Breaking Into the Art World: A Guide to Industry Jobs

From gallery assistants to museum registrars, the art world is full of career opportunities. Here is how to stand out in a competitive stack of resumes.

Many artists and art historians dream of working within the industry that fuels their passion. However, securing a role at a blue-chip gallery, a bustling auction house, or a quiet museum archive requires a different skillset than painting or sculpting.

The competition is fierce, but the "hidden job market" is vast. Whether you are looking for your first internship or a senior curator role, here is how to navigate the application process.

1. Know Where to Look

Standard job boards like Indeed or Monster rarely list the best art jobs. You need to go where the industry lives.

  • NYFA (New York Foundation for the Arts): The gold standard for US-based arts employment, listing everything from admin to executive roles.
  • The Dots / Guardian Jobs (Arts): excellent resources for UK and European creative careers.
  • Association of Art Museum Curators (AAMC): The go-to board for institutional and curatorial specific roles.
  • Instagram: Surprisingly, many contemporary galleries post "Hiring" calls on their Stories before they pay for a job listing. Follow the galleries you want to work for.

2. The Resume vs. The Artist CV

This is the most common mistake applicants make.

  • An Artist CV lists your exhibitions, awards, and residencies.
  • A Professional Resume lists your skills, work history, and administrative capabilities.

If you are applying to be a Gallery Assistant, the director cares less about your solo show and more about your ability to use Photoshop, Artlogic, Mailchimp, and Excel. Highlight your organizational skills, database management, and client relations experience first.

3. The Cover Letter: Do Your Homework

"To Whom It May Concern" is a guaranteed way to get deleted. The art world is small and relationship-based.

  • Address a Person: Call the gallery or look on LinkedIn to find out who the Gallery Manager or Director is. Address them by name.
  • Show Specific Knowledge: Mention a recent exhibition they hosted that you admired. "I loved your recent show by [Artist Name]..." shows you are actually paying attention to their program, not just blasting out emails.

4. Understand the Roles

Don't just apply for "anything." Tailor your application to the specific department.

  • Registrar/Technician: Focus on your attention to detail, logistics, crate building, and condition reporting.
  • Sales Assistant: Focus on your communication skills, database management, and ability to handle high-net-worth individuals with discretion.
  • Communications/Press: Focus on your writing ability, social media analytics, and relationships with journalists.

5. The Interview: Aesthetic and Etiquette

If you get an interview, you have already passed the skills check. Now they are checking for "cultural fit."

  • Dress the Part: The art world is stylish but professional. For a gallery, think "smart creative"—all black is a safe and classic industry uniform.
  • Do Not Bring Your Portfolio: Unless you are applying for a graphic design role, do not bring your own artwork to an interview for an administrative job. It signals that you might be focused on your own career rather than the gallery's artists.
The Secret Weapon: Soft Skills
In a gallery, you are often the first face a collector sees. Hiring managers are desperate for people who are polite, articulate, and calm under pressure.

If you have experience in high-end retail or hospitality, highlight it! Dealing with a difficult customer in a luxury hotel is excellent training for dealing with collectors at an art fair.

Persistence is key. The art world is built on networking, so even if you don't get the job, sending a polite "Thank you for the opportunity" email keeps the door open for the future.