Computer skills including familiarity with e-mail, Internet discussion groups and the WWW are essential for almost all positions which require writing and research.

TABLE of CONTENTS

Teaching

1. PhD in art history
2. German, French, and other appropriate languages
3. Research oriented
4. Maximum involvement with people
5. Good writing and communication skills essential
6. Travel and study abroad may be important depending on field

Museum Work

Curatorial

1. PhD in art history normally expected, depending on the institution
2. German, French or other appropriate languages
3. Research oriented (may start out as research assistant)
4. Some involvement with people, ability to collaborate

Education

1. MA in art history
2. Languages may be necessary, e.g Spanish, in order to be able to work with an ethnically diverse audience
3. Some research depending on level of audience
4. Maximum involvement with people
5. Good communication skills essential

Exhibition installation

1. BA; MA may be helpful
2. No language necessary
3. No research
4. Some involvement with people
5. Some artistic training and mechanical skill

Administration

1. BA; MA in museology and PhD in art history for top positions
2. No languages necessary
3. No research except for fund-raising
4. Some to maximum involvement with people
5. Business skills normally useful, including clerical skills; ability to manipulate databases and spreadsheets

Reproductions and Retailing (courtesy of Doris Birmingham)

1. BA
2. No languages necessary
3. No research except perhaps in legal areas
4. Some to maximum involvement with people
5. Business, clerical, and communication skills, normally necessary
6. This area can include everything from working in a museum store, to overseeing the selection, production and marketing of museum reproductions. If involved with the latter aspect, should have some familiarity with copyright law and artists' rights, though this could be acquired on the job. Also some design skills may be useful.

Conservation (see below)

Publishing

1. BA; MA or PhD useful but not necessary (depending on the type of publisher, e.g. academic, commercial, independent; and position)
2. Languages often needed
3. Research depends on position; copy editor - none; editor - some; writer - a lot
4. Significant involvement with people
5. Business and/or graphic design skills along with good writing skills are useful or essential depending on position; possibility of free-lancing

Freelance Writing

1. BA in art history; advanced degrees may help to open some doors
2. Languages may be necessary
3. Research necessary
4. Some involvement with people; may need to be aggressive in obtaining assignments or marketing work
5. Excellent communication and writing skills
6. High tolerance for economic uncertainty

Antiques Dealer

1. BA in art history or the equivalent, with some knowledge of the history of photography and decorative arts and details of furniture construction.  An internship or experience in auction house may be useful.  Some dealers started in the family business or are collectors who are self-taught.
2. Foreign languages are useful but not necessary
3. Good research skills are essential.  A dealer should be familiar with a wide range of reference materials about maker's marks, imprints, the history of technology and design, as well as prints and drawings.
4. Requires significant interaction with people if one runs a shop.  A dealer can also rent space in an antiques mall or sell exclusively over the internet.
5. Good business and accounting skills are essential.  One also needs some knowledge of tax laws.  Membership in professional organizations such as the National Antique and Art Dealers Association of America (212-826-9707) and Antique Dealers League of America (212-879-7558) are useful.

Art Librarian

1. Usually MA in art history and MLS
2. French, German, and other languages often necessary
3. Some research covering a wide gamut of topics
4. Some to maximum involvement with people
5. Good communication and writing skills
6. Excellent administration/management skills
7. Computer and image technology skills
8. Attention to detail

Visual Resources Curator (Education and Industry)

1. BA or MA in art history, MLS becoming more necessary
2. French, German, or other languages may be necessary
3. Some involvement with people; patience
4. Knowledge of computer programs for slide cataloguing and familiarity with the issues concerning image digitization
5. Knowledge of basic photographic techniques for the production of slides
6. Openness to technology and technological change
7. Attention to detail

Estate Appraiser or Liquidator

1. Certifact in appraisal studies.  New York University offers a Certificate in Appraisal Studies in Fine and Decorative Arts.  Edinboro University offers courses for estate appraisers and liquidators at major cities throughout the country.
2. No foreign languages are necessary, but Spanish may be an asset.
3. Research skills are essential.  An appraiser should be familiar with a wide range of reference materials about maker's marks, imprints, the history of technology and design, as well as prints and drawings.  Attention to detail essential.  Good writing skills.  Knowledge of IRS standards for appraisals.
4. Maximum involvement with people.  Requires diplomacy in dealing with trust officers, antique dealers, and family of the deceased.  High ethical standards and integrity are essential.
5. Knowledge of on-line reference tools.  Membership in profession organizations such as Appraisers Association of America (212-889-5404) or American Society of Professional Appraisers (770-729-8400).  Subscription to various trade papers such as The New York-Pennsylvania Collector.

