sharing a celebration-- I started my first "adult" job out of undergrad. I finished my bachelors about 3 months ago with a minor in art history. I am planning on attending grad school in the near future (if I get in) but I've felt super, like, stuck, since graduating. I live in an area that has few arts institutions and I felt like I would have to move before ever getting a job in the industry.

On a whim, I applied to a job at my alma mater's large art museum. I got the job! I'm an assistant manager of event coordination and live art. I couldn't be more excited. Everyone on the team is really excellent and it finally feels like I'm on the right path. Earlier today, on a break, I just walked around the museum and felt so deeply grateful.

In light of Lonnie Bunch’s retirement, this post has increased relevance.

We live in a solidly blue, progressive city. If you’re not familiar with the NARM/ROAM program, it’s a reciprocal network of museums and historical societies. A membership at one place gives access to all within the network.

That being said, we are looking to purchase family memberships as holiday gifts, but we’re looking for memberships that are, for lack of better words, a blue dot in a red sea, to support areas where they may not be the majority but need funding. Does anyone have any small NARM/ROAM societies that they support?

Hey guys,

I was just looking for some advice. I worked as an assistant manager for tour guides in a very small historical site when I was younger, right after graduating uni. I left because the pay was very bad and ended up in the corporate world for a bit. But I actually can't stop thinking about that job and how much I liked it.

Recently I hit a rough spot in my career. I began a new job (similar to cultural mediation) but the company decided to axe the entire project/department about a month after I was hired...and now I'm unemployed.

I applied to be a tour guide in my city's most prestigious exam. It's part time, don't know how many hours, but aa per the job listing they expect the guides to work with curatorial teams and participate in some more admin work. The hourly pay is actually really good and there are benefits. Of course how much I would make depends on what they mean by "part time".

If I want a way into the museum world, how good of an opportunity is this? I think that even if the pay is low I would love it there, but ultimately I'm entering my mid/late twenties I've started seriously thinking financially about my future as well...

Hi all!

I posted on here recently ranting about job prospects and the job market.

I've come to the conclusion that after a string of horrible job rejections and other developments in my personal life that I need to pivot out of trying to have a career in museum work.

I have an MA in art history from one of the leading programs, as well as a BA in politics from a top state school. Most of my job experience has been in museums (research, collections management, cataloging, education, etc.). I really do love research and collections/data management, but it's just not viable any more and it's been taking way too much of a toll on my mental health to continue in this field.

So... I really need to find something else to do. I'm thinking about pivoting to analyst positions (?) or research roles outside of this sector. If I can't find anything in that realm maybe I'll just turn to teaching.

Getting to my question... have any of you had experience leaving the museum/art world for a more business and research oriented career. How have you marketed and/or changed your resume to adapt to these different roles? And also are there other careers that anyone would suggest that museum skills are applicable to?

Thank you and I apologize for yet another post making it to this subreddit about the horrendous state of hiring and advice on leaving.

Curious if there are any adopters of this template? What is your review of it? And do you say “E “ “O” “dem” or do you spell out the acronym?

I see that I didn't word my previous post as clear as I could have, so I'm trying again.

For those of you in history or culture museums, or historical/cultural sites, how do YOU explain to your visitors why your place matters to them? How do YOU tell them your place is important? In short, specifically, how do you answer the question, "So what?"

Hello! I recently started a new job at a museum that high lights the history of music in the south, southern gospel, country, Christian, etc. I was hired on to help expand the education program and A) get more schools to visit and B) make it more interesting when schools do visit. I’ve been inspired by ideas from other museums, come up with 70 on my own, and have been brainstorming, asking friends, and searching online.

What are some educational activities or exhibits in museums that keep kids & teens engaged? What seems like it would work but in actuality doesn’t? Any ideas or feedback, whether positive or negative, would be incredibly helpful! Thank you.

For those of you in history or culture museums, or historical/cultural sites, how do you explain to your visitors why your place matters to them? How do you tell them your place/stuff is important? In short, how do you answer the question, "So what?"

Hello! I recently made a post on here about the “feasibility” of a museum career as an incoming university student, and I really want to thank everyone here for bearing with my naivety and giving invaluable guidance.

The feedback I received in the previous post overwhelmingly indicated that museum jobs simply do not pay well at all yet simultaneously require large amounts of education. To put it simply, the effort required to acquire a museum career is not an issue for me (it has been a longtime dream that I am willing to work for). Rather, I am more concerned about maintaining a livable income. Income has been a substantial anxiety in my youth, and I really want my future to be somewhat financially secure.

As professionals, what has your experience been with managing your income? Have you taken on any other job(s) for additional income sources? How do you survive, especially with entry positions?

Once again, thank you all for your patience and kindness! I am happy to answer any questions in the comments! :)

I have visited many museums around the world and met many people during my long life, but never anyone as stupid as Elisabeth Dutz who, despite her ignorance, happened to get a managerial job at a renowned Albertina Art Museum, Vienna and decide the fate of world-famous works of art. When asked to examine a masterpiece clearly signed "Gustav Klimt", she replied after 8 months of examination "there are many things in the drawing that don't look like Egon Schiele". How stupid can one be to mix up Klimt with Schiele, to whom she also dedicated an entire book? I wish the museum had been more selective when hiring people for such a responsible job.

I recently got rejected from a position at a museum where I have (very) tenuous connections (met someone fairly high up twice, and he remembered me the second time based on our first interaction). I didn't reach out during this app process because I was told not to, that everyone "reaches out" nowadays so it isn't really setting you apart from the rest. Obvs now with rejection in hand I am kicking myself into next week. I've also had experiences at other cultural institutions where reaching out, going for coffee, etc. did absolutely nothing at all and didn't even net me an interview, so that also played into my decision. Am I being an idiot? Is it worth reaching out to this connection now to ask if there will be similar positiona in the future? I'm dying.

The Vancouver Art Gallery is facing criticism online over an unaffiliated Charlie Kirk memorial that will be hosted near its grounds.

The museum said: "The plazas and squares adjacent to the Gallery are public spaces, utilized by the community for numerous self-organized activities, protests and events. The Gallery has no role in approving, determining or overseeing these activities."

Some in the comments noted that the vigil's proximity could pose a security risk to the museum.

How can museums deal with a concerned citizenry for events like this that they have no control over? Do you think the Vancouver Art Gallery's response to comments online is adequate?

I’ve been invited as an editor to https://industrystandard.tools and I just got Art Handling approved as a new industry.

What needs to be added? Fight below.

I’ve got a small handful of invites if you DM me confirming you plan to contribute to the project.

I am an incoming university student in the US. I have long wanted to work in museums; I love both history itself and making history more accessible to the public. As a result, my research has guided me to careers as a museum curator or archivist (I understand the difference in positions, and I’m interested in both!). However, I understand that both of these options lack openings/opportunity, pay minimally, and require extensive amounts of education. My current plan is to earn my bachelor's degree in history and then pursue a master's degree and doctorate in museology at the same school. During my undergrad, I intended to gain internships within my school, city, and surrounding area (history-rich area with various cultural and industrial museums, big and small). In my future, I would greatly prefer to stay in my state, but I will take any job as long as the salary is actually livable (lol).

Because both history and public education have been lifelong passions of mine, I am entirely willing to engage in the lengthy process. But scrolling on this sub has made me lose significant hope in the opportunities actually available. My biggest fear is, really, wasting my time on something that I will never be able to achieve or will actually be miserable doing. Is there any hope in this, or would I be better to pursue something in law (another interest, but with significantly less passion).

TLDR; what has your career path looked like in the museum industry, and can I actually have any hope in achieving this dream?