Art History Careers

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Fine art history majors study and analyze famous works of art, and art history programs teach skills related to research, critical thinking, and advice. Graduates can pursue a variety of positions, including roles as curators, archivists, and professors.

On this page, readers can observe information well-nigh art history careers and salaries, resource for art history majors, and answers to often asked questions.

Image of a male museum worker speaking to his female boss in front of art

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Why Pursue a Career in Art History?

Graduates can pursue many different careers with an art history degree, including jobs in museums, archives, and schools. Fine art history students gain analytical thinking and communication skills. Students also learn how to research and evaluate artwork and historical documents.

Art history careers often require workers with potent organizational, planning, and artistic skills. About of these careers take place predominantly indoors or behind a desk-bound. Research positions crave long periods of focused, independent work, while curator and educator jobs crave candidates with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Art History Career Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 9% growth for archivists, curators, and museum workers between 2018 and 2028. These professionals make an almanac median salary of $49,850. Job applicants unremarkably demand at least a bachelor's degree, although some positions require a main's degree.

The table below displays the median annual salaries for a few common art history careers. This table explores salaries for different levels of experience, from entry-level workers to experienced professionals.

Median Annual Salary for Art History Careers
Job Title Entry-Level
(0-12 months)
Early Career
(1-4 Years)
Midcareer
(5-9 Years)
Experienced
(10-19 Years)
Fine art Teacher $38,810 $41,000 $45,610 $51,240
Postsecondary Professor $60,520 $sixty,550 $69,830 $86,780
Museum Curator N/A $42,830 $50,480 $sixty,000
Art Gallery Curator North/A $43,380 $49,480 $50,180

Source: PayScale

Skills Gained With an Fine art History Degree

Art history programs help students develop skills that are applicative to art history careers and roles in many other fields. Analyzing art pieces past giving presentations and writing research papers builds research, communication, and belittling abilities, while also introducing students to artistic techniques, celebrated eras, and cultures from around the world.

Exhibit designers, museum curators, art buyers, and bout guides can apply this noesis in museum and gallery positions.

Assay

Students learn to determine the creative person, era, and medium of a piece of art. Learners also examine pieces for meaning. These tasks develop belittling abilities that help art buyers and consultants estimate the value of art. Students also proceeds problem-solving skills they can use in management positions.

Attending to Particular

To analyze a piece, students must consider small details of the piece of work. For example, color variations can impact a work's significant and compages depicted in a painting tin can reveal the piece of work's timeframe. This attending to item tin can besides assistance museum workers and art buyers inspect pieces for damage. This power besides benefits event planners, managers, and photographers.

Communication

Art history students ofttimes write papers and deliver presentations on specific pieces, eras, artists, and regions. These assignments prepare learners for positions that require strong verbal and written advice skills, including roles equally tour guides, art history writers, and museum curators. These skills also employ to careers in other disciplines, such as public relations, speech writing, and news reporting.

Research

Students perform inquiry to make up one's mind cultural and historical elements in artwork. Conducting research can as well help students meliorate understand artists, connections between eras, and stories behind pieces, such equally Greek myths in Renaissance works. Research skills are useful in many fields.

Cultural Awareness

Art history programs include explorations of art from various geographic areas, such as Greece, Rome, Espana, China, and the United States. Students explore global history and cultures, gaining knowledge they tin apply to positions in fine art museums. This global awareness is also benign for public relations specialists and politicians.

Art History Career Paths

Art history programs may offer concentrations related to a unmarried artistic method, such as architecture, or an era, similar the Centre Ages. Each concentration prepares students for specific fine art history career opportunities.

For example, students who program to oversee museums tin can pursue a museum studies concentration. Aspiring art consultants, on the other hand, can look for programs that focus on sure creative eras.

Upon graduating, art history students can pursue careers as museum archivists, educators, and cocky-employed artists, among many other positions. Read on to acquire more about how to begin a career in this field.

How to Get-go Your Career in Art History

Many art history careers crave a postsecondary degree. Some jobs, similar museum technicians, merely require a bachelor's degree. Other professionals in the field, including archivists, curators, and conservators, need a master's caste in art history or a related field. Additionally, most positions in postsecondary education require a master's caste or college.

