ADD ADVICE TO FAVMuseum / art gallery manager
Museum and art gallery managers work for national, local authority or privately owned establishments. They organise special exhibitions and arrange for loans from other galleries.
What museum / art gallery managers do
- identify and catalogue artefacts
- label and display collections of exhibits
- arrange for cleaning and restoration of artefacts and pictures
- raise funding by applying for grants, lottery funding, etc
- purchase new exhibits
- prepare worksheets and education packs, plus audio and written guides
- give lectures
- recruit and train staff
- in private art galleries, sell works of art.
Key skills for museum / art gallery managers
- versatility
- ability to organise other people’s work
- verbal and written communication skills
- leadership and initiative
- customer service skills
- ability to handle a budget
- creative flair.
Training to be a museum / art gallery manager
Many museum and gallery managers have taken postgraduate courses, although this is not essential. Work experience is extremely advantageous.
After entry, most training is on the job. Some postgraduate qualifications can be obtained part time while in employment.
Salaries for museum / art gallery managers
Starting salaries range from £13,000 to £20,000. In local authority and independent museums, directors’ salaries are over £30,000. National museums operate pay scales linked to the Civil Service and curatorial posts pay around £20,000 to £36,000.
