Preparing an Arts and Cultural CV or Resume

Preparing an Arts and Cultural CV or Resume

A guide to creating an arts and cultural CV that effectively presents your training, activities, and professional experience to galleries, grant committees, and arts organizations.

When You Need an Arts and Cultural CV

Your arts and cultural CV is essential when you:

• Apply for grants and funding opportunities
• Submit applications to galleries, residencies, or exhibitions
• Apply for artist-in-residence programs
• Nominate yourself for selection committees or advisory boards
• Submit proposals for public art commissions
• Apply for teaching positions or arts administration roles

Your CV serves as your professional calling card in the arts world. It tells your story, demonstrates your experience, and shows how your work fits within the broader cultural landscape.

Understanding Your Arts and Cultural CV

Unlike a traditional resume, an arts and cultural CV focuses on your creative practice, artistic achievements, and cultural contributions rather than just employment history. It's a living document that grows with your career and should be updated regularly.

Arts CV vs Traditional Resume

The purpose of your CV is to:

• Present who you are and what you do, including your role and field of practice (discipline)
• Demonstrate your artistic training, experience, and achievements
• Showcase your public presentations and professional activities
• Highlight your contributions to the arts community
• Provide context for grant applications and opportunity submissions

Basic Information

Start your CV with essential identifying information:

Include:

• Your full name, and any professional name or alias you use
• Links to your arts and cultural website
• Links to relevant social media accounts (Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)

Do not include:

• Personal information such as your social insurance number (SIN) or social security number
• Personal phone numbers, email addresses, or mailing addresses (unless specifically requested)
• Date of birth or age
• Marital status or other personal details

Summary or Artist Statement

Begin with a brief summary (no more than 250 words) that tells your story. This section helps readers quickly understand your practice and background. Consider including:

• The type of arts and cultural work you do
• Your field of practice (discipline), themes you work with, or the focus of your artistic activities
• How you began your arts and cultural activities
• Areas where you have specialized skills and knowledge
• Key moments that shaped your journey or accomplishments you're proud of
• The communities you work with or the public you want to reach
• Information about how your practice, community, or region impacts your work

Arts and Cultural Training and Learning

Training and learning in the arts can take many forms, both formal and informal. This section recognizes that artistic development happens in diverse ways:

Formal education:

• College or university degrees (BFA, MFA, BA, MA, PhD)
• Post-baccalaureate programs
• Certificate programs
• Continuing education courses

Informal and alternative learning:

• Self-directed learning through online tutorials or courses
• Webinars and workshops
• Apprenticeships or learning on the job
• Mentorships with established artists
• Learning under the guidance of an Elder, family member, or community member
• Masterclasses and intensive workshops
• Residency programs with educational components

What to include for each training entry:

• When did your training take place?
• What did you learn?
• Where did you study or train?
• Who was your teacher or mentor?
• Any relevant certifications or credentials earned

Artistic and Cultural Work Presented to the Public

This is often the most substantial section of your CV. List all public presentations of your artistic and cultural work, including but not limited to:

• Recordings, releases, and performances
• Presentations, exhibitions, installations, screenings, and curatorial projects
• Published work and readings
• Public art installations
• Online exhibitions and digital presentations
• Open studios and studio visits

Keep listings concise but informative. Include as much of the following information as is relevant:

• When was the work presented? (Year, or month and year)
• What was the title of the work?
• What was the type of presentation? (Exhibition, screening, performance, etc.)
• What was your role? (Artist, curator, performer, etc.)
• Where was the work presented and by whom? (Gallery name, venue, city, curator if applicable)

Tips for presenting your work:

• Use reverse chronological order (most recent first)
• Italicize exhibition and work titles
• Clearly indicate when you received an artist fee ("paid artist fee")
• Note when work was selected by a curator ("curated by [Name]")
• Group independent works together under a heading like "Independent Projects" or "Self-Organized Exhibitions"
• For group exhibitions, list your name among the participating artists
• Include both physical and online exhibitions

Artists and Community Collaboration Activities

This section highlights activities that bring artists and community members together as creative partners. These collaborations demonstrate your engagement with communities and your ability to work collaboratively.

List any activities you have organized, worked on, or participated in, including:

• Community art projects
• Public workshops and educational programs
• Collaborative installations
• Social practice art projects
• Community-based residencies
• Participatory art events
• Arts programming for underserved communities

Include as much of the following information as is relevant:

• When did the activity take place?
• What was the activity?
• What was your role? (Lead artist, collaborator, facilitator, etc.)
• Who were the participating community members or partners?
• Where did the activity take place?
• What was the outcome or impact?

