Museum/gallery exhibitions officer job profile

Museum/gallery exhibitions officers are responsible for the planning, delivery and installation of permanent, temporary and touring exhibitions

In larger museums and galleries, you may work as a specialist exhibitions officer within a wider team that includes curators, education officers and marketing professionals. In smaller galleries and museums, however, you are more likely to undertake exhibition work as part of a wider role that typically also includes curating and/or education.

Key areas of involvement may include:

exhibition planning and operations
public relations and marketing
logistics and installation
developing exhibition-related publications, catalogues and digital content.

The role of museum/gallery exhibition officer often forms part of a wider museum role such as museum/gallery curator or museum education officer. However, in some cases, it may be a distinct role within a museum or gallery. Job titles vary to reflect the diverse nature of the role and may include exhibitions and interpretation officer, collections and exhibitions officer, and exhibitions and engagement officer.

Responsibilities

As a museum/gallery exhibitions officer, you'll typically need to:

plan and coordinate special, permanent and temporary exhibitions in collaboration with the curator
develop and deliver touring exhibitions using portable display systems
research artists, source exhibits and select works for display
secure loans for exhibitions and negotiate terms with artists and institutions
create engaging content and narratives that enhance visitor experience
contribute to the long-term exhibition strategy alongside curators and exhibition managers
write proposals to attract new projects and evaluate tenders
coordinate liaisons between subject specialists, curators and exhibition designers
manage exhibition production and installation schedules
assist with exhibition installation, including packing, handling and mounting exhibits
draw up and manage exhibition budgets and fundraise for projects
arrange transport, insurance and security for artworks and objects
collaborate with conservators, archivists and technicians on exhibition interpretation and promotion
write or review exhibition labels, wall texts and storyboards
contribute to programmes of events that aim to encourage broader audiences, including educational events
get involved in media work, such as talking to art critics
contribute to the creation and promotion of catalogues and marketing materials
engage with schools, community groups and outreach programmes
support wider museum/gallery development, with a focus on visitor engagement
liaise with internal teams and external partners, including technical staff, artists, contractors, educators, marketing and PR staff, finance departments, and retail teams.

Salary

Salaries at assistant level typically start at around 拢25,900.
With experience, you can earn in the region of 拢29,000 to 拢38,000.
Salaries at manager/head of department level are typically in the region of 拢49,000 to 拢57,500.

Salaries for freelancers tend to be more variable.

Salaries vary depending on a range of factors including your location and the type of employer your work for. For example, salaries can vary considerably between independent, local authority and national museums/galleries. Other factors influencing salaries include your experience, level of responsibility and qualifications.

Short, fixed-term or part-time contracts are common and often depend on the availability of funding for projects.

Income data from the . Figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Working hours may include weekends, evenings and bank holidays to ensure exhibitions are ready for their scheduled opening date. Career breaks, job sharing and part-time work are possible. There may be some opportunities for hybrid working.

What to expect

You may be based in a single museum, or centrally to cover a range of local venues. In either case, local travel to meetings and to visit other touring exhibition sites is quite common.
Work is carried out in exhibition areas, offices and any other available space.
Most jobs are available in towns and cities throughout the UK, which house larger museums, but specialist museums can also be found in smaller towns and rural areas.
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 common. Experience, contacts and reputation are all important.
There may be occasional opportunities for work and travel overseas, usually for research purposes.

Qualifications

This area of work is open to all graduates. However, if you want to specialise in a particular area of museum of gallery work, it may help to have a relevant degree in a subject such as:

archaeology
archive and museum studies
art conservation
education
fashion and textile design
fine art/visual art
history
history of art
media studies
spatial design.

Specialising in one subject is not necessarily as important as relevant work experience, a current awareness of trends in the field and enthusiasm. However, some posts will stipulate relevance to the collection, for example a degree in art history or some aspect of design, such as ceramics or glass.

Although a good honours degree is generally the minimum academic entry requirement, entry without a degree may be possible through a cultural heritage .

A pre-entry postgraduate qualification, such as an MA/Diploma in museum studies, is desirable. Entry for postgraduate courses is competitive, and you'll often need experience, either paid or voluntary, of working in museums, galleries or related heritage and cultural organisations. Search postgraduate courses in museum studies.

