You may love to draw, paint, sculpt or design in your spare time but pursuing a career as a full-time artist is certainly possible if you have the passion and drive.

Skills and interests you may already have:

• Artistic
• Ability to problem solve
• Original and inventive
• Self motivated

We look forward to teaching you:

• New techniques and concepts
• How to work in a variety of media
• Perspective
• Art history
• Cultural influences
• Exhibiting your work

What industry opportunities are there?

Approximately 62% of artists are self employed, however, many find work with museums, galleries, schools, advertising agencies and printers.

The internet now allows artists to market themselves to potential buyers in New Zealand and overseas.

New Zealand contemporary art, craft and design with strong Pasifika or Maori elements is growing in popularity. Digital art and graphic design are also growing, providing good vocational opportunities. If it's your passion, inspire others through your visual interpretations.

It's all in the message. Managing the communications strategy of a company or local authority; or working for a public relations or communications consultancy is an exciting, diverse way of life.

Skills and interests you may already have:

• Good written and spoken English skills
• Well organised
• Able to meet deadlines
• A good people person
  

We look forward to teaching you:

• The theory of public relations and mass communication
• How to write media releases
• How to develop communication plans
• How to manage issues
  

What industry opportunities are there?

• You may find a role in corporate communications or you may work for a public relations company.

Imagine the satisfaction of knowing that children are listening to your stories before they go to bed, or that people are reciting your poems or enjoying reading your short story or magazine article. At some point in our lives, most of us have read something – be it a novel, historical account, travel story, autobiography, or any of the myriad other forms of writing – that left a lasting impression. Creative writers are the wordsmiths behind the emotions, pictures, reactions and outcomes of those carefully crafted words.

Tap into your literary creativity under the guidance of our published and practising authors/lecturers.

Skills and interests you may already have:

• Creative mind
• Good grammar and vocabulary
• A keen reader

We look forward to teaching you:

• How to communicate your ideas
• How to develop plots and characters
• How to critique your own work
• How to make words work for you

What industry opportunities are there?

Whether you want to write for publication, your own pleasure, or web content for adults or children, there are a variety of employmento pportunities out there:

• Creative non-fiction writer/biographer
• Technical writer
• Drama and screen writer
• Editor
• Tutor
• Fiction writer (novel or short story)
• Poet

So, pen your past, write about your travels for profit or for future generations, create fictional plots and characters or write the next great New Zealand screenplay.

There are some people who can take an everyday look and infuse it with their own personal style. They can take a classic look and make it fresh and they're not afraid to take a risk from time to time. Do you aspire to be the next fashion designer for Gucci or Prada, or start your own label?

Skills and interests you may already have:

• Creativity, originality and style Innovative
• Ability to perform under pressure and work to tight deadlines
• Work with people with a range of personalities
• Able to handle criticism and grow from it

We look forward to teaching you:

• How to draft, cut and sew
• What textiles work best in which garments
• How to develop your own 'look'
• How to show your designs off

What industry opportunities are there?

When entering the fashion industry you should expect to start in entry level positions and as you gain experience, you will be able to compete for better positions. There are many paths you can follow, think outside the square, and make yourself more appealing to employers by gaining experience while you are studying. Practical work experience is often important for getting your foot in the door of the fashion industry, so if you can, volunteer a little of your time in exchange for gaining knowledge, skills and connections!

Employers can range from:

• Small boutique designers to large apparel manufacturers
• Retail stores
• Film, television or other media companies
• Self employment

If you've got a finger on the pulse of the fashion industry, there's a career waiting for you.

Do you frequently make suggestions on how to improve your home decor, or do you like to design or redesign your personal space? One part artist and one part business professional, there's no shortage of excitement in an interior design career.

Skills and interests you may already have:

• Great taste and artistic ability
• Great communication and presentation skills
• Eye for detail, colours and patterns
• Ability to solve problems and overcome challenges
• Love of space and design
  

We look forward to teaching you:

• Organisational skills and business know-how
• To manage budgets, and have knowledge of building and safety codes
• To work well with others from clients to architects, electricians, plumbers, and more
• Computer and technical skills
• Project management skills
• Knowledge of products
• How to use fabrics and colour
• Feng Shui

With the varied skill set needed, it comes as little surprise that getting an interior design qualification is quickly becoming essential for those wishing to enter the interior design job market.

What industry opportunities are there?

Interior designers can set themselves apart by having well-presented portfolios of work to demonstrate their design and art skills. Employers prefer portfolios that show digital and hand-drawn design concepts and finished work. Most interior designers are either selfemployed or work for small interior design or architecture practices. They may also work for:

• Construction consultancies
• Design showrooms
• Luxury yacht, cruise ship or airplane manufacturers
• Bathroom and kitchen design companies
• Furniture or homeware stores or manufacturers

Polytechnics or universities as lecturers If variety, flexibility and creativity sound appealing, then take the road of an interior designer. It can be a challenging and intellectually satisfying career choice.

A career in modern journalism will ensure no two working days are the same. You'll meet amazing people, travel and get a chance to be at the cutting edge of news and current events

Skills and interests you may already have:

• Excellent communication, writing, listening and speaking skills
• A knowledge of grammar and punctuation
• An eye for detail
• Time management and deadline focused
• An interest in what's going on

We look forward to teaching you:

• How to write for the media
• How to interview people
• Shorthand note taking
• Law and ethics
• How to cover special events

What industry opportunities are there?

You could find yourself working in exciting areas such as:

• Print and internet outlets: work for newspaper and magazine publishing companies such as Fairfax NZ or APN News and Media. You can also work for small businesses that have as few as three staff. These may be specialist publishing houses, or businesses run by an owner-operator.
• Radio: work for radio networks such as National Radio, Radioworks or The Radio Network or student, iwi or community radio stations.
• Television: work for television networks such as Mediaworks, Sky, TVNZ, Maori Television or other television production companies.

Some journalists or communication specialists work on short-term contracts with employers to complete a specific journalistic piece of work or series of works. Journalists may approach employers with one-off articles they have written on a freelance basis, or charge a per-word fee for their publishable work.

Opportunities for progression in journalism may include:

• Progressing from sub-editor roles to senior editing positions
• Progressing from journalist to chief reporter or editor
• Managing or overseeing other staff
• Managing projects
• Becoming a self-employed contractor

The New Zealand media industry is following international trends of expanding in all directions. You can become part of this rapidly growing business!