Museums, Galleries & Heritage Careers

The heritage sector covers , science centres, heritage Produced with the support of the organisations, buildings, archaeology, archives and conservation. Find Museums Association. Last updated March 2021 out what your options are, how to get your foot in the door and where to look for vacancies.

Opportunities in the sector Job roles:  Information/library/archives –  Curation – overall responsibility for a record and facilitate use of collection of artefacts or works of art. materials by the institution’s clients They acquire, research, display and  Digital – engaging audiences and write about objects making collections and stories  Collections – managing objects, accessible online preserving documentation,  Volunteer management – cataloguing, storage, preventative organising volunteers and ensuring care, lighting, digital recording a positive experience  Conservation – making sure things  Partnerships - securing Types of employment: are stable, safe and in good condition sponsorships and partnerships with There is no one path into a museums or before being displayed or leant. Often a wide range of brands and heritage career. Lots of people start out in specialise in a type of object e.g. companies to support the the sector through volunteering, and some paintings or furniture organisations work continue to develop their skills and  Learning – education, outreach,  Science communication – making networks by volunteering even when they community events. Preparation and scientific content understandable are employed. The heritage sector has delivery of programmes, events and and accessible become increasingly dependent on resources for schools and other  Research - conducting research in volunteers to maintain services, and visitors scientific, cultural, historical, or volunteers become very professional and  Exhibitions – organising specific artistic fields for use in projects skilled. Volunteering provides opportunities to display particular  possibilities for you to gain experience objects. Focused on project Commercial - selecting art/objects while still at university and build management, relationship building, to both enhance the essential networks. partnership working. Works alongside gallery/'s reputation and the curator bring in money You might find work on a freelance basis   Visitor operations – or visitor Development - fundraising or on a fixed term contract and, if you can manage the uncertainty of this kind of services, engaging with audiences and visitors, front of house, shop, events, Plus, enabling roles that are found in employment, these kinds of positions can lots of other industries too: be a route to a permanent full time café, duty/museum manager  International position.  Consultancy Heritage careers often start out very broad  Policy & advocacy and then become more focused and  Marketing specialised, but equally you might go the  HR other way and begin in a very niche role.  Facilities and estate management The kinds of skills you need in this sector  Information communication can be developed in lots of other sectors,  Technology so moving from, for example, a project  Finance management or events role in another  Management / leadership industry to a similar role in a museum isn’t unusual. So don’t be disheartened if you don’t land your dream heritage role at first – there is plenty of time! rentum nonecusania cumet et landicto. Quibust alit utem. Nam landis si sint qui con con con exces voluptint remostio. Nemporrum ut molorerciis quamus vit harum eri cum eturisciis accuptatem dolorest rehentibus, iundit exerum volorposamus saperspid excea diatibu saperrume voles ide idendellaut inis eum que pellaccum sunt officiet porerit Collection and organisation types

It’s also important to consider the List of national museums in the UK: different types of organisations in this

sector, all with different funding,  , structures and primary purpose:  , London, Cambridge and  Nationals – centrally-funded by the  , London Dept. for Culture, Media & Sport  National Maritime Museum, London  Local Authority Museums – remit  , Liverpool driven by particular areas in UK. Local  , Liverpool councillors, elected members and  Merseyside Maritime Museum, communities have a say Liverpool  Independents – no national or local-  Seized! The Border and Customs authority funding so more commercial uncovered, Liverpool activity like publications and paid-for  International Slavery Museum, Liverpool workshops  , Liverpool  Regimental – funded by Ministry of  Defence. Sometimes “behind the Thinking about kinds of collections you  Science Museum, London wire” in barracks want to work with can help you target  Science and Industry Museum,  University – aim to support learning your job hunt. You could consider: Manchester  Private – privately-owned collections,  National ,  Archaeology can be owned by charities  National Science and Media Museum,  Agriculture Bradford  Art History It’s worth noting that careers in local and  National Collections Centre, Swindon  Costume and textiles regional museums can be just as fulfilling,  Locomotion, Shildon  Decorative arts easier to get into and, importantly, are not  National Portrait Gallery, London  Ethnography far behind some national museums in  National , London  Industrial terms of pay.  National Coal Mining Museum for  Natural History Other places where there are England, West Yorkshire  Medical opportunities:  Natural History Museum, London  Military  Sector Bodies – like the Museums  , , London and  Science Association  Social History  Suppliers – e.g. collections  Sir John Soane's Museum, London management systems, auction  , London, Liverpool and St. Ives houses, logistics specialists  Victoria and Albert Museum, London  Consultancies – specific to the sector  , London e.g. weareculture24.org.uk