Independent Producer: TV and Film Documentaries

1. BA; MA or beyond useful but not necessary
2. Languages may be necessary
3. Research necessary
4. Maximum involvement with people
5. Background in TV or film production; good business and writing skills; strong organizational skills

Preservation and Conservation

1. BA or beyond in art history with special training in conservation and restoration; many graduate programs are awarding an MA or certificate in art conservation (Programs are available at NYU, SUC at Buffalo, University of Delaware, University of Texas at Austin, and Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario).
2. Languages may be useful
3. Research oriented
4. Some involvement with people
5. Good background in chemistry and physics, as well as studio techniques; manual deterity, attention to detail.

Architectural Conservation

1. BA; MA or beyond useful with a special knowledge of architectural traditions, including interior design; BA or MA in architecture and specialized training in conservation techniques for work at the highest level.
2. Languages only necessary as one is involved with international projects
3. Research often necessary
4. A great deal of involvement with people
5. Depending on whether one is working as a employee of a governmental office, a not-for-profit group, or as a private consultant, knowledge of the law, zoning ordinances, estimating procedures, etc., can be necessary. A certain amount of political savvy also is useful particularly if one is attached to a government agency or not-for-profit group.

Art Gallery and Auction Houses

1. BA; MA or PhD may be necessary depending on position and type of gallery
2. Languages may be useful
3. Depending on position can be research-oriented or not at all
4. Maximum involvement with people
5. Depending on position good business, marketing, communication and writing skills may be necessary; training in connoisseurship

Art Gallery (non-profit)

1. BA; MA or Ph.D. may be helpful, but not necessary
2. No languages necessary
3. Research may be necessary
4. Maximum involvement with people
5. Good business, marketing, communication and writing skills; fundraising skills; flexibility; diplomacy; ability to motivate others; sensitivity to artists' needs; and, depending on the scale of the gallery, experience in exhibition design, curatorial work, sales, and art education can all be useful

Corporate Curator

1. BA; MA or PhD may be helpful (Apple Computer advertised in 1992/93 for a curator for their company museum)
2. Languages may be necessary depending on the nature of the collection
3. Some research
4. Some involvement with people
5. Ability to communicate particularly with people not necessarily knowledgeable about art; may also need installation and interpretive skills; training in connoisseurship; ability to manipulate databases for record maintenance

Art Investment

1. BA in art history; BBA and/or MBA (may wish to take an MA in art history, as well)
2. No languages necessary
3. Some research
4. Some involvement with people
5. Good business and investment skills; training in connoisseurship; good communication skills; familiarity with financial software; tolerance for risk.

Art Law

1. BA and/or MA in art history; JD possibly in contract law (Columbia University has a Center for Law and the Arts)
2. No languages necessary
3. Research oriented
4. Some involvement with people
5. Good business and communication skills

Governmental Agencies

1. BA, MA and/or PhD can all be appropriate depending on duties
2. Languages may be necessary
3. Some to a great deal of research depending on position
4. Some involvement with people
5. Good communication and writing skills; political skills

Artist Representative

1. BA in art history or studio, or equivalent knowledge and experience
2. Languages usually unnecessary, unless working in an international venue
3. Some research of markets may be necessary
4. Some to frequent involvement with people
5. Business experience (marketing and sales), organizational skills, self-motivation, and a sensitivity to working with artists.

Arts Organization Consultant

1. BA; MBA useful but not necessary
2. Languages rarely needed
3. Research depends on the assignment
4. Significant involvement with people
5. Business skills, familiarity with legal and political issues, good writing skills are essential; flexibility in working with a wide variety of clients

Antiquarian Book/Print Trade

1. BA; good knowledge of reference sources in art history, literature, and history
2. All languages are helpful
3. Research often necessary
4. Maximum involvement with people as customers and clients
5. Ability to work under pressure; good business sense

Art Adviser

Curatorial Consultant/Freelance Collection Manager

1. BA; MA or PhD may be helpful
2. Languages may be necessary depending on the nature of the collection
3. Research varies as per contents of the collection and owner/clients aims
4. Substantial involvement with people
5. Ability to interact with a variety of art professionals and to represent a client to them; ability to manage various jobs such as framing, shipping and installation on behalf of a client; ability to represent the best interests of the work of art to non-art professionals, such as a private or corporate collector, his/her family, and/or corporate staff at all levels of hierarchy, including insurers. Superior organizational skills. Attention to details, particularly in respect to record-keeping. Self-motivated and comfortable with the instability and freedom of freelance employment.