industrial and shipbuilding techniques. If you are inspired by the dramatic scale and structure of this extraordinary landmark figure, you may feel prompted to become involved in similar future projects as a structural engineer.

Most structural engineers undertake a degree, BTEC or an HND in structural engineering, before training. Usually, course applicants are required to have 2 A level higher grade passes.

The initial stage of the training course is focused on professional development and successful candidates will gain acceptance for membership by the Institution of Incorporated Engineers.

Employment is usually offered by private consulting engineering companies, but other work opportunities are available from national and local government, industrial organisations, universities and colleges, research establishments and building and civil engineering contractors.

In order to gain chartered status, it is often necessary to achieve promotion and start your own business. This is granted by the Institution of Structural Engineers.

Alternative access to this career can be made through an apprenticeship, which, with further study, can lead to becoming an engineering technician.

For further information

Contacts

  • Association of Consulting Engineers (ACE), Alliance House, 12 Caxton Street, London SW1H 0QL. Tel: 020 7222 6557. Web: www.acenet.co.uk
  • CITB – Construction Skills, Bircham Newton, Kings Lynn, Norfolk PE31 6RH. Tel: 0808 100 0055 and 01485 577577. Web: www.citb.co.uk and www.bconstructive.co.uk
  • ECIS (The Engineering Careers Information Service), 14 Upton Road, Watford, Hertfordshire WD18 0JT. Tel: 0800 282167 and 0808 100 3682. Web: www.enginuity.org.uk and www.semta.org.uk
  • The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), 1 Great George Street, Westminster, London SW1P 3AA. Tel: 020 7222 7722. Web: www.ice.org.uk
  • The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), 11 Upper Belgrave Street, London SW1X 8BH. Tel: 020 7235 4535. Web: www.istructe.org.uk