The good news is that art history majors are in high demand. The bad news is that the job market for art history majors can be a little bit challenging.
If you’re an art history major, you may be wondering what career paths might be open to you. Here are some options:
Teacher: Art history teachers can teach at all levels from elementary school through college. They can also teach at museums and historical sites.
Careers for art history majors
Museum curator: This is a great job for those who love working with art and have an eye for detail. Curators help to select which pieces of art will be displayed in museums and galleries, as well as make sure everything is arranged just right.
Archivist: If you like working with old items and records, archiving could be your dream job! You’ll organize and preserve documents, photographs, books, film footage and more.
Historian: Historians study past events in order to learn from them and understand how they impact our lives today. Historians may work for museums or historical societies where they’ll write articles about famous people or events that happened in their local area’s past (e.g., Abraham Lincoln). They might also work for governments or universities where they’ll write books about
Art history majors have a wide range of career options. They can become museum curators, museum educators, art directors and designers, or even gallery owners. Art history majors can also work as auctioneers, appraisers, or dealers in fine art and antiques. A career in law is another option for art history majors as they need deep knowledge of the law to be able to effectively negotiate contracts between artists and buyers or sellers.
Art history majors can find themselves working in a variety of fields, but they are most likely to find employment in museums, libraries, galleries and auction houses.
Museums: Art historians can work as curators, educators or researchers at museums. They may also be responsible for digitizing artwork and archiving it.
Libraries: An art historian might be employed in a library to help manage its collection of art books or research materials. They might also teach classes about art history or help patrons find books that relate to their interests.
Galleries: Some art historians may choose to work at an art gallery where they would be responsible for helping customers find pieces that interest them. This could mean working with customers directly or organizing displays in the gallery or simply talking about trends in the industry.
Auction Houses: Many auction houses have permanent positions available for those who want to work with them on a long-term basis. These jobs typically require some sort of certification or degree related to art history so that employees can better understand what they’re selling when bidding starts at their company’s auctions.”
Art history majors are often interested in a career in museums, where they can work with the art that they love. Museums offer an opportunity to learn about the history of art and its creators, as well as to gain experience working with historical objects.
Some art history majors choose to work as curators or conservators at museums. Curators spend their time researching, organizing, and displaying collections of art and cultural artifacts. Conservators preserve valuable pieces of art by repairing or restoring them.
Another option for an art history major is to become an art critic or writer. Many critics focus on the visual arts, while others write about architecture or design. Art critics often review exhibitions and write articles for newspapers or magazines about their favorite artists’ work.
Art historians can also look into careers in education or publishing. Teachers who have studied art history often use it in their lessons when teaching about artists’ lives and styles; publishers hire people with this degree because they know how to read historical documents and understand what makes them important.
Art history is a great major for students who love art. It teaches you how artists and designers worked, how they were influenced by cultural events, and what their work means to people today.
Art historians often go on to careers in museums or galleries, where they can curate exhibits and help decide what goes into them. Other options include working as an instructor at a university or teaching high school art classes.