Q&A with Tamsin Russell from the Museums Association

Q: Should I do a Masters? Or even a PhD? @TamsinRussell A: Not necessarily. Some organisations use MAs as a blunt opportunity to apply for funding from universities. It’s also a badge shortlisting tool, so will require everyone to have one simply to cut of honour to have PhD level study if you’re applying for a role where down the number of applicants. your PhD makes you a specialist in that niche. In some cases, the research skills and knowledge you develop

doing an MA will be valuable (for example in some learning Q: Where should I look for vacancies? departments or when curating a collection where you have A: A key jobs website is the Leicester University Museums Jobs Desk, specialist knowledge), but in other places the practical skills you which is updated every Thursday. Lots of roles are advertised on gain from volunteering and other work experience will be more social media, the Museums Association advertise vacancies too, and highly regarded. MuseumsJobs.com is also an important site. Look at local places If you’re planning to freelance in this sector an MA can help you where you would like to work, go to their websites, follow them on define your particular unique selling points when going for Twitter, and connect with/follow key people. opportunities. It’s worth noting that there are many more people

graduating with an MA in Museum Studies than there are jobs in Q: What would the most common job titles be for a new grad? the sector, so it’s certainly not a guaranteed ticket to a job. A: Assistant Curator/ Curatorial Assistant, Collections Management The same applies for PhDs. However, a PhD can be particularly Assistant, assistants on capital build /moving projects, valuable in collections-based institutions because they give an Enablers/Explainers in Learning departments, Visitor Services roles.

Getting Connected Call for Curators https://callforcurators.com/  Find subject specialist networks in the fields you’re interested online and via social media, such as @museumfreelance, and the Platform for international art curators Emerging Museum Professional UK group, where you’ll find CharityJob networking opportunities, events and advice https://www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/ arts-culture-heritage  Find volunteering opportunities through the university Charity, NGO & social enterprise focused recruitment. volunteering team or through sites like do-it.org  Get involved in online events to learn the language and issues Goodmoves relating to the industry, such as Twitter’s regular Museum Hour https://goodmoves.com/ and Archive Hour, plus try @AskACurator and @MuseumNext Charity and voluntary sector jobs  You can join the Museums Association for £4.60 per month which will give you access to online courses, webinars and articles Artsjobsonline  Other websites/social media offer job listings online, latest https://www.artsjobsonline.com/ industry news and careers advice. They include the Archives and Arts, culture and heritage jobs site. Records Association, the Association for Heritage Interpretation, the Collections Trust, Digital Culture Network, Blooloop Engage, Front of House Museums, theheritagealliance.org.uk, https://blooloop.com/ Museums Crush and the BEFS Bulletin Global attractions news, with relevant museums jobs.  Set Google Alerts on keywords that interest you such as “V&A Jobs” or “Tank Museum Volunteering” and receive emails when Leicester University Museum Jobs Desk content containing these words appears online http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/ museumstudies/JobsDesk Extensive vacancy listing collated by Leicester University’s Skills to Build Department of Museum Studies.

Each individual role will have its own set of skills, but common themes NMDC (National Museum Directors Conference) seen in job adverts for this sector include: http://www.nationalmuseums.org. uk/jobs/  Flexibility (particularly with fixed-term contracts) Jobs across the UK’s national and major regional museums, libraries  Creativity and archives.  Excellent communication skills  Genuine interest/’love’ of art and culture BAJR (British Archaeological Jobs Resource)  Initiative and drive http://www.bajr.org/Employment/  Evaluative skills Portal to employment, training and industry news, developed by  Strong organisational skills David Connolly over many years. Use volunteering to prove that your enthusiasm is backed by CIfA Jobs bulletin (Chartered Institute for Archaeologists) experience and skills: sell tickets; organise publicity; work with customers; book outside performers; negotiate sponsorship; organise http://www.archaeologists.net/jis venues and transport; manage money and records. The Chartered Institute for Archaeologists produces a weekly jobs bulletin Think laterally. Skills gained from other industries can provide you with transferable experience, especially when coupled with relevant IHBC Jobs etc (Institute for Historic Building Conservation) volunteering. You could work for a specialist company that “serves” https://ihbconline.co.uk/jobsetc/ the heritage sector - consider architects, printers, events companies, The Institute for Historic Building Conservation jobs website marketers, consultancies, packagers, conservators, insurers, trainers, recruiters and many more. Museums Association http://www.museumsassociation. org/careers/find-a-job Jobs Listings Museums-focused jobs listing. MuseumJobs.com Historic Houses https://www.museumjobs.com/ Jobsite for museums, galleries, libraries & archives. https://www.historichouses.org/ about/about-us/jobs.html Private historic houses jobs and opportunities. Attractions Management ICON – Institute of Conservation http://www. attractionsmanagement.com/ Industry portal focused on the global visitor attractions sector. https://icon.org.uk/about-us/ conservation-jobs Conservation jobs (ICON membership required to access). Arts Job Finder AIM – Association for Independent Museums https://www.artsprofessional. co.uk/jobs Arts and culture jobs (mainly arts focused). https://www.aim-museums.co.uk/ AIM Lists museum job vacancies on its website Civil Service https://www.civil-service-careers. gov.uk/ GEM – Group for Education in Museums Many Government departments’ activity affects the heritage sector. https://gem.org.uk/jobs/ Education, interpretation and outreach focused jobs. Gallery Jobs http://www.gallery-jobs.org/ Arts Council – ArtsJobs Job vacancies in art galleries http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/ artsjobshome/ Lists adverts for a range of job opportunities within arts and culture

