How Do I Get A Career In Arts Administration In The UK?

There are a number of ways that you can get yourself into a career into arts administration.

Lets start with education. You could do a course in college/university covering administration only, however, there are certain skills needed in the arts which won't be covered in a generalised course (such as fundraising and cultural policy). I would recommend that you look for a course in Arts and/or Cultural Management. There is a comprehensive list of courses available in the education section of www.artsmanagement.net.

During your education you may want to take a part time job working in a theatre box office or with a local theatre company. There are always a number of volunteer positions available to you too!

The starting salary for arts admin jobs is generally between 12-16k. You can find jobs through arts network sights like Artshub or Arts Professional, and also in newspapers and magazines like The Guardian and the List.

The best way to get yourself involved in any area of the arts is by networking! Attend exhibitions, talks, shows and networking events. Drop your cv in people's doors. Do some volunteering – especially during festivals! The skills you will learn are invaluable – even if the initial pay is low. Connect, reconnect and get yourself out there!

You will find that as your career progresses you may want to hone your skills into a particular section eg. Marketing, fundraising, programming. There are a number of short courses and professional qualifications you could obtain while working and help to increase your professional profile and abilities.

Eventually you could progress to arts management (of a venue, arts company, council etc.)