Careers
Careers
Are you interested in working at the National Gallery of Canada?
Many types of people work at the National Gallery of Canada. They all share their enthusiasm about art and encourage the public to understand and enjoy art. This site will show you how people with writing, research, teaching, chemistry, computer and marketing backgrounds – and more – have all pursued careers at the Gallery. It will also help you find out what first steps you can take toward working in an art museum.
The National Gallery of Canada collects, preserves and presents art that is intended for the people of Canada to enjoy. The Gallery collects art from many different times and places. Each work of art can be enjoyed on it’s own and can also be seen as a permanent record of the best of human achievements. Art reflects the times in which it is created and expands our understanding of our own experiences.
Visit the National Gallery’s Web site to learn more about its exhibitions, art collections, programs and resources.
- Visit museums!
- Think about how the subjects you enjoy at school relate to what you see at a museum.
- Use the Gallery’s collections for a school project. Start with the Gallery’s Web site for research. This will give you an idea....
- Work on becoming fluent in both English and French. This will enrich your life and broaden your career opportunities. Most people at the Gallery communicate with colleagues and the public in French and English every day.
- Most museum careers require at least an undergraduate degree. The Directory of Canadian Universities is a...
First Steps
- Visit museums!
- Think about how the subjects you enjoy at school relate to what you see at a museum.
- Use the Gallery’s collections for a school project. Start with the Gallery’s Web site for research. This will give you an idea of how the Gallery’s staff use the collections in their own work.
- Volunteer at a museum. Many people start their careers in museums by volunteering when they are in high school or university. This step will demonstrate your interest in the field.
- Ask about the Gallery’s Teen Council.
- The Gallery’s Library accepts high school and university volunteers.
- Internships, either paid or unpaid, are a great way to get practical experience while you are a student.
- The Gallery has an internship program for university and college students. Many museums offer summer jobs to students. Contact a museum’s human resources department to find out what opportunities exist for you.
Planning
- Work on becoming fluent in both English and French. This will enrich your life and broaden your career opportunities. Most people at the Gallery communicate with colleagues and the public in French and English every day.
- Most museum careers require at least an undergraduate degree. The Directory of Canadian Universities is a searchable database of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.
- Many specialized museum jobs require a graduate degree in art history, museum studies or a related field.
- A brochure from the Canadian Museums Association called “Museum Studies Programs in Canada” can help you find training for a museum career.
- If you want to read a good book about museum careers, look for Museums: A Place to Work – Planning Museum Careers by Jane R. Glaser and Artemis A. Zenetou (Routledge, 1996).
