Museums and heritage
The museum and heritage sector is more than just exhibitions and glass cases – it offers a career where you can bring stories to life, preserve history, and engage diverse audiences.
From digital innovation to conserving artefacts, this evolving industry welcomes people from all backgrounds, whether you’re passionate about history, education, tech, or working with communities.
Please also see our page on archives.
Go to the full list of A to Z career paths
What roles could I do in the museums and cultural sector?
Roles within heritage, culture and museum organisations vary widely and often overlap, especially in smaller organisations. While some positions are specialist, others offer a broad mix of responsibilities. You’ll find both frontline and behind-the-scenes roles:
Specialist roles:
- Curatorial and collections management
- Learning and engagement (including schools and public outreach)
- Programmes and exhibition development
- Archives and records management
- Visitor services and front of house
Support and business roles:
- Marketing and communications
- Fundraising and development
- Finance, HR, and administration
- Digital content creation and online engagement
Job titles and responsibilities can differ between institutions depending on size, focus, and funding. It’s not unusual for a single role to span multiple areas - especially in smaller museums where a curator might also manage volunteers or deliver tours.
Due to funding pressures, many jobs are short-term or tied to specific projects. However, volunteering, freelancing, and internships can offer valuable stepping stones into the sector.
Digital skills and accessibility
The sector is undergoing digital transformation, opening up new kinds of roles such as:
- Digital curation
- Audience data analysis
- Virtual and immersive exhibition design
- Digitisation and collections access
- Social media and digital storytelling
Ethical awareness around digital access, representation and data privacy is also becoming more important.
Alongside technical skills, employers value cultural awareness and a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Many organisations are working to diversify their workforce and ensure exhibitions, collections, and learning resources are accessible and representative of the communities they serve.
Example career pathway
Visitor Services Assistant → Learning Officer → Curator → Head of Exhibitions
Prospects website - Museum jobs
Spotlight On: Careers in the Heritage Sector
What types of organisations could I work for?
The skills and knowledge required for working in the heritage sector will depend on the type of job you undertake, however, most roles require a variety of core skills that can be transferred between different jobs and organisations.
According to the Museums Association, key attributes for sector professionals include:
- Passion for history, culture or public service
- Adaptability and openness to change
- A commitment to inclusion and public engagement
You’ll also need a blend of practical, interpersonal, and digital skills. For example:
- Public engagement and communication – presenting ideas clearly to diverse audiences
- Digital content creation – using online tools, multimedia, or interactive platforms
- Accessibility and inclusion – designing experiences for diverse audiences
- Project management – balancing budgets, timelines, and team coordination
- Customer service – interacting with the public in a supportive and inclusive way
- Teamwork and collaboration – working across departments or with external partners
These skills can be developed through part-time jobs, volunteering, student societies, or modules such as the Nottingham Advantage Award. Employers often look for individuals who have applied these skills in real-world settings, even in non-heritage contexts.
How do I give myself the best chance?
The heritage and museum sector can be competitive, so it’s important to be flexible and strategic about how you enter the industry. Career routes are often non-linear, and many professionals begin with entry-level roles or volunteering, gradually building up their skills and experience.
Postgraduate study
Postgraduate qualifications can add value, particularly in areas like archives, conservation, or curatorial work. For example, to become an archivist, you'll need an Archives and Records Association (ARA) accredited master's degree – visit our archivist page for further details.
In other areas, postgraduate study demonstrates commitment but won’t guarantee a paid role, and practical experience is just as important.
Entry-level jobs
Graduate schemes are rare in this sector. Most people start in direct-entry positions such as:
- Visitor services or front-of-house assistant
- Learning and outreach assistant
- Collections or curatorial assistant (often fixed-term or project-based)
In smaller organisations, job roles are often blended. For example, a curator might also support education or visitor services. Flexibility is key.
Finding roles
- The Museums Association’s Find a Job page.
- Museum Studies at the University of Leicester’s Job Desk.
- Sign up for Culture Briefs and receive freelance opportunities direct to your inbox.
- Search for roles via the Arts Council England’s Art Jobs, Museums Galleries Scotland’s Jobs & Opportunities, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland's Jobs page and Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru’s (Arts Council Wales) News, Jobs & Opportunities.
- Follow museums that you’d like to work for on social media – jobs are increasingly shared through professional channels like including LinkedIn as well Instagram and X (formerly Twitter)
Career progression
Many roles in the sector are shaped by project-based funding, meaning jobs can be fixed-term and dependent on grants.
Over time, experience in short-term roles helps professionals move into more permanent positions or specialist posts. Some go on to work in leadership, funding, policy, or digital engagement roles.
Prospects website - Museum jobs
How do I gain work experience?
Experience is essential for getting started in museums, galleries, and heritage organisations. Most professionals in this sector will have undertaken volunteering, often during university, to get their foot in the door, develop skills, and build networks.
Volunteering
Most museums and heritage sites offer volunteering opportunities. Roles can include supporting exhibitions, cataloguing collections, helping with events, or front-of-house tasks.
Start by checking the websites of local or national organisations you’re interested in, as many list volunteering sections directly. You can also use sites University of Leicester Museum Studies Jobs Desk for an extensive listing source for museums and galleries, as well as and The Museums Association (MA) Jobs Desk (registration required to view jobs) to find opportunities.
Internships and projects
Formal internships are less common than in other sectors but do exist in larger organisations like:
- Tate
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- British Museum
These tend to be highly competitive and occasional, based on funding and organisational needs. Short-term, project-based roles or paid placements sometimes arise and can be a valuable stepping stone.
University-based experience
At Nottingham, you can gain sector-relevant skills and experience through:
Read Hannah Kane's experience working in two National Trust properties through the NAA
Part-time jobs
For part-time roles on-campus student jobs related to customer service or admin (valuable transferable skills), visit our Student Jobs on campus webpage. If you are looking for work in local companies, these job opportunities are available on the Unitemps website.