Heritage officer job

What exactly is a heritage? There was a time when people only thought of it in terms of historical landmarks and artifacts.

Today, we understand that structures and artifacts do not have to be ancient or massive in order to have worth, and that even tiny buildings and items that are used on a daily basis may have significant meanings.

The museums, buildings, archaeology, archives, and conservation all fall under the umbrella of the heritage sector. Because of the different kinds of buildings and collections, there is room for graduates with a diverse set of interests and qualifications. This includes science graduates who are interested in the history of science and technology, as well as students of literature and language who work on collections of film and media.

The heritage industry is bolstered by governmental entities at the national and municipal levels, as well as by professional groups, specialized service providers, and freelancers.

Jobs in the cultural heritage sector

The following headings are categories that may be used to classify job roles. You may access the appropriate Prospects job profiles page by clicking on one of the following links:

Academic and curatorial

Heritage Curator, Museum Curator, Project Organisers, Museum Directors, Assistant Curators, Exhibition Designers, Technicians, Exhibition Staff, Museum Exhibition Managers, Exhibition Designers, and Exhibition Researchers Heritage Curator, Museum Curator, Project Organisers, Museum Directors, Assistant Curators, Exhibition Designers, and Exhibition Researchers

The gathering and dissemination of information

Collection Managers, Collections Assistants, Art Handlers, Registrars, Digital Managers, Records Assistants, Records Managers, and Documentation Staff, all of whom are assisted by Information Managers, Librarians, Assistant Archivists, and Archivists.

Conservation

Officers of Conversation, Workers of Conversation, Conservators, Restorers, Inspectors of Ancient Monuments, and Inspectors of Historic Buildings are all job titles that fall under this category. On the other hand, archaeologists, archaeological scientists, and find specialists could be needed.

Administrative duties and managerial duties

Admissions and reservation services responsibilities, Arts Administrator, Fundraiser, Volunteer Manager, Properties/Faculties Manager, Heritage Manager, Security and Invigilators, Marketing and PR, Events Manager, Events Staff, Publications, Publicity Staff, and Publishing are some of the positions that are available. There are other jobs in information technology, human resources, finance, and legal. The development of businesses and products is a growth sector (often linked and associated with Sales and Merchandising).

Education and community engagement

Gallery Staff, Formal Learning, Informal Learning, Outreach School Liaison, Museum Education Officer, Development Staff, Exhibition Guides, Education Staff, Heritage and Historical Worker, Museum Education Officer, Formal Learning, Informal Learning,

This list is not comprehensive since the legacy industry is expansive and includes a variety of additional specializations and occupations, including archaeology, illustration, the art market, crafts, and other customer service activities like as retail and catering. In addition, depending on the size of the organization, roles may combine features of a number of other positions.

Lateral jobs may be seen in the legal and financial sectors, where many individuals would learn outside of the area, but then transfer to work for an artistic organization or work in a specialised practice (private finance and wealth managers).

See the Prospects job profiles directory for additional information on the many kinds of positions that are available in the heritage sector.

Advice from a Careers Adviser

Check to see whether certain academic credentials are needed for the career responsibilities you're interested in, or think about how the things you've learned in school could be applicable to the field you're interested in.

Do you have the specialized knowledge and technological expertise, and if so, how can you put it to use?

Is completion of a postgraduate degree required? Do you feel the urge to broaden your expertise or acquire new abilities, or pursue a professional qualification?

Look at jobs at the assistant level, and obtain some work experience by doing things like volunteering (see entry routes, getting experience and internship sections).

Make use of the many clubs and organizations that Birmingham has to offer, and become involved in the various community groups and projects that are going on in the city.

Be careful to read the material that is supplied to you by Careers Network and the careers team for your College of Arts and Law (CAL), since this will promote options that are applicable to you.

Be adaptable and think about applying for temporary employment while you're just starting out. Think laterally, particularly when it comes to acquiring new skills. Activate your LinkedIn profile and start building your network.

Different ways to get into the heritage industry

Because there is such a diverse range of collections, structures, and things that need to be conserved, having a degree in a field such as history, classics, or archaeology might be helpful, but it is by no means required. Acquiring the appropriate amount of work experience is essential to breaking into the heritage industry, which includes establishments such as museums, art galleries, historic structures, and restoration. This is mostly accomplished via volunteer work; however, there are some paid positions available during certain seasonal periods. Please refer to the section on Gaining Experience below.

If you choose to pursue further education, one option is to earn a master's degree in a field such as Heritage Studies or Cultural Heritage Management. These types of degrees are designed to supplement, rather than replace, work experience; therefore, you should make sure that you continue to gain work experience even if you do so.

Graduate training programs in the heritage industry are uncommon and only accept a few number of graduates each year. One such initiative is the Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy Fundraising Fellowship Programme, which offers training to those interested in working as fundraisers in the nonprofit, arts, and cultural sectors.

Gaining practical experience in the cultural heritage industry

Volunteers are used in almost every aspect of operation at museums and other historical organizations, from the front desk to the research, events, and displays divisions.

The preservation of services in the historic industry is becoming more and more reliant on the participation of volunteers, many of whom have developed considerable professional expertise. Students have the opportunity to make vital connections and earn experience via volunteer work while they are still enrolled in their academic programs.

The University of Birmingham provides funding opportunities in the form of work experience bursaries. The following list of links provides a few volunteer options as samples; however, you may contact any other specific museums and historical organizations individually to inquire about the possibility of becoming a volunteer there. Keep in mind that local and independent historical organizations, in addition to national ones, also need funding, and admittance into their programs may not be as difficult as it is for national ones.

Internship programs are offered by a variety of significant companies. On campus, the University of Birmingham offers a variety of options, such as access to the Cadbury Research Library. You might make an inquiry with any number of the many smaller independent organizations that are out there.