How to Get a Job at an Art Gallery

Working at an art gallery sounds like a dream: you’re around art, openings, and creative people all day. But behind the wine and white walls is a business that needs people who can handle clients, logistics, admin, and sales.

The good news: galleries do hire people without a perfect art-world background.
The trick is knowing:

Which roles are realistic for you right now
What skills galleries actually care about
How to get that first foothold (without working for free forever)

1. Know the Types of Art Galleries

Different types of galleries expect different things from staff.

Commercial Galleries

Represent living artists and sell their work to collectors.
Income comes from commissions on sales.
Staff roles tend to blend art knowledge, sales, and client relationship work.

Non-Profit / Artist-Run Centres

Focus on exhibitions, community, and experimentation more than sales.
Funded by grants, memberships, and donations.
Roles lean toward programming, outreach, and administration.

Big Institutions vs Small Spaces

Large galleries and institutions: more formal hiring, more competition, clearer job descriptions.
Small independent galleries: often more flexible, sometimes more open to training someone who shows up and works hard.

Decide if you want something sales-heavy or community-focused, polished or DIY. That will guide where you apply.

2. Common Jobs in an Art Gallery

Most people imagine curators in all black making big decisions. In reality, most first jobs are more practical and customer-facing.

Gallery Assistant / Front-of-House

Classic entry-level role. Typical tasks:

Greeting visitors and answering questions
Monitoring the gallery space and keeping artworks safe
Answering phones and emails
Helping with events and openings
Supporting small sales or passing leads to senior staff
Doing light admin like data entry and mailing lists

Admin and Operations

Roles that keep everything running:

Office assistant or administrator
Registrar or registration assistant (tracking artworks, loans, condition reports)
Logistics or shipping coordinator
Art handler or preparator (moving, packing, and installing works)

Programming and Education

More common in non-profit or public galleries:

Education or outreach assistant
Visitor experience staff
Public program coordinator

Sales and Specialist Roles

Usually not true entry-level unless you have strong relevant experience:

Sales associate or sales director
Curatorial assistant or junior curator
Artist liaison
Marketing and communications staff

Most people start as gallery assistants, admin staff, or handlers, and move into curatorial or sales roles over time.

3. What Qualifications Galleries Look For

Education

For many gallery assistant roles, expectations are often:

High school or equivalent as a minimum
Often a bachelor’s degree in:
- Art history
- Fine arts
- Arts administration
- Cultural management or a related field

That said, some galleries will happily trade a fancy degree for:

Strong customer service or retail experience
Proven interest in art, collecting, or local art scenes

Skills and Experience

Common requirements and “nice to haves” include:

Comfortable dealing with the public
Good customer service and communication
Basic office and computer skills (email, word processing, spreadsheets)
Attention to detail and clear writing
Ability to follow procedures and handle artworks carefully
Reliability, punctuality, and professionalism
Familiarity with social media and basic promotional work (especially in smaller galleries)
Experience in any public-facing creative environment (theatres, museums, shops, music venues, etc.)

For art handling or preparator roles, practical skills matter:

Using tools and ladders safely
Hanging and installing work
Basic understanding of preservation and safe handling

You don’t need to be an expert in art history to sit at the front desk, but you should be eager to learn and able to talk about the work with confidence over time.

4. Getting Experience Before You Have a Gallery Job

Galleries want experience, but you need a gallery to get experience. Classic catch-22. Here’s how to get around it.

Volunteer or Intern (Strategically)

The arts world has a history of relying too heavily on unpaid interns, so be strategic:

If you can afford a short internship, pick one with real responsibilities and a clear end date.
Make sure you’re learning and doing more than just fetching coffee or standing in a corner.
If you can’t work unpaid, focus on paid roles in related spaces (bookshops, museums, design stores, creative nonprofits).

Work in Related Spaces

These all look great on a gallery CV:

Museums and cultural institutions
Artist-run spaces or community art centres
Antique or design shops
Framing shops or print studios
Theatre or event venues, especially front-of-house roles

These jobs prove you can:

Work with the public
Show up on time
Handle objects or environments carefully
Survive busy events and openings

Build Your Own Track Record

You can also show initiative:

Help organize small exhibitions, pop-ups, or art markets
Assist artists with open studios or documentation
Run or contribute to an art-focused blog or social media account

The goal is to be able to say, “I’m already involved in this world; hiring me is a safe bet.”

5. Where to Find Art Gallery Jobs

You’ll usually find gallery jobs through:

Art and culture job boards in your country or region
Local arts councils and gallery associations that list openings
General job sites using search terms like:
- “Gallery assistant”
- “Art gallery”
- “Art handler”
- “Visitor experience”
Career pages on gallery and museum websites
University job boards and student job programs

Smaller galleries may also post on their own social media or hire informally through networks and regular visitors.

Make a list of local galleries and check their job pages and feeds regularly.

6. Making Your CV and Cover Letter Gallery-Ready

Tailor to the Role You Want

If you’re applying for a gallery assistant / front-of-house position, highlight:

Retail, hospitality, or reception work
Experience handling questions and complaints
Work at busy events or in customer-facing roles

Example bullet points:

“Provided front-line customer service in a busy retail environment, assisting 100+ customers per day.”
“Supported public events, managing guest lists and answering questions about programming.”

