Creating Career Path...

Finding Further Careers...

Humanities & Social Sciences

Art Historian

View this career for different education levels:

Primary Secondary Post-16

An Art Historian is like a detective, but instead of solving crimes, they solve mysteries about art! They study art from different times and cultures, trying to understand when it was made, why it was made, and what it means. This could involve looking at ancient Egyptian sculptures, medieval paintings, or modern street art. They research artists, art movements, and the social and historical reasons behind why art looks the way it does. They might spend their time in libraries reading books, in museums looking closely at artworks, or even travelling to see art in different countries. Their work helps us all understand the stories that art tells us about the past and about ourselves. Art Historians often work in museums or art galleries, where they might help to organise exhibitions, write descriptions for artworks, or give talks to visitors. Some work in universities or colleges, teaching students about art history and doing their own research. Others might work for auction houses, helping to value and identify artworks, or for publishing companies, writing books and articles about art. It's a career for someone who loves art, history, and enjoys doing lots of research and thinking deeply about things!

Art Historian

Flag Media

Please select a reason for flagging this content.

📊 Statistics

Starting Salary

For someone just starting out as an Art Historian in the UK, especially in museum or gallery roles, you might expect to earn around 20,000 to 25,000 pounds per year.

Experienced Salary

With more experience, perhaps working as a curator or a senior academic, an Art Historian in the UK could earn between 30,000 and 50,000 pounds annually, with highly experienced or specialist roles potentially earning more.

Job Market Size

While there isn't an exact number for 'Art Historians' specifically, related roles in museums, galleries, and higher education in the UK often have a competitive job market. For example, there are thousands of people working in museums and galleries across the UK, and many of these roles involve art history knowledge.

🚀 Careers in this path

Flag Media

Please select a reason for flagging this content.

Museum Curator Assistant

Help decide which amazing artworks and historical objects go into museum displays. You'd learn about different time periods and styles, and help visitors understand what makes each piece special.

Flag Media

Please select a reason for flagging this content.

Art Restoration Assistant

Work alongside experts to carefully clean and fix old paintings or sculptures that have become damaged. It's like being a detective, figuring out how to make art look its best again without changing it.

Flag Media

Please select a reason for flagging this content.

Exhibition Designer Assistant

Help plan how art is displayed in a gallery or museum. You'd think about lighting, how to arrange pieces, and even what colour the walls should be, to make the art look brilliant to everyone who sees it.

Build Your Foundation

Explore Art and History

Start by getting really curious about art and history. Look at different types of art, from ancient sculptures to modern paintings. Read books, watch documentaries, and visit museums or art galleries.

At school, pay attention in history and art classes. Try to visit local museums, art galleries, or even historical sites. Think about what art you like and what questions you have about it. Even online virtual tours of famous museums can be a great start! Look up artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, or Frida Kahlo and learn about their lives and work.

Develop Your Research Skills

Being an Art Historian means lots of research! Start practising by looking up information about your favourite artists or art movements. Learn how to find reliable sources.

When you have school projects, try to choose topics related to art or history. Practise finding information in books, on trusted websites, and maybe even at your local library. Learning how to check if information is true and accurate is a really important skill for any historian. Think about why certain art was made and what was happening in the world at that time.

Improve Your Communication

Art Historians need to share their discoveries! Practise talking and writing about art in a way that helps others understand and get excited about it too.

Take part in school debates or presentations. When you've learned something cool about art, try explaining it to your friends or family. Writing essays or reports in school will help you practise organising your thoughts clearly. Being able to describe what you see and what it means is a key part of the job.

Academic Journey

Choose Relevant Subjects

At GCSE and A-Level, pick subjects that will help you with art history, like History, Art & Design, English Literature, or even a language.

For GCSEs, History and Art & Design are excellent choices. English Literature can help you with understanding different interpretations and writing clearly. If you are interested in art from a specific country, learning that language (e.g., French, German, Italian) can be incredibly useful later on. Speak to your teachers or career advisor about the best combinations for you.

University Degree

The most common path is to study Art History at university. You'll learn deeply about art from different periods and cultures.

Look for universities that offer a BA (Bachelor of Arts) in Art History or a combined degree like History of Art and another subject. Research different university courses and their modules to see what interests you most. Some universities might even have opportunities to study abroad or visit major art collections as part of the course. Good grades in your A-Levels will be important for getting into university.