Internships and volunteering tin assistance young professionals find their footing equally they expect for careers with an fine art history degree. Some employers may accept professionals with a lower degree level if they have lots of practical experience in the field.

Associate Degree in Art History

An associate in art history qualifies graduates for positions as museum tour guides, photographers, and desktop publishers. The curriculum of an acquaintance program also helps learners understand aesthetics related to diverse types of artistry, such equally knitting, sculpting, cake decorating, quilting, and manner design.

Associate programs typically require about lx credits of general education and major courses. General education courses provide a solid foundation in the humanities and help learners prepare for careers in many fields.

What Can You lot Do With an Acquaintance in Art History?

true Photographer

Photographers may take pictures to sell as artwork or contribute images to news pieces. These professionals may besides manage portrait sessions at studios. Responsibilities frequently include designing sets for photo sessions and editing photos with software. This career does not always require a degree, but an associate in art history helps students develop applicative cognition and skills.

Salary: $36,280

Desktop Publisher

Desktop publishers develop layouts for print and virtual materials, such as brochures and newspapers. These professionals may piece of work with other designers and writers, and they employ software to place images. This position requires an associate degree.

Salary: $45,390

Bout Guide

Tour guides lead groups through places of cultural or historic significance and provide data on settings and pieces. For example, museums may hire tour guides to explain pieces of art and their celebrated context to customers. Aspiring art museum tour guides can earn an acquaintance in fine art history to demonstrate their knowledge of the field.

Bacon: $30,490

Bachelor'due south Caste in Fine art History

Art history bachelor's programs typically require about 120 credits and include several cadre art history courses. Learners explore more fine art history topics, techniques, and eras than students in associate programs, gaining a deeper understanding of the field.

Available'due south programs typically allow participants to have several elective courses, and they may as well offering certifications and minors relevant to certain careers. For instance, an aspiring art buyer may take finance electives.

Professionals with a available's degree and sufficient experience oft find work as museum technicians, purchasing agents, and exhibit designers. Learners tin also apply their art history noesis to programme events with creative or historic themes.

What Can You Do With a Bachelor'due south in Art History?

true Museum Technician

Museum technicians help maintain the safety of museum pieces. These professionals tend to insurance matters, appraise the take chances associated with relocating pieces, and keep records. Technicians may also communicate with museums interested in borrowing pieces. This position often requires a bachelor'due south degree in a field related to museum work, such as art history.

Salary: $49,850

Coming together, Convention, and Event Planner

These planners manage events that reflect various consumer objectives. They consider budgets, schedules, locations, and meals for events like weddings and business organization meetings. Museums may rent planners to launch new programs or exhibits. These positions typically require a bachelor'due south degree.

Salary: $50,600

Art Director

Art directors communicate with clients before designing sets and publications. These professionals may build budgets, lead other designers, make decisions most images and layouts, qualify finished pieces, and offer completed products to customers. Organizations often require fine art directors to concur a available's degree.

Salary: $94,220

Exhibit Designer

These designers develop exhibits that fulfill specific purposes. For instance, an art museum's exhibit may showcase works connected to a certain artist or fourth dimension period. Designers draft exhibit structures using software, manage installation details, and ensure that exhibits remain in working gild. Exhibit designers typically demand a bachelor's degree.

Salary: $48,970

Purchasing Managing director, Buyer, and Purchasing Amanuensis

These workers manage the buying and selling of products for companies, such every bit art pieces for museums. These professionals identify trustworthy sellers, make up one's mind on pricing, create contracts, and proceed records. A bachelor's in art history helps students develop cognition well-nigh certain artistic periods and works, which prepares them to perform these tasks for art museums.

Bacon: $69,600

Master's Degree in Art History

Career options expand for art history majors who earn a master'southward degree. These programs help learners develop an in-depth understanding of the field, qualifying them for positions as museum curators and archivists. Principal'southward students frequently complete a capstone, such as a thesis or a projection.

