Which European country is the best place to study and build a career as an artist/illustrator?
Hello everyone! I’m a non-EU student and I want to get an education in Europe in the field of illustration, fine arts, or other creative fields. Right now, I don’t know which university (or even which country!) to choose if my goal is to eventually build a career as an artist and potentially stay there after graduation.
I’m not necessarily looking for a university that specializes exclusively in classical illustration. I’m interested in illustration, graphic art, contemporary art, visual storytelling, and other forms of artistic expression. I already have several ideas for modern sculptures, installations, and other projects that I would like to develop in the future. 3D and animation do not interest me, although I'm interested in digital and graphic art. What is especially important to me is a realistic possibility for an international graduate to stay in the country, live there and build a career, rather than finish my studies and be forced to leave because of a lack of normal professional opportunities.
What is important to me: employment support after graduation, good connections with the professional art market; connections with companies; opportunities for exhibitions and real projects; internships; real opportunities to find a job after graduation. (although I understand that a university cannot guarantee your career growth 100%, but still.)
I'm currently finishing an art college with a specialization in painting. I have good academic drawing and painting skills, and I continue to develop them. At the same time, I'm studying book illustration and graphic art. I already have several private and public projects and commissions. I have also participated in exhibitions at galleries and a library in my city (I received a 2nd-degree laureate diploma in graphic art for my illustrations).
I am also completely open to learning the local language if it would really significantly improve my chances of building a career in that country. Climate and comfort are not particularly important to me — education, the art/creative market, and the possibility of staying and working after graduation are much more important to me.
Originally, I was mainly considering NABA, but recently I have seen quite a lot of criticism (the academy is not worth its very high tuition fees. As a non-EU student, I would have to pay around €22,500 per year and, apparently, even without employment support in the future 🙃) I have also heard conflicting comments about Italy and Spain. I'm not considering the US as an option.
Which European countries would you recommend for someone in my situation? And which universities or art academies genuinely have good connections with the professional world and help their graduates transition into building a career? This post will be relevant at any time! Thank you everyone for your help, I would especially appreciate personal experiences. Thank you!