Consider a Postgraduate Degree

Many Art Historians go on to do a Master's degree (MA) or even a PhD (doctorate) to specialise in a particular area of art.

A Master's degree allows you to focus on a specific period, artist, or type of art that you're passionate about. If you want to work in academia (teaching at university) or in high-level research roles, a PhD is often required. This involves extensive original research and writing a dissertation. It's a big commitment but incredibly rewarding if you love deep study.

Gain Experience & Network

Volunteer or Intern

Getting hands-on experience at museums, galleries, or heritage sites is super important. It helps you see how things work in real life.

Look for volunteer roles during school holidays or internships during university breaks. You could help with exhibitions, archiving, guiding tours, or even just helping with administrative tasks. Even small roles can give you valuable insight and show potential employers you're serious. It's a great way to meet people working in the field and learn from them.

Build Your Network

Meet people who work in art history! Go to talks, workshops, or career events. Chat to lecturers, curators, and other students.

Attending lectures or online webinars by art historians can be inspiring. Don't be shy about asking questions or introducing yourself. Connections you make can lead to opportunities down the line, whether it's advice, a mentor, or even a job opening. LinkedIn is a professional social media platform where you can connect with people in the arts and culture sector once you're a bit older.

Develop Specialised Skills

Beyond your degree, think about skills that make you stand out, like knowing another language, digital archiving, or conservation techniques.

Depending on the type of art history you want to pursue, extra skills can be a huge advantage. For example, if you're interested in medieval manuscripts, learning Latin or specific digital imaging skills would be beneficial. Some roles might value knowledge of art conservation or even fundraising for art projects. Keep an eye on what skills are in demand in job adverts for art historians.

🎯 View Apprenticeships

Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Art Historian. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.

🎓 View Apprenticeships

Career Progressions

This page showcases various career options and the pathways to reach them. Each career listed here shares transferable skills and knowledge, making it easier for individuals to transition between them.

Your current career is highlighted to help you see how it fits into the broader landscape of potential career choices. By clicking on any career, you can learn more about it, including the training and education required to pursue it.

Remember, progressing in your career often involves further learning and training. This page provides insights into future career options as well as those that can lead up to your current one.

These career progression decisions are informed by comparing the skills and knowledge needed for different occupations, along with data on how people move between them. Explore the possibilities and discover the exciting journey ahead in your career!

Sample Qualifications

An Art Historian's expertise in art history, research, and conservation aligns most closely with the responsibilities of a Museum Curator, who manages and interprets art collections.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role

University

You can start by doing a degree in a subject like:

  • fine art or art history
  • museum or heritage studies
  • archaeology or ancient history
  • classics
  • natural sciences
  • anthropology
  • education

You can also study for a postgraduate qualification in museum and gallery studies, or in a particular style or period of art or history. This may give you an advantage when applying for jobs.

Some universities will require a relevant first degree to apply for a postgraduate course. Others may accept most subjects but expect you to have a lot of work experience to back up your application.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course

More Information

Apprenticeship

You may be able to apply for a Curator Level 7 Apprenticeship with a cultural or heritage organisation.

This can take around 3 years to complete and combines on-the-job training with off-site learning.

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

More Information

Work

You may be able to work as a collections assistant, education officer or conservator, before becoming a museum or gallery curator through training and promotion.

Volunteering

Paid or unpaid work experience in a museum, gallery or heritage property is usually essential to apply for courses and jobs.

More Information

Career tips

Digital skills are becoming increasingly important in this career, for example for cataloguing and archival purposes, and producing online and interactive content for wider public engagement. Any skills you can develop through work or volunteering will be helpful.

Professional and industry bodies

You can join the Museums Association for professional development and to make industry contacts.

Further information

You can learn more about how to become a museum or gallery curator from the Museums Association.

Interested in More Career Paths?

Explore other careers or use our AI to discover personalised paths based on your interests.

Browse All Careers Generate New Career Path

Stay connected

Join our newsletter to stay up to date on features and releases

Address
Developing Experts Limited
Exchange Street Buildings
35-37 Exchange Street
Norwich
NR2 1DP
UK

Phone
01603 273515

Email
[email protected]

Developing Experts

LessonsAboutResearchReportingPlans & Pricing

Legal

GDPRPrivacy PolicyTerms and ConditionsCookie Policy

Contact Us

Get in touchRequest SubscriptionChildren's CodeAbout UsCareers

Copyright 2026 Developing Experts, All rights reserved.