Art valuer jobs

Art valuers provide guidance to individuals and organizations who wish to acquire, sell, or insure artworks on the prices that each individual piece or collection should be insured for. The term "artworks" refers to a wide variety of creations, including paintings, sculptures, furniture, silver, jewelry, and other collectibles. The majority of art appraisers have areas of expertise, such as British painting from the nineteenth century, which they focus on exclusively.

An art valuer investigates each piece in depth in order to collect data on the following areas:

When and where exactly did it get made?

Who was the creator.

The caliber of it.

The state that thing is in.

Whether it has been repaired or changed in any manner, and the extent of those changes.

The appraiser will also look at any receipts or letters that describe how the object got into the owner's possession, as well as any other papers that are associated with the item being valued. The history of where an item came from is referred to as its provenance.

The appraiser can more accurately determine the object's value with the use of all this information. When doing research, art appraisers often use reference books, libraries, and the internet for assistance. They could also get the advice of qualified art historians who specialize in the field.

Because the value is often determined by comparing it to the prices at which like items have been sold at previous auctions, the valuer has to stay current with what is occurring in the market. A quick surge in popularity for an artist may result in a significant increase in demand for their works, which in turn drives up the prices of those works.

The customer receives a report in writing form that the valuer has produced for them. In the event that the item is going to be put up for auction, the evaluator may also be asked to provide a description of the object that will be included in the auction catalogue.

There are some valuers who also work as auctioneers. Others put their expertise to use in the insurance industry as loss adjustors, where they investigate claims and assess financial damages incurred as a result of the destruction or theft of works of art.

Art appraisers typically put in 37 hours of labor each week, Monday through Friday. It is possible that you may need to work nights and weekends in order to meet with customers or go to special events.

The majority of art valuers work out of offices that are both pleasant and well lighted. They often go to their customers' homes or places of work to meet with them. In addition to that, they may go to museums, galleries, and libraries. Work possibilities to participate in special valuation events may sometimes be found in a variety of areas. A valid driver's license and a vehicle may come in handy.

The beginning annual salary is around £18,500.

HOW TO BEGIN THIS OPTION FOR A PROFESSIONAL CAREER

Most art valuers are employed by auction houses, although there may also be chances at big museums, galleries, antique dealers, insurance firms and private consultancies. Potential employers may be found all around the UK, most often in the country's bigger towns and cities.

This industry only employs a small percentage of the population. There is undoubtedly going to be a lot of competition for the available positions.

Although positions are sometimes posted in the Antiques Trade Gazette and on the websites of auction houses, the most likely method to successfully find employment is to make direct approaches to possible employers. This is because job advertisements are sometimes published in both of these places.

EDUCATIONAL AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Formal credentials are not needed, although in reality most art valuers are graduates. The courses that are the most beneficial are those that focus on the history of art or restoration and conservation of great art.

Candidates for degrees are often required to have a minimum of two A levels or three H grades in addition to five GCSEs or S grades (A-C/1-3). It is possible that credentials of an equivalent kind, such as a national certificate or diploma from BTEC or an International Baccalaureate, would be accepted.

The job market is very competitive, therefore having experience in your field of choice is an advantage. For instance, prominent auction houses like Christie's, Sotheby's, and Bonhams all provide their employees with the opportunity to get work experience.

The Master of Arts in Arts Market Appraisal (Professional Practice) program at Kingston University is recognized as meeting the criteria for postgraduate study in this discipline by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). The program may be completed in either one year if attended full time or two years if attended part time. Students are required to get a solid undergraduate degree. Those who finish the course with a passing grade have the opportunity to continue their education and get a professional certificate via the RICS.

You may also work at an auction house or the firm of an antique dealer as an assistant, porter, clerk, or cataloguer, and gain knowledge of antiques and their values via hands-on experience. This may be reinforced by studies done on a part-time basis.

A HANDFUL MORE TESTS MAY BE REQUIRED OF YOU.

It is essential to possess a degree or postgraduate diploma that has been certified by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in order to qualify via the Arts and Antiques Faculty of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). At the moment, Kingston University's Master of Arts in Arts Market Appraisal (Professional Practice) is the only programme that can be taken in this field.

In order to become completely competent, art appraisers require further practical experience on top of their master's degree in the field. This requires a minimum of two years of systematic learning while the individual is employed, which ultimately leads to a professional assessment interview with RICS, which is known as the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). After their names, art valuers will be able to append the initials MRICS if they are able to pass the APC with flying colors.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is something that all RICS members are expected to participate in throughout their careers.

The National Association of Valuers and Auctioneers also provides chances for continuing professional development (CPD).

The majority of training is accomplished via the accumulation of experience. This may be reinforced by courses taken elsewhere, for instance to develop in-depth knowledge of specialized topics like antiques or miniatures.

Both Sotheby's and Christie's, which are well-known worldwide auction houses, provide students with a wide range of educational opportunities, all the way up to the postgraduate level, that explore both the academic and professional aspects of the art world.

SKILLS AND PERSONAL QUALITIES NEEDED

A good art appraiser has to have:

possess an in-depth understanding of their specialty as well as a commitment to being current academically.

You need to have a keen eye for detail in order to be able to notice hints about the origin and history of an item (such as the way paint has been applied or a surface has cracked).

Have research skills.

A person with great communication abilities both orally and in writing.

Have the ability to win people's trust who come from a broad variety of different walks of life.

YOUR OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LONG TERM

It is possible that there will be few opportunities for advancement, and if this is the case, it may be essential to seek employment with a bigger company in order to get a higher salary and assume more responsibility. There are some art appraisers who also work in adjacent fields like auctioneering.

It is possible to launch a successful career as a self-employed consultant by providing a variety of customers with advisory services.

There is a possibility that you may travel and work in another country.