Principal's degree-holders tin also shape fine art curricula for One thousand-12 school districts, which requires advanced research skills and art history noesis. Art history principal's programs too railroad train students to make connections between art and culture and gain insights into by civilizations, which is a necessary skill for sociologists.

What Can You Do With a Master's in Art History?

true Museum Archivist

Archivists manage and organize records for museums. They may too oversee museum programs, guide museum employees working on exhibits, and create policies regarding museum pieces. These professionals typically need a principal's in a relevant field, such as history or archival science.

Salary: $53,950

Museum Curator

Curators manage museum pieces and objects. Responsibilities include buying new items and analogous exhibits. Curators may communicate with other museums most lending pieces, oversee museum research, and act every bit a spokesperson at events. Curators typically need a master'due south caste in a relevant field, including art history.

Salary: $54,570

Museum Conservator

Conservators maintain museum records and make decisions on slice conservation. They frequently piece of work with engineering science, such equally Ten-ray machines, to determine each piece'southward needs. Conservators may also research and write on field topics and assistance with museum programs. These professionals need a chief'due south in conservation or a like discipline.

Salary: $44,430

Instructional Coordinator

Instructional coordinators analyze data to determine learning needs for schoolhouse districts. Coordinators offering advice on teaching techniques, curriculum alterations, course materials, and new technologies. They may too oversee faculty workshops. Graduates of art history master'due south programs tin can perform these tasks for courses related to their field.

Salary: $66,290

Sociologist

Sociologists explore the beliefs of individuals and groups through research and experimentation. These professionals publish findings in books, scholarly journals, and online articles. Students earning an art history primary'southward degree prepare for this position by examining the culture, history, and meaning in artwork. Sociologists typically need a principal'south degree.

Bacon: $83,420

Doctoral Degree in Art History

A doctoral caste is the highest level of education and typically requires students to complete a dissertation on an fine art history topic. Dissertation requirements may involve taking several enquiry classes and giving an oral defense.

A doctoral caste qualifies graduates to teach at universities and oversee higher departments. Doctoral caste-holders authorize for some of the most lucrative art history careers, which can be extremely competitive. A doctoral degree can as well aid applicants stand out when pursuing positions with lower educational requirements.

What Tin You Do With a Doctorate in Art History?

true Postsecondary Education Administrator

The responsibilities of postsecondary pedagogy administrators vary based on their specific position. Administrators may piece of work as deans and provosts, tending to budgets and policies. Depending on the position, college educational activity administrators mostly require a chief's or doctorate.

Bacon: $95,410

Postsecondary Teacher

Postsecondary educators teach college courses within their discipline. These educators create syllabi, provide feedback on student assignments, and offer guidance on class registration. Professors may also propose curriculum changes to their department and publish scholarly pieces. Colleges and universities typically crave postsecondary teachers to agree a doctorate.

Salary: $79,540

How to Advance Your Career in Fine art History

Employers often consider experience when awarding promotions. However, professionals tin take advantage of other methods to move their career frontwards. For example, earning additional education or certification can make an art history professional more desirable to employers. This tin can too lead to a college salary.

In the following sections, readers can discover information about how to advance their fine art history careers. Readers can larn nigh certification and licensure opportunities, standing instruction, and other future steps to accept.

Certifications

The Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA) provides certification for professional archivists, including art historian archivists. ACA requires that candidates take an exam about archival practices and standards. The organization charges an exam fee and a certification fee for candidates who pass the exam.

Certification lasts v years, later which professionals must renew their credentials.

Continuing Teaching

Continuing education offers professionals a take a chance to advance their skills or learn more about their field without needing to render to schoolhouse and earn another degree. Fine art history professionals tin find standing education courses through professional organizations and museums.

About continuing instruction programs apply to specific careers. For example, museum curators tin notice continuing instruction opportunities with the Center for Curatorial Leadership, while fine art teachers tin can find options through online programs, community colleges, and universities.

Next Steps

Art history professionals looking to advance their careers should look for opportunities to amend their skills and make new connections. Some workers join professional organizations, which often offering resources, conferences, standing educational activity opportunities, and certification.

While professionals typically pay for membership, the benefits of joining a professional organization can far outweigh the cost. In detail, professional organizations provide opportunities for networking with peers and leaders in the field.