If you’re applying for admin, registrar, or back office roles:

Emphasize data entry, spreadsheets, databases, scheduling, project coordination, and record-keeping.

If you’re applying as a cataloguing or curatorial assistant:

Emphasize art history or studio art coursework
Research and writing experience (essays, reviews, catalogue texts)
Any experience writing about art or artists

Use Art-World Language (Without Being Pretentious)

Sprinkle in phrases like:

“Exhibition installation”
“Visitor experience”
“Collections and documentation”
“Artist liaison”
“Sales support”
“Event coordination”

And always show concrete results:

“Maintained accurate inventory records for over 300 artworks.”
“Helped increase attendance at openings through consistent social media promotion.”

7. Reaching Out Directly to Galleries

A thoughtful direct approach can work well, especially with small commercial or artist-run spaces.

How to Do It Well

Research the gallery
- Know a few artists they show.
- Understand their style and tone (edgy, traditional, experimental, etc.).
Send a short, targeted email
- Briefly introduce yourself.
- Attach your CV.
- In a couple of sentences, explain why you’re a good fit and what kind of role you’re interested in (gallery assistant, admin help, event support).
Offer help on busy days
- Many galleries need extra hands for openings, fairs, or big installation days.
- Working one or two of these successfully can lead to part-time or regular work.

Keep it short, polite, and clear. You’re not demanding a job; you’re offering relevant help.

8. What to Expect in an Art Gallery Interview

Gallery interviews are usually less formal than big corporate meetings, but still professional. They’re evaluating whether you:

Can talk about art in a way that’s approachable and not snobby
Are comfortable with both wealthy collectors and casual walk-ins
Will show up reliably, especially on evenings and weekends

Common questions:

“Why do you want to work at this gallery specifically?”
“Which artists or movements interest you right now, and why?”
“Tell us about a time you handled a difficult customer or situation.”
“Are you comfortable doing both public-facing tasks and behind-the-scenes work?”
“What experience do you have with events or exhibitions?”

Good responses:

Reference their exhibitions or artists, not just “I love art.”
Show that you understand gallery work includes mundane tasks:
- Patch walls, paint plinths, sweep floors
- Set up chairs, print labels, stuff envelopes
- Stand at the desk for long stretches and be alert

9. Avoiding Unpaid Internship Traps

The art world has a reputation for leaning on unpaid interns. That can be a barrier and sometimes unfair.

To protect yourself:

Be wary of long-term unpaid roles where you’re doing full staff work.
If you accept an unpaid internship, keep it short and focused, with specific learning goals.
Aim to transition into paid roles as quickly as possible.
Remember: if you’re doing real, ongoing work that keeps the place running, you should be paid for it.

Your time and labour have value.

10. Moving Up Once You’re In

Let’s say you land an entry-level role. How do you grow?

Learn the Whole Operation

Ask to help with:

Installations and de-installations
Condition reports and inventory updates
Packing and shipping artwork
Writing labels or basic texts for small shows or online posts

Show You Can Handle People and Sales

Even if you’re not in a pure sales role:

Remember regular visitors and collectors by name if you can
Be able to talk about the artist and work in a clear, non-pushy way
Pass good leads and information to the director or sales staff

Develop a Specialty

Over time, become “the person” for something:

A category (photography, sculpture, local artists, design)
A skill (installation, lighting, writing, social media, art handling, registrar work)

That makes it easier to step into roles like:

Junior specialist
Curatorial assistant
Sales associate
Registrar or operations manager

11. Action Plan: Getting a Gallery Job in 6–18 Months

Pick an entry route
- Gallery assistant
- Admin / operations
- Art handler / preparator
- Education / outreach (for non-profits)
Build 1–2 pieces of relevant experience
- Retail or hospitality for customer service
- Volunteer or work at cultural centres, artist-run spaces, or events
- Any role involving events, installations, or visitor-facing work
Study your local scene
- Make a list of galleries in your city.
- Visit them, attend openings, learn who they show and what they care about.
Prepare tailored CVs and cover letters
- One version geared to front-of-house roles
- One geared to admin or operations
Apply widely and follow up politely
- Use job boards, but also email targeted galleries directly.
- Offer help during openings or installations if they use casual staff.
Interview like you already live in that world
- Talk about specific exhibitions you’ve seen.
- Show that you understand both the fun and the grind of gallery work.
Treat the job as an apprenticeship
- Learn about sales, consignments, shipping, documentation, and artist relationships.
- Say yes to responsibilities that help you grow, not just the glamorous parts.

Final Thoughts

Getting a job at an art gallery isn’t about being born into the art world—it’s about:

Showing up consistently
Being good with people
Respecting the artwork
Handling details and deadlines
Being genuinely curious and willing to learn

If you combine real-world customer service and admin skills with a genuine interest in art and exhibitions, and you’re willing to start in a humble entry-level role, you’ve got a very real shot at building a career in the gallery world.

Featured