Oxford

ARTS + HERITAGE
This sector includes work in museums, public and
commercial galleries, archaeology organisations, auction
houses, theatres, the music industry, performing companies,
venues, historic sites – and many specialist organisations.
The sector has a huge range of roles,
some artistic (designers, performers,
artists, writers, often self-employed)
and many more using organisational,
leadership and operational skills
(sometimes known as ‘arts management/
administration’).
In addition there are teaching or training
roles (‘arts education’), jobs using
research or academic skills (‘curatorial/
specialist’ roles), and those requiring
technical skills (from set design to art
conservation).
If you’re looking for paid work, it’s
important to note that employers in
arts and heritage often rely on you to
find them, and don’t tend to have big
graduate recruitment campaigns. The
following advice can help:
]]
The vast majority of roles are
advertised as individual opportunities
– check organisation websites, as
well as sector-specific job sites like
Arts Jobs, Arts Professional, Museum
Jobs, BAJR (for archaeology),
Heritage Daily, etc.
]]
A handful of graduate schemes
exist (eg, the Ambassador Theatre
Group graduate scheme and the Arts
Fundraising Fellowships), but these
are really unusual in this area.
]]
Don’t just consider the big names!
There are hundreds of smaller
organisations working regionally
which can present less competition
- research the organisations in your
local area.
]]
Lots of organisations provide
specialist support and services to
the Arts and Heritage world: art
investment, specialist legal and
insurance firms, PR firms, specialist
IT companies, marketing companies,
training companies, public sector
bodies and charities. Consider
starting in one of these.
MORE INFORMATION
If you want to find out more about
this sector, visit:
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/arts
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Many people working in the arts begin
their career in a different sector and
move across having gained relevant
skills (eg, accountancy or teaching).
FURTHER STUDY
Further study may be needed for certain
careers (eg, for curatorial roles, roles with
particularly high competition, or technically
skilled roles). Before signing up for an
additional course, the following research is
advisable:
]]
Browse job adverts and notice where
roles commonly require additional
study and which qualifications are
sought.
]]
Investigate the destinations of
graduates from courses you’re
considering, the background of tutors,
and what courses those working in the
field have taken.
]]
Ask alumni who are working in your
preferred area which courses are
particularly well-considered.
GETTING IN AND
ENTRY POINTS
Opportunities often attract a high number
of applications and having relevant
experience on your CV is vital. Consider:
+ + Volunteering with local arts and
heritage organisations.
+ + Internships, which are frequently offered
as unpaid volunteering, although paid
opportunities are also advertised.
+ + Asking directly about jobs, internships
or volunteering with an organisation
even if you don’t see information on
their website. Many opportunities aren’t
advertised so contacting speculatively
is key.
+ + Short term/seasonal jobs – paid work,
often a little less glamorous, but great
experience. This includes staffing
festivals and events, front-of-house
work, promotional work, supporting
tours and summer work for children
and young people. Check individual
websites of organisations or get in
touch directly, as often these roles
aren’t advertised very widely.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR IDEAS
As both Oxford and our university have
such a rich cultural life, there are many
varied opportunities to build experience.
Some initial ideas are:
+ + Get involved with student theatre –
explore the OUDS or TAFF websites.
+ + Join in community arts projects: start
by exploring www.oxonarts.info.
+ + Find music or performance groups to
join or collaborate with – or start your
own.
+ + Explore the Oxford Broadcasting
Association to work on student films.
+ + Contribute to student arts writing.
+ + Sign up for volunteering at
www.museums.ox.ac.uk and other
museum and heritage websites.
+ + Get involved with Oxford Preservation
Trust projects locally.
+ + Come up with your own ideas: from
creating a heritage-style ‘audio guide’
for visitors to your college, to curating
a sale of student art.
alice purkiss
curatorial trainee,
the charleston trust
“
Be open minded and ask people
about their own career path. I had
no idea that there were so many
jobs within museums before I
started working.
”
ARTS + HERITAGE