Large Scale Heritage Organisations Career development resources Various organisations within the sector and more widely in the careers A range of the larger heritage organisations, which operate multiple field provide useful resources for thinking about career development, as historic sites or large museum venues. well as specific skills required for specialised roles.

National Lottery Heritage Fund Prospects https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/ about/jobs https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ Formerly the Heritage Lottery Fund, gives grants to projects. Careers guidance from the Higher Education Careers Services Unit. National Trust Creative & Cultural Skills http://www.ntjobs.org.uk/ https://ccskills.org.uk/ Large scale charity looking after historic sites and landscapes in Careers and skills development for young people. England, Wales & NI. Oxford University Careers Service English Heritage http://www.english-heritage.org. uk/about/jobs/ http://www.careers.ox.ac.uk/artsheritage/ Charity looking after national portfolio of historic sites in England. Sector-specific information. Historic England NHTG - National Heritage Training Group https://www.the-nhtg.org.uk/ resources/heritage-directory/ careers-in- https://historicengland.org.uk/ about/jobs/ heritage/ National heritage advisory body for England. NHTG co-ordinates the development and delivery of traditional building Historic Royal Palaces crafts training and qualifications in the heritage sector of the UK.

https://www.hrp.org.uk/about-us/ work-for-us/ BAJR (British Archaeological Jobs & Resources) first job guide Looks after various unoccupied Royal Palaces and buildings, mainly http://www.bajr.org/Employment/ getajob.asp in London. Summer opportunities are often available at Buckingham Useful information on thinking about CV, skills and developing Palace via The Royal Household website experience in archaeology.

British Museum Diversity & Inclusion

https://www.britishmuseum.org/ about_us/jobs.aspx Creative Access regularly lists vacancies within the museums and National museum jobs. heritage sector which are open to those from under-represented groups: Victoria & Albert Museum https://creativeaccess.org.uk/industry/museums-and-galleries/ https://www.vam.ac.uk/vacancies National museum jobs. The Windsor Fellowship, in partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund, offers a 12 month internship programme providing a Royal Collection Trust great way to gain paid work experience for individuals from communities Sub Heading https://www.rct.uk/ that are currently underrepresented in the heritage sector. Part of the Royal Household, the Collection looks after the historic https://www.windsor-fellowship.org/heritage-fund-bame-internship collections The National Archives welcome applicants for their work experience Royal Parks programmes from students with autism. https://www.royalparks.org.uk/getinvolved/careers https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/jobs/ Royal Parks in London jobs.

Academic opportunities To discuss your next steps in the museums/heritage sector book Individual Universities and Research Institutions advertise on their a careers appointment at careersportal.royalholloway.ac.uk own websites, but most will also list their jobs on the main two academic jobs portals. You can also connect with Royal Holloway alumni working in Jobs.ac.uk the sector on the Royal Holloway LinkedIn page.

http://www.jobs.ac.uk Watch recordings of past heritage careers events here: Main UK academic jobs site for teaching & research positions, https://intranet.royalholloway.ac.uk/students/jobs-careers/careers- funded PhDs etc. Broad global coverage also. by-sector/careers-in-museums-galleries-and-heritage.aspx THE (Times Higher Education) unijobs https://www.timeshighereducation. com/unijobs/ Research and teaching posts within Universities worldwide.