In your role as an art editor, you will be responsible for ensuring that the publications produced by an art institution are of the best possible quality. In order to be considered for this employment, you need to have either a bachelor's degree (for positions starting at the entry level) or a master's degree (for positions starting at a higher level).
Important Facts and Information
An art editor is someone who writes about art and oversees the work of other people who generate material that is relevant to the arts. People who hold the position of art editor may write on local exhibits for newspapers or build a website for a museum. Art editors may also curate collections. Art editors need to have a comprehensive understanding of art as well as strong abilities in written communication. If you want to work for a print newspaper, you may be able to get by with only a bachelor's degree in English, journalism, or a comparable profession. However, if you want to work at a gallery or museum, you typically need to have a master's degree in art history or a closely related subject.
Within a Published Work
When working for a publication such as a magazine, newspaper, or even an online publication, the duties of art editors may include checking the grammar, spelling, and accuracy of articles that have been submitted by writers, as well as making suggestions to the writer about how the article can be improved. It's possible that art editors are the ones in charge of handing out story ideas to the authors. They could be in charge of the layout and content of a whole newspaper that is dedicated to the arts, or they might be assigned with merely a segment of the publication that is set aside for the coverage of art. Either way, they might be responsible for both aspects of the publication. The art editor could operate alone or in collaboration with others. There are times when the hours seem quite lengthy.
Places of Art, Including Galleries and Museums
An entry that was published in October 2014 on the website of the Association of Art Editors (AAE) can be found at www.artedit.org. It states that an editor at an art gallery or museum may be required to edit and proofread manuscripts, brochures, programs, and web articles that detail exhibitions or scholarly events.
Requirements
Education
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), an art editor for a print newspaper has to generally have a bachelor's degree in English, journalism, or mass communications at the very least. Even if the applicant has a different degree, they may still be considered for the job if they have shown talent in writing and understanding of art.
According to the job advertisements on USAjobs.gov and AAE, art galleries and museums give preference to candidates who have completed their graduate degree. It doesn't matter what kind of degree you get, as long as it's directly relevant to the job you're applying for; art history is a good example.
Abilities and Characteristics
An art editor is expected to have a comprehensive understanding of many creative media and styles. Anyone interested in applying for this role has to be comfortable with writing and have a strong command of English grammar. Having knowledge of electronic publishing, the Internet, and how to deliver information using several media formats may be beneficial. A strong capacity to collaborate with others is required for a position as an art editor, since this individual may be responsible for coordinating with authors, freelance writers, production personnel, and museum management. According to the relevant job listings as well as the BLS, directly relevant experience is often required in order to gain positions as an art editor.
Art editors need to have substantial creative expertise, but they also need to have understanding of editing procedures, great writing abilities, and the unique capacity to convert a visual medium into written word. These are the requirements for becoming an art editor.