Exhibitions Officer

An exhibitions officer is responsible for planning, developing, organising, marketing, administering, producing, buying and maintaining exhibitions.

In larger museums and galleries, exhibitions officers may be specialists working alongside a team of curatorial, educational and marketing professionals.

In smaller galleries and museums, the role may include a wide variety of activities.

Work activities could include: planning programmes of special and permanent exhibitions; sourcing exhibits; researching artists and selecting work; securing loans; long-term planning for exhibitions; fundraising; ensuring installation deadlines are met; exhibition budgets; assisting with installation of exhibits; and writing story boards and labels.

Other duties include: contributing to programmes of events; publicity material and displays; co-coordinating the production of exhibition catalogues; and contributing to museum/gallery development, especially in the area of visitor services.

Starting salaries are around £16,500 - £19,000, rising to £29,000 - £35,000 at senior level/with experience.

Salaries vary considerably between independent, local authority and national museums/galleries.

Although this area of work is open to all graduates, if you want to specialise in a particular area it may help to have a relevant degree such as: spatial design; archive and museum studies; fashion and textile design; archaeology; education; history; art conservation; fine art/visual art; media studies; or history of art.

Subject specialism is not as important as enthusiasm, a current awareness of trends in the field, and relevant voluntary experience. Some posts will stipulate relevance to the collection, for example art history, history or some aspect of design. A good honours degree is the minimum academic entry requirement.

Entry is not possible with an HND only. A pre-entry postgraduate qualification, such as an MA/Diploma in Museum Studies, is highly desirable. Course entry for postgraduate courses is competitive and many students are self-financed. See the Museums Association website for details of relevant postgraduate courses. 

Pre-entry experience is essential, which can be gained through volunteering, e.g. helping to mount an exhibition or working with visitor services. The Museums Association website has details of organisations which have well-run volunteer programmes. The Museums Journal may also publish requests for volunteers.

Competition for jobs is very keen, even for unpaid volunteer posts. Not all museums employ specialist staff and it can take a long time to become established in a permanent, salaried post. Short, fixed-term contracts are very common. Experience, contacts and reputation are all important.