You may not have your signature across that latest self-portrait of an upcoming artist you have bought and displayed on your gallery wall. However, you will play a significant role in getting that artwork onto a collector’s wall in their home. Art Dealers buy and sell artwork, serving as intermediaries c... Continue Reading
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What are the typical responsibilities of an Art Dealer?
An Art Dealer would typically need to:
Art Dealers work mostly indoors at art galleries, auction houses or art fairs. They may also operate as individual dealers. The profession may be demanding since Art Dealers need to be skilled negotiators and well-informed about the market for the art and the artists they represent. It is possible to work from home and coordinate the buying and selling of artwork according to what artists have to offer and what customers order.
Travel to other cities and countries may be frequent to meet clients or visit museums, art galleries, exhibitions, art fairs and auctions. You may also discover unexpected, original and saleable artwork in the flea markets of the cities, towns or countryside villages you visit or in small shops tucked away in alleys.
While Art Dealers tie in their working hours and days with the opening schedules of their gallery, they do not necessarily have set timings. Some galleries open on specific days of the week, which may include Saturdays. While regular business hours may be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., you will likely need to put in extra time to prepare for exhibition openings. You may also occasionally need to attend events, such as art openings, in the evenings and on weekends.
Finding a new job might seem challenging. Art Dealers can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.
Art Dealers are generally employed by:
Professional associations and organisations, such as the International Art Dealer
Association (IADA), are crucial for Art Dealers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation.
Professional associations provide members with various continuing education avenues, networking opportunities and mentorship services. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.
Any academic program that a potential Art Dealer takes up typically requires a period of supervised experience, such as an internship. Apprenticeships are also a way to enter the profession, whereby candidates train under experienced dealers while studying for official qualifications. Art Dealers benefit from tasks outside the classroom that align perfectly with lessons inside it. One may hear countless stories from more experienced professionals and obtain valuable hands-on experience when they turn seemingly routine incidents into unique learning moments.
Summer internships offer a taste of the career, give valuable insight into how an art gallery operates, help build useful contacts, and improve one’s prospects of getting a permanent job. Your educational provider’s career service department can provide information about viable opportunities for work placements, internships, and voluntary work in diverse sectors. Although gallery internships offer valuable experience, keep in mind that they can be quite competitive. It would help to present your portfolio and highlight skills such as languages, IT and DIY.
Once you acquire a degree in fine art, you may work as an artist to further develop your artistic skills and knowledge of how art is sold and bought.
Either paid or voluntary work as a gallery assistant or gallery associate helps to build your experience and network. Most Art Dealers begin their careers by working part-time or full-time in entry-level roles or short-term assignments in galleries, museums or auction houses, learning from experts in the field.
You may also pick up aesthetic intelligence and skills in recognising artwork with potential for sale by browsing through neighbourhood yard sales or visiting permanent displays or temporary exhibitions in local museums and galleries.
Even while in high school, you can check with a teacher or counsellor about relevant work-based learning opportunities available in your school or community that can help you connect your school experiences with real-life work. Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization of interest, so you can have fun while learning about yourself and be directed toward a future career.
Read about the profession and interview or job shadow experts working in Art Dealer to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.
Aspiring Art Dealers must typically hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree in studio art, the fine arts, art history or a related field, particularly for entry-level jobs in auction houses or galleries. Taking courses in art criticism, research methods and conservation is beneficial. Coursework in art history typically includes investigating diverse types of art from various historical periods and regions of the world.
To develop your niche, you can train to become an expert in an artistic form, such as tribal art, photography or sketching portraits. You may also focus on learning about a particular art era, style or artist. Your education equips you with the knowledge and skills to understand the artwork you will eventually buy and sell. Some programs include an internship requirement.
Some prospective Art Dealers may pursue a master’s degree or PhD in their chosen field to enrich their knowledge and build a network. Prospective Art Dealers may benefit from courses in business, marketing and advertising.
Remember that completing a particular academic course does not guarantee entry into the profession. Be that as it may, professional qualifications and transferable skills may open up more than one door.
Do your homework and look into all available options for education and employment before enrolling in a specific programme. Reliable sources that help you make an educated decision include associations and employers in your field.
Take high school courses in art, art history, design, English, mathematics, computing, business and languages.
Certification demonstrates an Art Dealer’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. Although not necessary, credentials can help Art Dealers boost their earning potential.
Depending on the dealer, they could require a licence to sell a specific artwork or run a particular type of gallery.
Art Dealers may also need to undergo an employment background check including but not limited to a person’s work history, education, credit history, motor vehicle reports (MVRs), criminal record, medical history, use of social media, and drug screening.
Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression. Employees with consistently high levels of performance may be eligible for promotion every two to three years.
An Art Dealer may begin by discovering artwork in local yard sales and progress to valuing artwork at renowned international auction houses.
Starting in entry-level roles, you may work in sales and exhibitions at a gallery before taking on gallery management. With experience, you may collaborate with curators and museum workers to establish galleries in museums.
You may become an expert in a specific art genre or period. Although commercial auction houses and galleries often exhibit and sell artwork in diverse mediums and from eras, specialisation can give you a competitive edge in the market.