How to Switch Your Career to Fine art History

Some art history professionals, such as art history archivists and museum technicians, must concur degrees in fine art history. Professionals in these careers need actual art history knowledge to comport out their jobs finer.

Other positions, such as general archivists, museum curators, and educators, may permit more flexibility when information technology comes to inbound the field. Bachelor'due south and graduate degrees in the humanities or communication may translate well.

Professionals considering a career alter should advisedly appraise the skills and knowledge they need for their desired job before deciding how to proceed.

Where Tin can You Work every bit an Fine art History Professional?

Art history cognition is applicable to many careers in museums, and the degree provides an understanding of aesthetics to help graduates develop new art.

Students likewise gain insights into historic eras, which can prepare them for pedagogy careers and for positions advising individuals and organizations on art purchases. Graduates tin also help theatrical companies cull realistic costumes, settings, and stage props for catamenia plays.

When choosing a schoolhouse, learners should consider which industry they plan to enter to ensure their programme offers relevant grooming.

Colleges and Universities

Colleges and universities educate students in a variety of fields, including art history. Depending on their education level, graduates tin teach fine art history courses or piece of work as authoritative administration, deans, and provosts.

Museums, Art Galleries, and Historical Sites

These sites familiarize the public with culture and history by showcasing artistic pieces from dissimilar eras and geographic locations. Art history graduates can work as museum curators, technicians, purchasing agents, and tour guides.

Advertizing, Public Relations, and Marketing

These fields focus on developing public sensation of products and services, along with fostering relationships between companies and consumers. Art history graduates can perform these tasks for museums, historical sites, and galleries.

Performing Arts Companies

Performing arts companies put on productions, including plays, ballets, magic shows, and concerts. These companies may consult art history graduates when designing costumes and sets for celebrated pieces.

Freelance and Independent Artists

This industry includes diverse types of art, such as writing and music. Fine art history graduates with a solid understanding of aesthetics tin excel in these positions. Professionals can too apply their fine art history cognition to create pieces that explore past cultures and ideas.

Interview With a Professional in Art History

Portrait of Megan Mahn Miller

Megan Mahn Miller

Designated as a master personal holding appraiser by the National Auctioneers Clan, Megan Mahn Miller earned a bachelor'due south degree in art history from the Academy of Minnesota. Mahn Miller began her career working for nonprofit organizations supporting the arts. In 2006, Mahn Miller joined Julien's Auctions -- an internationally renowned sale house of stone and roll and Hollywood memorabilia.

Mahn Miller attended the Reppert Schoolhouse of auctioneering in 2009. In 2014, Mahn Miller established Mahn Miller Collective Inc. to provide appraisal and consultation services beyond the auction house.

Mahn Miller continues to work with Julien'due south equally a consulting sales specialist. She has likewise taught an appraisement study writing course for the National Auctioneers Association and is a correspondent to the WorthPoint newsletter.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in fine art history? Is it something that you were always interested in?

Initially, I thought I would study anthropology with an emphasis on art. My freshman year, I took classes in both and it turned out my aptitude was in art history. Anthropology became the emphasis.

At that time, in the early on 1990s, students were being told that having a liberal arts degree was all that mattered -- that your actual degree subject was secondary. In one style, that was very freeing because I had no thought what I was going to do with my caste, only [information technology was] very unsupportive in another. I had to make a special endeavor to find internships and outside projects to build credentials while studying. Fine art has always been important to me, but information technology took time to effigy out how to make it a career.

How is an art history programme different from other higher majors?

How to say this delicately… there are a lot of people who don't accept this degree seriously. And that is unfair. The study is rigorous and tin incorporate many unlike areas of study. My personal interest was the intersection of women's studies and art. The connections to other subjects are endless.

The business of fine art is evolving; how art is sold, what is bought, who is buying. This creates a lot of fear from people who have been in the business organisation and only worked in one manner. It creates opportunities for young people entering the field to innovate.

What was the job search like after completing your caste?

