In brief
The arts sector offers a large variety of roles within industries such as creative arts, design and crafts, performing and visual arts, libraries, museums, galleries and heritage. LSE graduates can be found working as museum curators, arts administrators, heritage or theatre managers, and historians.
Roles are often specific to each industry and require a relevant qualification. However, some are open to graduates from broader backgrounds, including management, marketing, communications, history, geography or anthropology.
To work in the sector as a graduate, you will need previous relevant experience gained through volunteering or internships.
Where can you work?
- Museums and Heritage– thereare around 2500 museums and thousands of galleries in the UK, ranging from large publicly-funded institutions to smaller, privately financed ones. Large well-established organisations regularly hire graduates, for example English Heritage, National History Museum, National Galleries of Scotland. Several useful websites allow you to explore this sector and its employers further, including the Museum Association, Museums.co.uk, the National Museum Directors' Council and the Institute of Conservation.
- Creative arts, design and craft – smallcompanies or micro-businesses are typical of the creative arts sector. To explore these organisations further, the following websites will be useful: for creative industries, cultural education and arts – the Creative Industries Federation; for the design profession – the Chartered Society of Designers and the Directory of Design Consultants.
- Performing arts – there are two main types of theatre in the UK: repertory theatres, which have a resident company producing its own work and presenting plays from a repertoire; and non-repertory or receiving theatres that buy in plays and other productions. As well as West End, national and regional theatres, typical employers include arts centres, dance companies and opera companies. Professional bodies include the Independent Theatre Council and UK Theatre.
- Libraries and information management – there are thousands of libraries in the UK, both public and private. Employers include local authorities, community organisations, charities, educational institutions and commercial organisations, such as law firms. The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals provides useful information about library careers.
Useful Websites
Most of these pages include industry information, members’ directories and/or job vacancies.
CareerHub – jobs board targeting LSE students, including events and networking opportunities. Covers creative arts, design and crafts, libraries, museums and heritage, and theatre and performing arts.
Arts Council England – government-funded body dedicated to promoting the performing, visual and literary arts in England.
The Guardian Jobs – arts and heritage jobs, including work in music, events, theatre and museums and galleries.
Arts Council England jobs – job opportunities within the art and culture sector.
Museums and heritage
Museums Association ‘find a job – job opportunities in museums.
Creative arts, design and craft
Creative Industries Council – joint forum between the creative industries and government, focusing on access to finance, skills, export markets, regulation, intellectual property (IP) and infrastructure.
Creative Choices – gathers resources useful to those who want to work in the creative sector.
Creativepool – a network of creative industry professionals and companies.
Creative Access – helps young people, from BAME and under-represented communities throughout the UK, to access creative careers.
Creative and Cultural Skills – industry insight on a range of creative sectors.
ScreenSkills – an industry led charity for the screen industries. Provides advice on getting in, starting a portfolio, etc.
Creative Opportunities – jobs and internships website from the University of the Arts London, aimed at students and graduates, and open to public access.
The Team - career guide on how to become a Brand Designer.
Performing arts
The Stage – entertainment and performing arts industry news and services.
Music Producers Guild – debate, networking, news and members’ directory.
Libraries and information management
Lisjobnet.com – lists library and information jobs in a range of settings.