Commercial art gallery manager

Commercial art gallery managers are responsible for the commercial and artistic success of a gallery

You'll use your creative and business skills to ensure the smooth day-to-day running of an art gallery. Your day-to-day responsibilities can range from managing exhibitions and maintaining the gallery space to negotiating with artists and handling sales.

A key aspect of the role is selecting art and artists, to both enhance the gallery's reputation and bring in money from artwork sales, and you'll liaise directly with contemporary artists and dealers.

You'll also manage the sales and marketing activities, developing strategies to attract buyers, generate sales, increase profit and raise the gallery's profile.

Depending on the size and structure of the gallery, you might report to a director or owner, or you may take full control of operations yourself. In smaller, independent spaces, your role is likely to be more hands-on and varied, encompassing everything from event planning to social media marketing.

Responsibilities

Depending on your role, you may focus more on the front of house or behind the scenes. However, as a commercial gallery owner you'll typically need to:

• select and acquire art work that both aligns with the gallery's vision and appeals to potential buyers
• nurture and develop strong relationships with both emerging and established artists to secure exclusive works and long-term collaboration
• build long-lasting relationships with collectors, buyers and potential clients, using your expert knowledge to drive sales and increase the gallery's reputation
• promote exhibitions through tailored marketing campaigns and private viewings
• plan and deliver exhibition programmes, overseeing the logistics, timelines and promotional strategies
• curate exhibitions in collaboration with artists, technicians and designers to present artwork professionally and cohesively
• manage the gallery inventory, maintain accurate sales records and oversee insurance and valuations
• ensure the gallery space is always clean, welcoming and well-organised
• manage the transportation and installation of artworks to and from the gallery, both nationally and internationally, including customs documentation, ensuring they arrive on time and in perfect condition
• oversee exhibition installation, ensuring technical requirements and presentation standards are met
• shape the gallery's public identity and programme to strengthen its audience reach
• manage the gallery's digital presence, including regular updates to the website, mailing lists and social media channels
• develop tailored communications and previews for collectors, consultants and cultural institutions
• negotiate loans and collaborative projects with external galleries and cultural organisations
• research market trends and pricing to stay competitive and identify new opportunities for revenue
• oversee day-to-day operations including record keeping, diary management, budgeting and staffing.

Salary

• Salaries for gallery managers are in the region of £25,000 to £40,000.
• Salaries for gallery directors can be in excess of £65,000, depending on the size, location and type of gallery, and your experience and responsibilities.
• Galleries may pay commission/bonuses for sales of artwork in addition to your salary, which can increase your earnings.

Managers running their own gallery may earn a very low salary in the first years of setting up their business until they have established a strong reputation.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Working hours are linked to gallery opening hours, which typically include Saturdays, although flexibility is essential as the working day rarely finishes when the gallery closes. For example, if you're preparing for an exhibition, the day finishes when the exhibition is ready.

Some galleries are only open for part of the week.

What to expect

• Galleries are often staffed by small teams, which can make for a friendly and informal working environment. Some gallery managers work as sole traders.
• Many of the big galleries are based in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Some galleries have offices in regional centres in the UK, as well as internationally. Smaller independent galleries are spread throughout the UK.
• There may be opportunities to travel, both nationally and internationally, to supervise touring exhibitions, attend art fairs and auctions, and promote gallery activities and events.

Qualifications

Although commercial gallery management is open to all graduates, the following degree subjects can be particularly useful:

• art history or history of art
• arts management
• business studies
• fine art or visual art
• marketing and sales
• modern languages.

If you're aiming to manage contemporary art spaces, a good knowledge of the current art scene is essential.

A pre-entry postgraduate qualification, for example an MA, in a subject such as art history or visual culture can be useful, but you still need to support this with relevant practical experience.

Search postgraduate courses.

Entry without a degree may be possible but is unlikely unless you can show significant relevant work experience or specialised knowledge.

Skills

You'll need to have:

• a genuine interest in and enthusiasm for art
• excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage your time effectively and handle multiple tasks
• a proactive approach to work and the ability to work independently and take the initiative
• sales ability, confidence and commercial awareness
• strong interpersonal and communication skills to build relationships with artists, clients and collectors
• a calm and resourceful approach to problem solving
• teamworking skills and the ability to lead and motivate a team (for some management roles)
• administrative and IT skills, including Word, Excel and database management
• digital skills to manage social media and digital communications, mailings and create promotional materials
• a flexible and practical approach
• creative flair, self-motivation and drive
• physical stamina for organising and setting up exhibitions.

Work experience

You'll need relevant work experience or an internship to get a job as an art gallery manager. Gallery internships are highly competitive but give excellent training and a good background in gallery work. Make sure you highlight any practical skills you have, such as digital skills, knowledge of other languages or DIY (for installing exhibitions) when applying for internships. Experience in a sales and marketing environment is also particularly useful.

Paid or voluntary work in roles such as gallery assistant or gallery associate is also an excellent way of getting experience and making contacts. You may also be able to get work in other areas of gallery management, such as sales and exhibitions, and then move into gallery management.

If applying for work experience speculatively, target galleries that interest you and tailor your applications. Visiting galleries in person with a well-written, targeted CV can be helpful. Make sure you attend art fairs, register with gallery mailing lists, and attend shows and private viewings to show your interest and build your knowledge.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

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

The market 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:

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

Look for job vacancies at:

• ArtsHub - internships, voluntary roles and jobs (you'll need to be a member of ArtsHub to view all vacancies)
• Museums Journal - you need to register (free) to access job vacancies.
• National Museum Directors' Council (NMDC)
• Work Culture

The websites of major galleries also advertise jobs.

Specialist agencies also handle vacancies for gallery assistants and managers. These include:

• DRAW Recruitment
• Sophie Macpherson LTD

Competition for jobs is intense, and staff turnover is low. Jobs may be filled through word of mouth, selective networking or speculative applications.

Professional development

Training is done mainly on the job and may include shadowing other managers or more experienced colleagues to gain skills in areas such as managing relationships with artists and clients, framing pictures, online marketing and installing exhibitions.

It's vital to keep up to date with what's happening in the sector and with new artists and exhibitions relevant to your gallery by reading the trade press and networking.

If you don't already have a postgraduate qualification, you could consider taking a relevant MA in a subject with a focus on gallery and museum studies or on arts policy and arts management. Before applying, do your research and check that it's relevant to your own professional development needs.

Postgraduate courses are also available in curating and art curating. If you're working in a more traditional commercial gallery, you may be interested in courses run by large auction houses such as Christie's Education and Sotheby's Institute of Art.

Career prospects

As there is no formal career pathway, career development can be challenging and difficult to secure. In smaller galleries, progression opportunities are often limited, as vacancies rarely arise. It may be possible to move to a larger gallery once you've gained experience in smaller galleries.

Career development in larger galleries is more clearly defined and there's more scope to specialise in a particular field of art. At gallery director level, you'll work at a strategic level, with responsibility for policy and the overall development, reputation and financial success of the gallery.

The art market continues to diversify, to include more regional artist-led spaces with different types of galleries. However, relocating to a different area can be helpful for career progression as many of the large commercial art galleries are in major cities. Building up a network of contacts can also help with career development.

Gallery managers with specialist knowledge of a particular area and a network of contacts may occasionally become antique dealers, buying and selling art. With experience, business knowledge and a network of contacts, it may be possible to set up and run your own art gallery.