English for Art Careers
As an artist, maker or designer, we know that you have more interesting/urgent things to do than work on your English.
It’s natural to ask yourself, ‘Will I really need English for my art career?’
This article is to help you make the right choice – for you.
We’ll start with a few cold hard facts about English, and then closely look at one artist’s story.
(It’s also the story of why we are here to help you improve your English to seize your art career).
Here to Help
True Voice English are here for you to not avoid or fail at opportunities in the future because you put off your English now.
The last part of the article has links that will help turn learning English for Art Careers from feeling like a chore to an opportunity.
You know English dominates global communication, but here are the stats:
Around 85% of international organizations use English as an official or working language.
Over 95% of scientific papers are published in English.
English is the language of 60–70% of multinational companies and the dominant language of international trade and finance.
English is the dominant language in the global art market.
- Art fairs like Art Basel, Frieze, and The Armory Show use English as their main language.
- The top art market hubs, New York and London are English-speaking cities.
- Catalogues, price listings, and transactions are often conducted in English (even in non-English-speaking countries).
- Most influential contemporary art magazines and websites are in English
- Art history and theory are increasingly written and published in English, even in non-English-speaking countries.
One Artist’s Story
I took my first-language English privilege for granted before I worked in a second language (Brussels/Paris/France 2004-2012).
Being in Belgium was a blast (probably because it is a small country containing so many cultures). It was a free-for-all, with conversations cobbled together from different languages and artists mixing with elite young Commission staff to put the world to rights.
It was France where I lost the ability to show up as myself and grew used to being only partially present in any conversation.
That silence became part of who I was (as did the frustration of feeling like that).
I coped/survived and lived rich days, but I certainly didn’t flourish.
And I certainly didn’t make the connections I needed for my art career.
It’s hellish not being able to share your essence with the world.
Until I lost my 1st-language privilege, I hadn’t realised that.
(Nor had I realised the extent language competencies are your ability to do so).
This artist’s story is my own (Ruth Pringle).
It’s why I started True Voice English, working with pronunciation coach and ELT specialist Jennie Reed to design English tuition around artists’ needs.
(About Us)
“It’s hellish not being able to share your essence with the world.
Until I lost my 1st-language privilege, I hadn’t realised that, because had I never thought about the extent your language competencies are your ability to do so.
True Voice English is here to stop you from making the same mistake”.
Ruth Pringle, True Voice English co-founder, 2025
I learned the hard way:
You Don’t Need to Love Your 2nd Language
But you do need to love who you are in it.
It’s key to long-term, sustainable language acquisition and using it confidently.
You Don’t Need to Love Your 2nd Language
English Coaching
I’m reminded of my first-language English privilege helping my clients navigate English (2004-2025).
They don’t love English – it’s an obstacle to doing what they need to do.
The right coach can make gaining English skills interesting, offer security to your risk-taking and share the excitement (all the ups and downs) of the journey.
The right coach can reach a person’s essence, whether a beginner or advanced – and help them share it with more and more joy and confidence.
Getting great results.
Will You Need English?
There’s no guarantee that you will need English.
You may find a way to get paid lots of money without ever having to leave your studio or talk to anyone.
But there is a high probability that you will need English for your creative career, and I hope I have shared what an obstacle not having language fluency can be.
The Problem With Doing Nothing
The problem with making a decision now not to pursue English is that over time, you’ll forget the skills you do have, and waste opportunities to keep them fresh.
Future language acquisition increasingly seems a big chore, so you put it off even more.
Yes, tomorrow doesn’t feel as urgent as today. But trust us, adding small, regular bits of English practice into your week will translate into big results for your art career in the long run.
Here’s how we can help:
English for Art Careers
Artists, designers and makers need English for Art Purposes – not a general English course.
We have Free Resources in English for Art Careers, and a range of English for Art Purposes Course Options, including our practice-led course – Sketchbook English.
Recent Comments