Introduction

A career in the arts sector is desirable and therefore highly competitive. Where a relevant qualification is not needed, you must demonstrate your passion and motivation. Relevant work experience is highly recommended to help you stand out to recruiters.

As vacancies are often not formally advertised, it’s important to take a mixed approach to job searching, applying to advertised jobs, but also using and developing your network of contacts. LinkedIn is great for helping you to do this. Speculative applications are well received in this sector.

If you’re looking to gain experience

Most entrants start off by volunteering and undertaking internships. These experiences allow you to make contacts for the future, and to gain confidence and legitimacy in the sector. Getting involved in preserving a heritage site or helping at a museum, country house or archive can be valuable experience. Most of the larger organisations in the sector advertise volunteering opportunities on their websites.

If you’re early on in your career

Graduate schemes are almost non-existent in the sector, but some museums offer traineeships for assistant curators, such as the National Gallery Curatorial Traineeships.

If you have more experience

When climbing the ladder, competition is even tougher, and networking becomes crucial. Joining relevant professional bodies and attending their networking events and conferences is useful.

If you’re changing career

People can move into this sector using existing experience, e.g. from HR in a corporation to HR in a cultural organisation. For moves that involve a change in role as well, it’s often necessary to take a stepping stone approach to gaining relevant experience. This could involve volunteering or perhaps starting in a more junior position than you might be aiming for. Showing your passion, and demonstrating relevant knowledge and previous volunteering experience in the targeted sector are essential.

Not sure what to do next?

We’re here to talk over your career plans with you. It doesn’t matter what stage you’re at, so don’t feel you have to have it all worked out. You can book a one-to-one appointment with a careers consultant on CareerHub.

There are a huge number of different job roles in this sector. We’ve outlined some of the major ones, with links to where you can find more information. If you can, try and talk to someone who’s doing the job you’re interested in, so you get a real flavour of what it’s like.

• Arts administrator – plays an important part in the management and development of projects. In a small company, covers functions from marketing and managing performers and audiences, to handling finance and insurance. In larger companies, the role may be much more specific, e.g. focusing on education, front of house administration, etc. The Prospects Arts administrator job profile provides further details.
• Museum/gallery curator – manages collections and works of art, deals with the acquisition, care and display of items, and informs and educates the public. May also deal with fundraising, marketing, public relations and running education programmes. Check out the Prospects Museum/gallery curator job profile.
• Exhibitions officer – responsible for the planning, delivery and installation of individual exhibitions. Specifically involved in event organisation and operations, public relations and marketing, logistics and production of publications. The Prospects Museum/gallery exhibitions officer job profile is a useful resource.
• Heritage manager – manages and conserves heritage sites such as museums, historic buildings, ancient monuments and other properties. Focuses on balancing the preservation of historically important sites with ensuring projects are sustainable from a business perspective. The Prospects Heritage manager job profile will tell you more.
• Historian – uses documents, maps, official records and photographs to study the past and educate the public about collections or artefacts. Has an enquiring mind and excellent research skills. Typical employers include university departments, museums and heritage organisations. 
• Theatre manager – has responsibility for business and administrative aspects of the theatre. Needs to be commercially minded to lead marketing and publicity activities. Ensures the public get the most out of their experience when visiting the theatre. The Prospects Theatre manager profile provides further details.