Commercial art gallery manager : Employers and vacancy sources

Commercial art galleries range in size enormously, from one-person outfits to large international organisations. Contemporary art galleries can have a short life span and small galleries can also come and go, often depending on the economic climate.

The market also includes small, regionally based commercial galleries and artist-led spaces. These may receive some public funding while also relying on a commercial element.

Commercial galleries vary widely and include those that specialise in one or a number of the following areas:

• paintings;
• sculpture;
• photography;
• prints and drawings;
• ceramics;
• jewellery;
• textiles.

Traditional galleries tend to sell photographs, prints and paintings. Other, more modern galleries buy and sell contemporary art.

Sources of vacancies

• ArtsHub
• artsjobsonline
• Art Monthly
• The Art Newspaper
• a-n: The Artists Information Company
• Art Review
• Museums Journal Artinfo
• Artinfo - mostly jobs in the USA, but also elsewhere, including the UK.
• National press, e.g. Guardian Jobs
• Websites of major galleries.

Specialist agencies such as Sophie Macpherson and Drummond Read may also have vacancies.

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