Professional organizations can be a great way to connect with other professionals in your field as well as find postings for positions in your field. Read more about connecting with professionals on our networking page.
Professional organizations, whether you join, participate in functions that they sponsor, or explore their websites, can be valuable resources at points throughout your career development. Consider them for career exploration, networking, finding job postings, and for continued professional development.
In many ways, a professional society is an instant network: You’ll be with others who have the same general career interest. Additionally, you may be able to learn more about your field and potential employers from other members. Consider volunteering at or attending an organization’s events. They often offer special discounted rates for volunteers and students. Conferences are a great way to make connections and to learn about important trends and issues that impact your career field.
Professional organizations by field can also be accessed through What Can I Do With a Major In… or What Can I Do With This Major.
Find professional organizations and employment resources applicable to different School of Education disciplines under each section. Links are researched by the Career Center, but the Career Center is not responsible for the content or postings.
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Art
Professional Organizations
- American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) offers career resources and job posting details available to members of this professional association for design.
-
- Wisconsin Chapter of AIGA will identify member businesses offering student internships and group tours of their facilities. See contact information under Outreach section.
- Chicago Chapter AIGA provides job postings for the greater Chicago area.
- Minnesota Chapter AIGA hosts events and professional development opportunities for designers in Minnesota.
- The College Art Association supports practitioners, teachers, and researchers of the visual arts and humanities. Job postings, publications, and career resources can be found on their site.
- The National Art Education Association supports visual arts educators through a variety of services.
- National Cartoonists Society is the largest organization of professional cartoonists.
- National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, every state arts agency contains a wealth of information on the artistic and cultural life in their state, as well as a host of resources for artists.
Employment and Internships
- American Advertising Federation’s Madison chapter has a job bank that lists local advertising opportunities. They also sponsor internships and scholarships to students.
- American Alliance of Museums showcases information and postings for employment opportunities related to museum professionals.
- Art Institute of Chicago offers a variety of employment and internship opportunities at a highly renowned museum.
- Art Jobs has open listings for jobs in a variety of artistic fields.
- Big Shoes Midwest features marketing, advertising, design, and communications related jobs and lists of professional organizations in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota.
- Creativehotlist.com is a valuable resource, with postings, for the creative job search.
- HOW Magazine is a comprehensive on-line business center for graphic designers, including job bank.
- GYST features specific career advice and professional practices for artists.
- Lands’ End offers internships and full time employment in graphic design as well as other creative avenues.
- Los Angeles County Arts Commission offers summer internships in a variety of roles.
- The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education. It is the nation’s largest annual funder of the arts.
- Quad/Graphics is an international printing and publishing company headquartered near Milwaukee, which offers Wisconsin-based and international opportunities.
- Smithsonian Institute features employment, fellowships, and internships.
- WECAN is an online posting and hiring system used by more than 500 Wisconsin K-12 schools and districts.
Dance
Professional Organizations
- The American College Dance Association supports university and college dance departments through conferences and the sponsorship of a national dance festival. They also have job and internship listings.
- The American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) provides information about the profession of dance therapy, the process of certification, and a jobs forum.
- Dance/NYC, an organization affiliated with DanceUSA, features postings for jobs and internships around the New York City area.
- Dance/USA sustains and advances professional dance. A national company roster is available in addition to internships and employment opportunities.
- National Dance Council of America is the governing body for professional ballroom and other dance in the United States.
- The National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), a non-profit organization, is committed to promoting quality dance education through resources, advocacy, and programs. Internships, job postings, and resources about dance education are available.
- The Society of Health and Physical Educators offers information and job postings for many types of physical educators.
- World Dance Alliance Americas (WDAA) is an organization that advocates for and supports dance through events, a scholarly journal, the International Young Choreographers Project, and other means.
Employment and Internships
- The American Ballet Theatre, based in New York City, offers internships during fall, spring, or summer.
- American Dance Festival offers internship positions during their summer performance season.
- Dance Place provides their interns hands-on experience with the staff and faculty at Dance Place, a nationally recognized community arts organization.
- Hubbard Street Dance Company provides interns interested in dance and arts management the experience of working behind the scenes in one of the world’s leading contemporary dance companies.
- Jacob’s Pillow Dance offers internships for those interested in arts administration or production.
- The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC offers internships for college students and graduates interested in arts management
Theatre and Drama
Professional Organizations
- American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) offers services and support to community theatres and strives to enhance community theatre experiences.
- Actors’ Equity Association, as a labor union, represents both stage managers and actors.
- Educational Theatre Association provides resources for those in theatre education as well as honors the success of theatre students.
- SAG-AFTRA is the combined labor union of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, which provides support to a variety of professionals in entertainment.
- The University Resident Theatre Association is the nation’s oldest and largest consortium of professional, graduate (MFA) theatre training programs and partnered professional theatre companies.
Employment
- Directors Guild of America offers a competitive training program to become Second Assistant Directors.
- Playbill, a magazine for the theatre, features a searchable list of open positions for the theatre community.