Arts Management, Museums, Galleries, Libraries

The arts and cultural sector needs creative, forward-thinking individuals who can blend artistic passion with business, analytical, and technological skills to help arts organizations grow and thrive. From local galleries, chamber groups and community theaters to renowned symphony orchestras, established museums and Broadway, opportunities exist in the nonprofit, public, and private sectors.

Finding Internships

Arts administration internships can be found in most any type of arts organization, and are common in theater companies and museums. Well-established internship programs, such as those at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian Institution, Sotheby’s, and Christie’s offer a wider range of opportunities, and often provide a stipend, and are very competitive. Applications for summer internships may be due in the Fall or early Spring. These are usually offered only during the summer. Theatres, smaller museums, galleries and auction houses may have later and more flexible application timelines. MCS offers a January Arts & Museums Internship Program, which is an excellent way to gain arts administration experience through a transformative, three-week project with a local cultural organization.

Finding Jobs

Hiring in the arts sector often follows a “just-in-time” model, meaning that positions are posted as openings arise rather than on a predictable schedule. Because of this, networking is a critical part of the job search.

Many of the entry-level job openings in the larger organizations are administrative in nature, so for a first full-time job it is helpful to be flexible. Some organizations such as Harvard’s Dumbarton Oaks have paid postgrad internships/fellowships open to candidates with a bachelor’s degree. However, the majority of curatorial fellowships require a Master’s or PhD degree.

Graduate and Professional Programs

It’s not necessary to have an advanced degree to obtain entry level positions in this field and it will be helpful to have several years of work experience on your resume before applying to grad school. If you’re interested in arts administration, you may want to consider an MBA with a nonprofit track, or a graduate arts administration program. For museum curatorial work, conservation/restoration, or serving in an upper-level administrative capacity, the typical degree is a Ph.D.; check the American Alliance of Museums for a listing of graduate programs, both domestic and international. For galleries and auction houses, advanced degrees in art history, business, or both are useful.

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