Commercial art gallery manager

Commercial art gallery managers use artistic awareness, business acumen and interpersonal skills to ensure the smooth daily running of an art gallery

As a general rule, commercial art gallery managers need to do the following duties:

• ensure the smooth running of the gallery
• develop and maintain the gallery’s remit
• maintain ongoing promotion and advertising of the gallery
• assess and select artwork
• liaise with framers
• liaise with visiting artists and negotiate sales
• promote and sell artists’ work, through both exhibitions and personal contacts
• catalogue acquisitions and keep records and archives
• oversee the type of artwork sold
• plan, organise, present and market exhibitions and shows, including responsibility for public relations
• work closely with individual artists, develop relationships with new artists, and extend relationships with established artist connections
• promote exhibitions and work by individual artists
• curate shows in cooperation with artists and technicians
• arrange transportation of work to and from the gallery, both nationally and internationally
• organise equipment hire and ensure correct installation of the artwork
• negotiate with gallery managers and curators from other galleries to arrange for loans
• develop client lists by notifying potential clients of particular works and exhibitions, according to their interests
• extend the client database
• develop and update the gallery website
• keep up to date with industry developments and market trends
• general administration, budgeting, finance and accounts.

Commercial art gallery managers work in large galleries, museums, or small independent galleries. They usually attend to administrative tasks in offices and prepare gallery spaces for installations.

Commercial art gallery managers are required to travel often to meet with clients, artists, or to oversee touring art exhibits. Working schedule depend on gallery hours, usually from 10am to 6pm on weekdays, with longer hours during exhibit preparations.

Galleries that operate internationally may require a manager to have a flexible schedule for travelling and accommodating time differences.

The following job titles also refer to commercial art gallery manager:

art gallery manager
display manager
arts space manager
gallery manager
gallery programme manager

In order to become an commercial art gallery manager, a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, art history, art education, or related field is required. Additional background in advertising, computers and internet media, business administration and museum work is advantageous. Some positions in larger galleries or museums require a master’s degree in fine arts.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Commercial art gallery manager is a Skill level 4 occupation.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of commercial art gallery manager.

• Collection management software: Be familiar with specialised collection management software used to document and keep record of the museum collection.
• Copyright legislation: Legislation describing the protection of the rights of original authors over their work, and how others can use it.

These skills are necessary for the role of commercial art gallery manager.

• Produce statistical financial records: Review and analyse individual and company financial data in order to produce statistical reports or records.
• Implement marketing strategies: Implement strategies which aim to promote a specific product or service, using the developed marketing strategies.
• Prepare exhibition marketing plan: Develop marketing plan for upcoming exhibition; design and distribute posters, flyers and catalogues; communicate ideas with photographers, graphic designers and printers; prepare articles for online and printed media; keep website and social media up-to-date.
• Manage artworks’ transportation: Arrange transportation of art pieces between different galleries, on a national as well as an international level.
• Collaborate with technical experts on artworks: Collaborate with engineers, mechanics, and other technical experts to build, install and move pieces of art.
• Carry out recruiting services: Attract, screen, select and haul on board persons fit for a job.
• Prospect new customers: Initiate activities in order to attract new and interesting customers. Ask for recommendations and references, find places where potential customers can be located.
• Sell art: Secure and sell pieces of art in different markets. Negotiate prices, liaise with art dealers, and prevent from acquiring counterfeit art pieces.
• Develop artistic project budgets: Developing artistic project budgets for approval, estimating deadlines and material costs.
• Determine visual concepts: Determine how best to represent a concept visually.
• Monitor artwork market: Estimate value and price of artwork; permanently monitor art market in order to notice trends or sudden price changes; identify which kind of artwork is selling well during a certain period of time.
• Manage relationships with artists: Develop relationships with artists new to the gallery, and extend existing relationships with established artists.
• Implement sales strategies: Carry out the plan to gain competitive advantage on the market by positioning the company’s brand or product and by targeting the right audience to sell this brand or product to.
• Identify new business opportunities: Pursue potential customers or products in order to generate additional sales and ensure growth.
• Monitor after sales records: Keep an eye on the after sales feedback and monitor customer satisfaction or complaints; record after sales calls for thorough data analysis.
• Curate artwork for exhibitions: Make decisions about the type of work gallery exhibitions will show. Identify artwork that is likely to interest the audience.
• Supervise art gallery staff: Supervise the activities and performance of art gallery employees.
• Train employees: Lead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the performance of individuals and groups in organisational settings.
• Manage artworks’ installation in the gallery: Organise tools and equipment; ensure correct and safe installation of the art piece.
• Negotiate with artists: Communicate and negotiate with artist and artist management about prices, terms and schedules.
• Advertise the gallery: Actively promote and advertise the art gallery. Choose and monitor advertising channels.
• Keep records on sales: Keep records of the activities of the sales of products and services, tracking which products and services were sold when and maintaining customer records, in order to facilitate improvements in the sales department.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of commercial art gallery manager. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Cultural projects: The purpose, organisation and management of cultural projects and related fundraising actions.
• Conservation techniques: The procedures, instruments, techniques, materials and chemicals used in conservation and archiving.
• Art history: The history of art and artists, the artistic trends throughout centuries and their contemporary evolution.
• Employment law: The law which mediates the relationship between employees and employers. It concerns employees’ rights at work which are binding by the work contract.
• Teamwork principles: The cooperation between people characterised by a unified commitment to achieving a given goal, participating equally, maintaining open communication, facilitating effective usage of ideas etc.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of commercial art gallery manager. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Maintain working relationships: Ensure effective working relationships with colleagues and others. Maintain them over long periods of time.
• Build community relations: Establish affectionate and long-lasting relationships with local communities, e.g. by organising special programs for kindergarden, schools and for disabled and older people, raising awareness and receiving community appreciation in return.
• Obtain sponsorship: Acquire sponsor deals by preparing relevant applications and reports.
• Apply business acumen: Take appropriate actions in a business environment in order to maximise possible outcome from each situation.
• Maintain customer records: Keep and store structured data and records about customers in accordance with customer data protection and privacy regulations.
• Have computer literacy: Utilise computers, IT equipment and modern day technology in an efficient way.

1349 – Professional services managers not elsewhere classified

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References

1. ESCO
2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
3. Art Gallery Managers Job Description – GreatSampleResume
4. Commercial art gallery manager job profile | Prospects.ac.uk
5. Featured image: Photo by Aleksandr Slobodianyk from Pexels