Arts and Cultural Work Experience

This section covers professional roles you've been contracted or hired to do within the arts and cultural sector. Include:

Artistic roles:

• Creators, designers, and performers
• Artistic directors, producers, curators, or programmers
• Creative directors or lead artists

Administrative and support roles:

• General managers and arts administrators
• Marketing, communications, or fundraising roles
• Gallery assistants or coordinators
• Studio managers

Professional services:

• Service providers or consultants
• Critics, writers, translators, or editors
• Technicians or production staff
• Agents or artist managers
• Arts educators or workshop facilitators

Include as much of the following information as is relevant:

• When were you employed? (Dates or duration)
• What was your role?
• Who did you work for? (Organization name)
• Where did you work? (Location)
• What were your key responsibilities or achievements?

Additional Sections

These sections highlight other types of activities, experiences, and accomplishments related to your arts and cultural practice:

Teaching and Mentorships

• University or college teaching positions
• Workshop facilitation
• Private instruction
• Mentoring emerging artists
• Guest lectures or artist talks

Volunteer Experience

• Board positions for arts organizations
• Volunteer work with arts nonprofits
• Community arts initiatives
• Arts advocacy work

Residencies

• Artist-in-residence programs
• Research residencies
• International residencies
• Self-directed residencies

Artist Talks, Presentations, and Articles

• Public lectures and artist talks
• Conference presentations
• Published articles or essays
• Podcast appearances
• Panel discussions

Awards and Community Recognition

• Grants and fellowships
• Awards and prizes
• Honorable mentions
• Community recognition or honors
• Competition wins

Assessment and Adjudication

• Serving on grant juries
• Reviewing applications for opportunities
• Curatorial selection committees
• Peer review panels

Media Coverage

• Press mentions and reviews
• Interviews
• Feature articles
• Video profiles
• Radio or television appearances

Memberships and Affiliations

• Professional associations
• Artist collectives or cooperatives
• Arts organizations
• Advisory boards

For each entry, include:

• On what date or during what period did it take place?
• What was the activity?
• What was your role?
• Where did it take place?
• Any additional relevant details (award amount, publication name, etc.)

Formatting Your CV

Best practices:

• Use a clean, professional font (Times New Roman, Garamond, or Helvetica) at 11–12pt
• Maintain consistent formatting throughout
• Use reverse chronological order (newest first) within each section
• Italicize exhibition and work titles
• Use consistent date formats (e.g., "2024" or "March 2024")
• Keep entries concise but informative
• Proofread carefully for spelling and grammar errors
• Save as a PDF for professional submissions

What to avoid:

• Including prices or sales information
• Using first-person language ("I created...")
• Including personal information not relevant to your practice
• Overly decorative fonts or formatting
• Inconsistent formatting or spacing

Keeping Your CV Up to Date

Your arts and cultural CV is a living document. Make it a habit to:

• Update it immediately after completing a project or receiving recognition
• Review it quarterly to ensure all information is current
• Tailor certain sections when applying for specific opportunities
• Keep a master version with all details, then create focused versions for specific applications
• Maintain accurate records of dates, titles, and collaborators

Using Your CV with Artsume

Artsume makes it easy to build and maintain your arts and cultural CV online. Our platform:

• Provides a structured format that follows industry standards (including CAA standards)
• Automatically formats your entries consistently
• Allows you to update your CV anytime, anywhere
• Generates professional PDF exports with one click
• Links your CV directly to your portfolio and applications
• Ensures your CV is always current and ready to share
• Lets you apply to opportunities with your CV attached automatically

Final Tips

1. Be honest and accurate: Only include verifiable information
2. Be selective: Focus on the most relevant and impressive entries
3. Be consistent: Use the same formatting and style throughout
4. Be specific: Include details that demonstrate the scope and impact of your work
5. Be professional: Your CV represents you - make sure it's polished and error-free

Remember, your arts and cultural CV tells the story of your creative journey. Take the time to present it thoughtfully, and it will serve as a powerful tool in advancing your career.

Ready to Build Your Professional Arts CV?

Related Guides:

• The Complete Guide to Artist CVs: CAA Format
• How to Write an Artist Statement
• Artist Portfolio Best Practices
• How to Apply for Artist Residencies
• Free Artist CV Maker

Adapted from the Canada Council for the Arts' official guide on preparing an arts and cultural CV. We've expanded their framework to help artists build professional CVs for all types of opportunities.