Skills

You'll need to have:

a strong commitment to this field of work demonstrated by work experience
creative flair for displaying objects and artwork in imaginative ways
practical skills in setting up exhibitions
a lively, creative and innovative approach to interpretation
excellent written and verbal communication skills
the ability to think strategically when planning exhibitions
organisation and time management skills to get exhibitions ready on time
project management skills to manage the setting up of exhibitions
a customer-focused approach to work, always considering the needs of the visitor
a collaborative approach to work and teamwork skills for liaising with staff, volunteers, partners and creatives
a flexible approach to work to meet tight deadlines and undertake a range of activities
self-motivation with the ability to act on your own initiative
a creative approach to problem solving
good IT skills
a strong understanding of diversity, inclusion and access in the museum/gallery sector
a genuine interest in artefacts, art or other cultural material.

If you're working with children and young people, you'll need to have a criminal records check.

A driving licence is also useful.

Work experience

Pre-entry experience is essential and can be gained through volunteering, internships or work placements. This hands-on experience helps develop the practical skills required for the role, such as exhibition installation, object handling and public engagement, and provides a valuable insight into the day-to-day operations of museums and galleries.

Ideally, look for opportunities where you can contribute directly to mounting exhibitions, assisting with interpretation or supporting visitor services. Experience with marketing, event planning or digital content creation can also be beneficial, especially in smaller institutions where roles are more varied. Building an understanding of audience needs and exhibition planning processes will strengthen your applications for future roles.

When applying for work experience, it's worth considering smaller museums/galleries as they are more likely to provide a greater range of experience. Most museums and galleries welcome volunteers and a number offer structured, paid internship programmes, especially national or university-affiliated institutions. Paid opportunities are competitive, so persistence and flexibility are key.

Consider making speculative applications if you can't find any vacancies, particularly to local or regional institutions. Be proactive as competition for jobs is keen, even for volunteer posts.

Find out more about the different kinds of聽work experience and internships聽that are available.

Employers

There are around 2,500 museums and galleries in the UK (Museums Association). These range from large national institutions, which employ large teams of specialist staff, to small, independent or specialist museums, which rely mainly on volunteers.

There are museums and art galleries in both the public and private sectors. They include:

national museums and galleries, which receive central government funding
municipal organisations, which may fall under the leisure or cultural services department of the local authority
university galleries or museums with a teaching role, which may be part of an academic institution
independent organisations, which may have a more commercial emphasis.

Sponsorship has become increasingly important across the sector. There has also been a growth in virtual museum sites.

Look for job vacancies at:

- full access to jobs for members.

Jobs and internship opportunities may also be advertised on individual museum and gallery websites.

Professional development

You'll largely be responsible for managing your own professional development. Much of your learning will happen on the job, through experience gained from working on varied projects, collaborating with colleagues across departments, and responding to evolving sector trends and audience needs.

There are various opportunities for formal and informal training, including conferences, workshops and seminars, offered by organisations such as the MA, Arts Councils and regional museum networks. Many of these events are listed on the MA website and provide valuable opportunities to network, share best practice and stay informed about current issues in the field.

To help with your professional development, the MA runs the . It typically takes around three years to complete and supports reflective practice, leadership development and ethical decision-making. To enrol, you'll need at least 12 months of relevant professional experience.

Advocacy and support for those working in the gallery and visual art education sector is available from membership organisation (the National Association for Gallery Education).

Career prospects

You may begin your career as an exhibitions assistant, taking on a lot of the general administration involved in setting up an exhibition, before moving into an exhibitions officer role. With further experience, there are some opportunities to move into more senior roles such as head of exhibitions or collections manager. These roles typically involve collaboration with curators, designers and external partners, as well as greater responsibility for strategic planning, budgeting and stakeholder engagement.

Opportunities for career progression within a single organisation may be limited, particularly in smaller museums or galleries. To advance, you may need to move between institutions or consider relocating to access management roles or gain experience in different types of collections and audiences.

Larger national or regional museums and galleries often offer more structured career paths, with opportunities to specialise in areas such as touring exhibitions, interpretation or audience development, or to move into leadership positions.

In recent years, there has been an increase in fixed-term and project-based contracts, often tied to specific exhibitions or funding. This shift has led to a rise in freelance, contract and consultancy roles within the sector. As a result, you may need to adapt to a more flexible and portfolio-based career approach and will have to continually develop your skills, build a strong professional network and keep up to date with sector developments.

Further promotion opportunities are likely to be in to broader management roles, such as director of leisure or cultural services. There are also some opportunities to move into roles in arts management, education or cultural policy, for example.

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