CV Maintenance: The Key to Being Ready for Opportunities

Maintaining an up-to-date CV is essential for every artist. Treat it as a living document you maintain as you go, keeping a Google Doc or Word document on your computer to make it an actively updateable repository of your work. Regularly update it with sections on education, performance history, awards, residencies, commissions, teaching, workshops, panels, lectures, publications, and citations. When needed, you can easily print or download it as a PDF. Remember, CVs differ from resumes—they provide a comprehensive overview of your professional experiences and achievements, which you can copy to a resume as needed. By keeping your CV current, you ensure it reflects your latest accomplishments and remains ready for any opportunity that comes your way.

1. Education: List your educational background, including degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework. Start with the most recent degree earned and include the institution and location.
2. Performance History: Include all your performances, detailing the venue, date, and your role. You can divide these into solo and group exhibitions or list them together, noting solo exhibitions where applicable.
3. Awards: Highlight any awards or recognitions you’ve received. Include the name of the award, the granting organization, and the year you received it.
4. Residencies and Commissions: Document any artist residencies or commissions you’ve undertaken. Include the name of the residency or commission, the location, and the year.
5. Teaching and Workshops: Include any teaching positions, workshops, or masterclasses you’ve led. Detail the institution, your role, and the dates.
6. Panels and Lectures: Mention any panels or lectures you’ve participated in, including the event name, your role, and the date.
7. Publications and Citations: List any publications you’ve contributed to or been cited in. Use a consistent format for listing articles, including the author, title, publication, date, and page numbers if applicable.

Keeping these sections updated ensures that your CV reflects your latest achievements and experiences, preparing you to seize new opportunities as they arise. An updated CV showcases your accomplishments and demonstrates your professionalism and preparedness to potential collaborators, employers, and institutions.

Examples of Artist CVs:

• Zety Artist CV Example
• VisualCV Artist CV Examples
• Artwork Archive Guide

By referring to these examples, you can better understand how to structure your CV and what content to include, ensuring that it is both comprehensive and professional.