1 Working in the arts

& cultural sector

Isabel Frazer

Careers Consultant

2 Today

• What is the arts and cultural sector?

• What jobs, roles and organisations are

available in this sector?

• How to find opportunities

• Some useful resources

3 What is “the arts and

cultural sector”?

• Varying definitions!

Film

Fashion

Architecture &

design

Crafts

Fine art

Theatre &

performance

Photography

Games &

animation

Music

Literature

Museums, galleries &

heritage

4

Courtyard at the V&A museum by heatheronhertravels

and reproduced under Creative Commons

Southbank Centre by Nick Sherman and reproduced

under Creative Commons

Shakespeare Globe by Bordas and reproduced under Creative Commons

National Trust grille badge by photography.ambjorn.com

and reproduced under Creative Commons

Aardman studios by gemb1 and reproduced under Creative Commons

London Symphony Orchestra by captain.orange

and reproduced under Creative Commons

5 Sector

or

Function

Art galleries

Design Music

Photography

Marketing

Research Production

Creative

6 Some more questions to explore...

• Which sector? Or cross-sector

• In the Arts or connected to the Arts?

• In-house environment or agency?

• Employed or freelance?

• Large or small organisation?

7

“I want to work

in the art

industry...”

Museum /

gallery

Auction

house

Arts agency

Artist

Education

Art festival

Art

magazine /

website

Communications

Research

Sales Conservation

Curating

Exhibitions

Auctioneer

Art handler Journalist

Finance

Editor

Agent Admin Teacher /

lecturer

Admin

Events

organiser

Design

Locations

manager

Funding body

8 Museums/

galleries

Documentation

officer

Curator

Conservator

Exhibitions officer

Fundraiser

Education officer

General Manager

Programmer

Project manager

Creative director

Transferable roles

HR, Finance, Admin,

Marketing & Communications

Events officer

Arts agencies

& councils

9 Work experience is crucial… • Extremely competitive sectors – other people WILL have

internships, work experience, voluntary work etc

• Formal internship schemes:

– 2-6 months e.g. V&A, Penguin, BBC, EMI Music

• Work experience:

– Advertised on website or make speculative applications

• Volunteering:

– Check opportunities on do-it.org.uk

– e.g. BFI, Natural History Museum, Southbank Centre

• At university:

– Get involved! Set up a society, theatre production, poetry night,

student paper reviews – shows commitment to sector

10 It’s all about the money! Or not...

• Unfortunate reality – many internships are unpaid

• Big debate – what are you getting out of it? Is it

exploitation?

• Some funding available but can be scarce: • Some specific e.g. Creative Skillset, Grant-making Trusts

• Part-time work

• Bank loan

• Family etc

• Fundraisers

11 Speculative applications

1) Research organisations you want to work for

as you would an advertised job

2) Give them a call or visit

3) Tailor your CV and cover letter

4) Follow up

“But how can I apply for a job if it’s not advertised?!”

12 Networking

– Around three quarters of jobs in the creative

industries not advertised – found through

networking, word of mouth etc

– ‘Informational interview’ – not just about asking

for a job!

– Leads to new opportunities you might not have

thought of

13 Your contacts

– Personal: Friends, family, classmates,

lecturers/tutors, student societies

– Professional: Employers, colleagues, careers

events, alumni, professional bodies, events

– Online: Social media, blogging, online

communities

14 Some useful resources

www.ccskills.org.uk

www.artshub.co.uk

www.artsjobs.org.uk

www.jobs.guardian.co.uk/arts

www.ideastap.com

www.museumjobs.com

www.ypalondon.co.uk/resources

15

www.careerstagged.co.uk

17 Our next events coming up ….

The London Graduate Fair from The Careers Group and TARGETjobs.co.uk – 15 Oct 2013

www.londongradfair.co.uk/autumn

The City Course, 9-12 Sept 2013

Closing date for applications Friday 21 June 2013

www.gradsintocareers.co.uk/city

To see all our events go to www.careers.lon.ac.uk/events

The Careers Group believes that all information provided in this

publication is correct at the time of publication.

19 June 2013

© The Careers Group, University of London