History of art

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Archivist
• Arts administrator
• Commercial art gallery manager
• Conservator
• Heritage manager
• Museum education officer
• Museum/gallery curator
• Museum/gallery exhibitions officer

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Academic librarian
• Editorial assistant
• Estates manager
• Event manager
• Further education teacher
• Higher education lecturer
• Magazine journalist
• Marketing executive
• Public relations officer
• Secondary school teacher

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Work experience

You'll need to get practical experience if you want to work in a museum or art gallery. As well as giving you a real insight into the sector and the work involved, it is also a great way to make industry connections. There are various ways of getting work experience, including a work placement, voluntary work or part-time work.

Your course may include a work placement, but if it doesn't, try applying to small, local museums or heritage sites, which may not get as many work experience requests as the regional and national museums and galleries and can offer a range of experience. Think about the experience that will be most relevant to your career, such as education, curation or outreach work.

Many museums and galleries offer volunteering opportunities in areas such as education, visitor engagement, outreach, tour guides and events support. Search for your local museum on Museums.co.uk.

The Museums Association has useful information on entering the sector and offers a concessionary price on membership for volunteers. As well as linking you to volunteering opportunities, membership of the MA gives you access to training, events and networking opportunities.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

Many graduates work in museums and galleries, as well as other heritage and cultural organisations. There are different types of museums you can work for, such as national, regional/local, university and independent, as well as galleries and historic buildings owned by a range of organisations.

Other typical employers include:

• publishing companies
• media and broadcasting companies
• schools, colleges and universities
• charities and non-governmental organisations
• sales and marketing companies
• events management organisations
• public relations (PR) firms.

Specialist booksellers, libraries, antique dealers and auction houses are also key employers. Another option is to follow an academic career in higher education.

Alternative careers include working for the civil service, law firms or in business, or going into the screen industries in roles such as picture researcher or editor.

Find information on employers in creative arts and design, marketing, advertising and PR, media and internet, and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

Studying history of art allows you to examine the visual arts through a range of historical, social, geographical, cultural and psychological contexts. You consider the meaning implied by the subject and style of art forms, as well as the impact that art has on our lives.

You also gain a broader set of relevant skills that are desirable to future employers, such as:

• analysing and interpreting information from different sources
• using critical judgement to form opinions and strong arguments
• presenting information in an intelligent, coherent and balanced way
• oral and written communication skills
• attention to detail and visual literacy when analysing visual media
• interpersonal skills when working on collaborative projects with other students
• time management skills
• the ability to work independently and in teams
• confidence when forming articulate and concise arguments
• listening skills.

Further study

Some graduates choose to continue their studies and do a postgraduate qualification in history of art to further develop their knowledge and skills. Others undertake further study in a related field. For example, you can study for an MA in museum and gallery studies, curating or conservation science. Although not essential for all posts, a postgraduate course can be helpful, particularly if you want to move into a role such as conservator.

Arts and heritage management are also popular choices, as they provide a broader skills base and can open up a range of job opportunities.

Research degrees, such as an MPhil or PhD, are useful for some roles and usually essential if you wish to pursue an academic career.

For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search postgraduate courses in history of art.

What do history of art graduates do?

History of art graduates enter a variety of careers, but popular roles include sports and leisure assistants (6%), sales and retail assistants (6%), advertising and marketing associate professionals (6%), business sales executives (4%), events managers and organisers (4%), archivists, conservators and curators (4%), PR professionals (3%), records clerks and assistants (3%) and managers and directors in the creative industries (3%).

Find out what other graduates are doing after finishing their degrees in What do graduates do?

Graduate Outcomes survey data from HESA.

Find out more

• Association for Art History
• Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)