A Career Guide for Art History Majors Art History concerns itself with human history through embodied in great works of art. This knowledge is the study of painting, sculpture, architecture and the shaped by a familiarity with the art and architecture graphic and decorative arts. Art History considers produced by world civilizations and an ability to these arts as creative processes—as expressions analyze and understand the quality of art from of human ideas, feelings and conditions of life. The diverse cultures and periods. study of Art History allows students to immerse themselves in cultural and aesthetic issues. Within the broad field of Art History, there are many areas of specialization including culture, time-period Through the study of Art History, students gain and medium. an awareness of the values and social conditions Skills The study of Art History develops a knowledge of communication skills, along with visual sensitivity, the different ways in which civilizations express enable graduates to contribute to and succeed in themselves artistically, in addition to forging a critical many professions. A sample of representative skills analysis of the quality, purpose and meaning behind and abilities follows: diverse art works. Well-developed writing and Visual and Data Communication Human Relations Research/Education Analysis Defining quality Writing and speaking Developing sensitivity to Working with primary critically cultural viewpoints sources Analyzing the artistic Presenting and defending Understanding how the Gathering, analyzing and qualities of everyday theories/ideas making of art has changed organizing information objects across time Weighing values Conveying complex Interpreting a culture’s Examining evidence information values and beliefs Recognizing the school/ Describing impressions Explaining the present by Evaluating research results period/artist of a work of about art referring to the past art Comparing art works/ Clarifying others’ thoughts Participating in groups Determining origins of art comparative analysis and ideas works Thinking critically Speaking to groups Career Opportunities The skills and abilities developed through a Appraisal major in Art History serve as the building blocks Appraisers use their knowledge of art, the market for a wide range of occupations and career and research skills to assess an artwork’s dollar paths. The employment outlook for graduates is value, usually for tax, insurance or estate planning competitive, but jobs are available in art publishing, purposes. Appraisers could work for auction art journalism, libraries, public art councils, art houses, insurance companies or independently. galleries and companies specializing in furniture and architectural restoration. There are some entry- Art Consulting level jobs in museum work, but most jobs in this Art consultants advise clients on art acquisition, field require advanced degrees. planning and maintenance of artwork. They may work independently or for an art-consulting firm. Fine Arts Career Services • The University of Texas at Austin • DFA 1.103 • http://www.utexas.edu/finearts/careers [512] 232-7333 • [email protected] • twitter.com/utfacs • http://www.facebook.com/utfacs 1 A Career Guide for Art History Majors Arts Administration questions from the public and help curators and Arts organizations, like most for profit companies, outside scholars use the collections. Registrars have a number of administrative, business or usually need a bachelor’s degree related to the management functions. These roles require people museum’s specialty, training in museum studies, with creativity and an understanding and passion or previous experience working in museums, for the arts, as well as skills in a range of areas from particularly in designing exhibits. finance and marketing to education. Conservation The specific positions available at an arts Conservators maintain and preserve works of art organization will depend on what the organization and other materials. They must be knowledgeable does and how large its budget and staff are. Since about art methods as well as the science behind arts managers are needed in virtually every arts preserving and restoring art. Museums and organization, from theatre companies to museums, conservation firms employ conservators, but some many opportunities exist in this field. For example, conservators work on a freelance basis. a museum is likely to have staff members in education that work with school groups to introduce Curatorial/Archival children to the exhibits. An opera company, concert Curators usually work with objects of cultural, hall, or theatre needs box-office and front of the biological or historical significance. As they house workers to manage ticket sales, write press direct the acquisition, storage and exhibition releases, market the productions in the community, of collections, they also need to negotiate and and create visibility. Some theatre companies authorize the purchase, sale, exchange or loan of need general managers to schedule tours, monitor these collections. In addition, they are responsible union agreements, and run the business side of for authenticating, evaluating and categorizing the performances. specimens in a collection. Curators oversee and help conduct the institution’s research projects and Over the last decade, arts management has become related educational programs. Today, an increasing a growing field with increasing specialization and part of a curator’s duties involves fundraising and training. A number of new graduate training and promotion, which may include the writing and certification programs have emerged. These reviewing of grant proposals, journal articles and programs may be useful, depending on your interests publicity materials, as well as attending meetings, and goals. Some arts managers, for example, conventions and civic events. suggest eventually pursuing a business degree with a specialization in nonprofit management. Almost A closely related profession is that of an archivist. without exception, however, arts managers advise Archivists collect, organize and maintain control getting work-related experience first and considering over a wide range of information deemed important graduate study later on. If you decide to investigate enough for permanent safekeeping. This information graduate study, begin by asking professionals what takes many forms: photographs, films, video and programs they think are valuable and respected in sound recordings and electronic data files in a wide the field. variety of formats, as well as more traditional paper records, letters and documents. Archivists mainly Museum Technicians handle records and documents that are retained Museum technicians, commonly known as because of their importance and potential value in registrars, help curators by preparing and taking the future. care of museum items. Registrars also may answer Fine Arts Career Services • The University of Texas at Austin • DFA 1.103 • http://www.utexas.edu/finearts/careers [512] 232-7333 • [email protected] • twitter.com/utfacs • http://www.facebook.com/utfacs 2 A Career Guide for Art History Majors Job Titles The activities represented by these job titles are found in business, government, educational institutions, museums or non-profit agencies. A curator, for example, might be employed by a corporate archive, a county museum or a university. Similarly, an arts writer could be working for a foundation, local arts council, national magazine or federal agency. In general, an advanced degree is required for those occupations marked with an asterisk (*) on the list that follows: Appraiser Gallery Assistant *Archivist Grants Specialist Art Consultant Education Coordinator Arts Writer Event Planner *Curator Museum Technician Development Associate Research Assistant Editor Historical Preservation Coordinator Employers of Art History Majors Auction Houses Government Conservation Firms Libraries Corporations Museums Educational Institutions Nonprofit Organizations Foundations Publishers Galleries First Jobs Held by Recent UT Graduates Assistant Development Officer Community Developer Artist’s Assistant Research Assistant, Medical School Curator Gallery Assistant Fellow in Museum Education Publicity Assistant English Teacher, Japan Media Producer Furniture Maker Exhibition Coordinator Earnings The median annual wage of curators was $48,450 Curators in large institutions may travel extensively in May 2010. The lowest 10 percent earned less to evaluate potential additions to the collection, than $27,640, and the top 10 percent earned more organize exhibits, and conduct research. However, than $86,450. for curators in small institutions, travel may be rare. Most curators, museum technicians, and The median annual wage of museum technicians conservators work full time. and conservators was $37,310 in May 2010. The From: Occupational Outlook Handbook at http:// lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,440, and www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/ the top 10 percent earned more than $68,250. curators-museum-technicians-and-conservators. htm Fine Arts Career Services • The University of Texas at Austin • DFA 1.103 • http://www.utexas.edu/finearts/careers [512] 232-7333 • [email protected] • twitter.com/utfacs • http://www.facebook.com/utfacs 3 A Career Guide for Art History Majors Graduate School Options There are numerous graduate school programs in based and typically requires a thesis. Specific and related to Art