Arts administrator : Employers and vacancy sources

Arts administrators may be employed in any organisation with responsibility for organising, planning and delivering artistic or cultural events. There are many government-funded initiatives and local partnerships which employ administrators on various short and longer-term contracts.

Many of these projects focus on development of arts activity in both urban and rural communities with a view to stimulating local economic development, addressing social inclusion and ultimately building stronger communities. These UK-wide projects are proving to be major sources of arts administration jobs. There are also vacancies within theatres, galleries, local authority venues and museums, photography and media centres, touring companies and concert venues.

Arts Council England , Creative Scotland , Arts Council of Wales  and Arts Council of Northern Ireland  are key employers, although trainee arts administrator posts are rarely offered by the Arts Councils. Many local authorities employ arts administrators, which are usually in leisure and recreation or planning and development departments. Other small bodies involved in grant-aiding, such as the British Film Institute (BFI)  and the Crafts Council  employ staff in and around London but may be unlikely to recruit inexperienced people as trainee arts administrators.

Sources of vacancies

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• Arts Culture Media Jobs    
• ArtsHub  
• Arts Industry    
• Arts Jobs Finder    
• artsjobsonline  
• The Big Issue    
• Culture.Info  
• Guardian Jobs  - Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays
• Independent Jobs  - Mondays
• Museums Association (MA)   
• The Musical Times   
• The Stage  

The British Performing Arts Yearbook and the Museums and Galleries Yearbook are useful directories.

Regional arts magazines and websites may also list vacancies; details can be gained from the various arts councils. The National Campaign for the Arts  and Theatrical Management Association (TMA)  may also prove to be useful.

Local recruitment agencies may sometimes handle temporary vacancies. Some opportunities are not formally advertised, so establishing contacts is a crucial part of developing your career as they may help to uncover any 'hidden' opportunities.

Get tips on job hunting, CVs and covering letters and interviews.