I was very lucky that when I graduated -- jobs were hands obtained. I started at a museum in an entry-level position. Later, I moved into arts programming on a community level. It was helpful for me to find how I wanted to incorporate my degree into my job. I enjoyed teaching, something I discovered while assisting on a projection at our campus museum. Getting fine art out to the public was a passion. Once I understood that, it informed my job search.

Is art history a versatile caste? Or one that has a clear career path?

To exist honest, I accept been called a unicorn. It would exist helpful for someone undertaking this degree to have a clear idea of what they desire to do with it.

I thought I was going to end upwardly in academia. As a student, that was all I knew. Academia is a slap-up choice, but the reality is there are not that many positions for professors.

A person with an art history degree can piece of work at an sale business firm or museum, just you should know what capacity you are interested in.

If it is curating, what specifically draws you to that position? If it is business evolution for an auction house, what courses volition you take in lodge to complement your caste? If you desire to represent artists or open a gallery, will you know how to go funding or clients? If you want to restore artwork, where will you study subsequently completing your degree?

I have met very few people whose career paths followed a straight line -- and thank goodness. You lot will larn so much along the way. My path was winding, and in the end it was luck that brought me to appraising.

At the same time, an art history student needs to accept control of their destiny. Their degree is not going to be enough. Internships, advisory interviews, and connecting with people whose jobs they recall they want will put them in a improve position to get hired once they leave school.

Why did you decide to first your own business? Is this something common for those who pursue a career in art history?

I worked equally a property specialist at an auction firm for 12 years. I loved it, just it stopped beingness challenging. I was getting feedback from my peers and mentors that appraising was something I could and should pursue.

You don't need to open your own business organisation to be an appraiser. Information technology was the correct choice for me. There are a number of careers in art history that lend themselves to existence a solopreneur, just information technology isn't anybody'southward fate.

What is the most enjoyable aspect of your task? The nearly challenging?

What I primarily want to do every twenty-four hours is research. That is my passion. I relish that each assignment I take is different, then I am always learning. When I was working at the auction house, I loved how every day was different and the excitement of the auctions.

As a solopreneur, my job is challenging because I am not just the appraiser merely also the receptionist, business developer, and webmaster. At the auction firm, the deadlines were a claiming, as were the multiple ways that a consignor or buyer can be disappointed.

What advice would you give to students because pursuing a degree and career in fine art history?

Find out nearly every bit many possible careers as possible where you can use your degree. Get internships. Talk to people in the industry or at the corporation where you want to piece of work. Find complementary disciplines to study that will make y'all more attractive for the position y'all want. Don't go frustrated if your career trajectory isn't a straight line.

Any final thoughts for us?

Don't be agape to ask for help. Find a mentor who will encourage y'all and help you grow professionally.

Resources for Art History Majors

Art history professionals tin can take reward of educational and professional resources to accelerate their careers.

Below, readers can find information almost art history resource for educators, curators, and researchers. These resources feature professional organizations and postsecondary institutions and include archives of art history sources and professional person conferences.

Professional person Organizations

College Art Clan of America: CAA focuses on the visual arts and delivers an annual conference and international programs. The association provides links to various publications and best practices. Members tin can scan open careers through an online career eye.


Clan of Art Museum Curators: AAMC educates the public on the responsibilities of a curator. The group provides several resources, including a forum for educational discussions and information on programs, fellowships, and internships. Members can speak at the clan's annual conference and browse career opportunities through the website. The association also offers workshops related to curation and webinars on management, engineering, and social media.


Art History Instruction Resources: Through this organization's website, fine art history educators can discover lesson plans on specific eras, including Byzantine, Greek, Roman, medieval, and Renaissance fine art. Visitors can also browse resources related to museum experiences and book recommendations. AHTR also connects professionals with journals, blogs, and workshops.


Yale Academy Library: This library provides art history databases that focus on art, architecture, drama and theater studies, and general humanities. However, users may need separate accounts to access articles through certain databases, such equally JSTOR. The website also links visitors to WorldCat, where they can detect local libraries offering item books.


JSTOR: Through JSTOR, users can access scholarly e-books and articles on multiple topics. Art history students can find sources on Asian, aboriginal, and medieval art. Many schools provide students with JSTOR access. Learners without school access can register for an private account.


Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Met offers classroom resource that embrace multiple eras and cultures, such as the ancient Near East, the Renaissance, and Byzantine art. The Met also provides exhibitions and programs for uncomplicated, middle, and high schoolhouse students. Teachers can participate in museum workshops, attend events, and browse art history publications through the website.


Massachusetts Art Education Association: MAEA provides resource related to art education, advocacy, and art history. The grouping also delivers exhibits on topics such as art education and photography. Members can request conference workshops, and the website provides information about career opportunities and state licensure.


SECAC: Formerly known as the Southeastern College Art Conference, SECAC focuses on visual arts at the postsecondary level. The arrangement hosts a conference and publishes a semiannual newsletter and a journal called Art Inquiries. Its website includes reviews of exhibitions and a list of job openings.


Association of Historians of American Art: This clan focuses on American fine art, beginning earlier colonization. AHAA participates in CAA's almanac conference and delivers its own symposium every ii years. The system too publishes a periodical. Members do good from networking opportunities, including a directory and a syllabus-sharing tool. Members can also access online book reviews.


Renaissance Gild of America: The RSA focuses on civilization and history from the years 1300-1700. The society offers an annual conference and accepts proposals for event seminars. The RSA publishes a periodical and works with the Digital Humanities Summer Institute to provide financial assistance to students. The society also delivers fellowships and a mentoring programme for individuals who are new to the field.

Open Courseware

Tangible Things - Harvard: This course explores history through artwork, artifacts, and scientific specimens. Students larn nigh museum curation through an examination of historical and artistic items collected by Harvard University. The course explains how museum collections tin shape academic disciplines and reinforce cultural ideas.


Hollywood: History, Industry, Art - University of Pennsylvania: Students explore the history of film and how the industry of Hollywood has grown and changed over the years. This grade demonstrates how earth events are reflected through the art of pic. Students also learn most the engineering science that avant-garde and shaped this art form, from colour cinematography to computer-generated special effects.


Inspiring and Motivating Arts and Culture Teams - Academy of Michigan: The University of Michigan presents this grade through its business school in collaboration with National Arts Strategies. The class teaches valuable skills in motivation and communication. Students too learn to effectively nowadays ideas and inspire team members to produce desired results.


Arts and Culture Strategy - University of Pennsylvania: This form helps develop constructive leadership amidst professionals with careers in the arts. Students larn to develop and atomic number 82 arts organizations in a sustainable fashion. Those who cease the class earn a certificate of completion.

Publications

Art History - Journal of the Association for Art History: This periodical publishes essays about new methods and areas of concern in the field of fine art history. The periodical goes to print five times a yr and takes submissions from established and emerging art history scholars. Readers can subscribe online or in print.


Oxford Art Journal: This publication offers disquisitional works about fine art history topics. The journal includes manufactures about art across all disciplines and eras. Readers tin find pieces that offer political analysis of visual art and essays offering critiques of art and culture across the globe. Readers can subscribe online or in impress.


The Art Bulletin: Published by the Higher Art Association of America, this journal prints scholarly essays about art history practices in museums, universities, and other institutions. The publication also offers peer-reviewed articles about art history topics across time periods and styles. This periodical goes to print four times a year and encourages debate nearly the contemporary practice of art history. Readers tin subscribe online or in print.

Oftentimes Asked Questions

What kind of jobs can art history majors get?

Art history majors can pursue work as museum curators, researchers, archivists, and educators. Graduates with an art history background can also discover careers in business concern.

How much do art historians make?

Salaries for fine art history careers differ depending on a worker'southward chore title, feel level, location. Notwithstanding, the BLS reports that the median annual bacon for archivists, curators, and museum workers is $49,850.

How exercise I get into art history?

Many community colleges and four-year universities offering on-campus and online fine art history programs. Students may pursue an acquaintance, bachelor's, master'southward, or doctoral degree in this field.

Is an fine art history caste worth it?

Art history degrees provide essential skills related to creative and belittling thinking, arrangement and research, management of resources, and communication. Graduates may employ these skills to earn a job in art history or branch out to other fields, such as business and education.

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