
When considering the educational pathways available for students wanting to be professional artists, arts administrators or other kinds of culture workers, it's useful to compare the differences between academic systems. The French education system is designed along different lines than the U.S., especially when it comes to preparing oneself for a career in the arts. For an artist or culture worker to survive in France, one must be prepared: gain acceptance to the best educational institution (a conservatory for artists or a university in the case of arts administrators), succeed academically and demonstrate one's skills publicly via exhibitions and internships, then use one's knowledge, skills and personal connections to garner support or outright employment from the public sector. The competition in France is strongest during the academic exam process (the outcome determines one's ability to enter into higher education and which system, conservatory or university, will become one's future academic environment) and in submissions for awards, publication and other forms of recognition. The “prize” if one successfully navigates the terrain, is either a government-sponsored job (with benefits) in a cultural organization, ongoing recognition as an artist via government commissions, inclusion in local or regional festivals, or a teaching position in the conservatory or university system. Note that in France these two academic systems are separate from one another: a student follows either the conservatory “arts training” program or university “research” track, and the choice very much influences which opportunities you may qualify for later in life. There are some rare instances of highly motivated students who attempt to pursue academic careers concurrently in both the conservatory and university systems - there are also some recent instances of conservatory/university partnerships - but these are the exception to the rule.
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