Clémence Burande, Bachelor of Fine Arts (2018), Communications and Marketing Manager

A graduate of the Université Catholique de l'Ouest (UCO) in Angers, Clémence Burande has combined her passions for art, education and communication. An art teacher, she has also moved into the communications sector, launching her own business. In this interview, she talks about her career path, her choices and shares her advice to students.

Can you introduce yourself and your career path?

I'm a graduate of UCO's Fine Arts program, and my career path revolves around three major passions: culture, education and communication. I began my professional adventure in an educational start-up, a stimulating environment that enabled me to develop a modern approach to education. At the same time, I've been teaching visual arts for the past five years, a mission that's very close to my heart as it enables me to pass on my passion and help young people develop their creativity.

I have also launched my own communications business, where I work mainly with schools and SMEs, choosing projects that correspond to my values. From the beginning of June, I'll be devoting myself fully to this activity, while remaining connected to the world of education through the projects I carry out while keeping my job as a teacher.

Why did you choose to study art at UCO?

I chose UCO for its excellent supervision and personalized approach. The small classes and dedicated staff really helped me to blossom. What particularly appealed to me was the possibility of choosing a specialization and an optional MEEF course, which gave me the opportunity to explore different paths and prepare myself for a variety of career opportunities.

Studying art at UCO enabled me to develop a solid artistic culture while cultivating a critical and creative mind. It wasn't just technical training, but real support in building a professional project that suits me. The UCO also gave me practical skills, with courses on project management, which helped me better understand my aspirations and the skills I still needed to develop.

How do you reconcile your roles as teacher and communicator, and what do you find most fulfilling in these roles?

I've always worked in parallel as an art teacher and in the education sector (as an employee or external service provider). What nourishes me in these two professions is the diversity of projects and seeing the concrete impact of my work. I love creating meaningful messages, while mobilizing my artistic skills to meet the needs of others. My self-business allows me to work on exciting projects and to feed my teaching practice with a broader vision of current issues. This combination of roles motivates me every day and keeps me fully fulfilled.

What advice would you give to a student in search of a career direction or wishing to explore several career paths?

I would tell a student to dare to follow his or her curiosities and not be afraid to explore several paths. There is no single path, and it's perfectly normal to be attracted to different fields. Today, career paths are more flexible, and that's a blessing. You can combine different activities as long as you stay true to yourself. The most important thing is to listen to what you want, to experiment and to keep learning. Every experience, even the unplanned ones, can become a great opportunity.