By learning more about the art market and building a clientele and reputation of trustworthiness and knowledgeability, you may advance your career or land a job in a bigger workplace. If you collect art, you could launch your independent dealership or gallery.
With a relevant master’s degree, you could branch out as an Art Archivist, Anthropologist or Archaeologist. Art Dealers who also collect art may one day launch their galleries. You might also begin working from home, buying and selling artwork according to consumer needs.
Candidates with the necessary art-related education, skills to recognise saleable artwork, a robust network of artists and buyers, and experience in delivering top-notch customer service have the best job prospects.
Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Art Dealer build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. It allows you to continually upskill regardless of age, job, or level of knowledge.
Apprenticeship programs, typically lasting one to three years, allow aspiring Art Dealers an opportunity to work with experienced professionals and learn about the business of art, customer interaction and through on-the-job training.
Art Dealers must begin early to build strong connections in the art world with artists, collectors, gallery owners and auction houses and stay in touch with upcoming artists and exhibitions. You can network through social events in the art community or broaden your horizons by working at several museums, galleries or auction houses. Reliable connections with artists and buyers can give you the confidence that you are conducting transactions at an appropriate value. Joining a professional Art Dealer group is one way to boost your credibility with clients. Reading trade journals also helps you stay in touch with the latest industry trends.
Throughout their career and as the market expands, Art Dealers must improve their ability to recognise and sell high-quality items. They must also be able to interact with a wide range of collectors, from individual investors to significant organisations. Art Dealers must find appropriate CPD courses that help them keep their abilities and knowledge current and preserve a competitive advantage in the industry. Those working in a relatively traditional commercial gallery may find value in taking courses that large auction houses provide.
Since specialisation can lead to success in the field, you may consider studying a particular art form typical of a specific region to become an authority on it. However, it would help if you keep learning more about your specialisation and art in general while refining your art appraisal techniques.
You may also pursue a master’s degree in a subject that allows you to take up gallery and museum studies or study arts policy and management, provided such a program fulfils your continuing education (CE) requirements. Other areas of study within your master’s degree program typically include curating and art curating.
Art Dealer vs Art Broker, Art Agent & Curator
Art Dealers are typically gallery owners who find, encourage and promote their “stable” of artists for their gallery, depending on their particular preferences.
Art brokers are frequently experts in a particular field, such as 17th-century Italian drawings. Auction companies consult with them, and museums take their help to assemble exhibitions. They also facilitate the acquisition of additional artefacts for private collections, authenticate the items and may hold it in a vault until their resale.
Art agents typically have experience as gallery employees or owners and a network of clients who trust them to cater to their choice of artists or artwork. They locate artists and facilitate commission-based sales.
Art collectors build their art collections, acquiring pieces that match their taste and budget, allowing them to add to their existing collections or begin new ones.
Curators are typically in charge of museums and private collections. They select artwork, arrange for its transportation, organise the necessary documentation and setting in liaison with the artists, write labels for display, and catalogue themes and other resources for an exhibition. They also interpret, maintain and protect historical or aesthetic objects while presenting them for safe and organised public viewing. Curators typically have a degree in art, art history or related subjects.
Discover Your Art Type
The more you visit art museums, shows and exhibitions and read about art and art history, the more you learn about your personal art type or preferences. You could be drawn to abstract art, lean towards classical, realistic, traditional, figurative or minimal art, or prefer landscape. You could be partial to more than one art type and build a diverse collection of pieces.
Current Scenario
The employment outlook of a particular profession may be impacted by various factors, such as the time of year (for seasonal jobs), location, employment turnover (when people leave current jobs), occupational growth (when new roles are created), size of the occupation, and industry-specific trends and events that affect overall employment.
With growing economies, collectors are expected to invest in costly artwork, such as antiques, paintings and sculptures, thereby leading to a growth in the employment of Art Dealers. Art continues to be valued as a tangible investment and source of beauty, despite variable artistic preferences and wavering economic trends that may impact people’s ability to invest in art. Art Dealers must, however, learn to anticipate trends and adapt to the growing role of technology in the art market to survive and prosper.
Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment
Freelancing Art Dealers have more flexible work schedules and locations. They fully own the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.
On the other hand, full-time Art Dealers have company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.
When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.
The contribution of Art Dealers to defining cultural and artistic trends is significant. Adapting their work and role to the growing role of technology in the art trading market, they continue to use their knowledge of art, intuitive skills, marketing abilities and network of contacts to promote artists, help galleries find fresh artwork and bring the stakeholders in the art world together.
Becoming an Art Dealer involves more than just selling artwork. Be prepared to handle the back-end labour that comes with it, including framing, stretching the canvas, arranging the logistics and obtaining insurance. Make sure you do your homework on what must be done before a piece is ready to sell. Also, consider organising home shows for clients to test how an artwork fits into their living space.
Some innovative digital tools that Art Dealers can use include online auctions, media channels for distributing content to potential buyers and 3D virtual viewing rooms.
What do Art Dealers do?
An Art Dealer would typically need to:
Accredited
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