Competition for jobs is increasing within the art history field, as more students are leaving university with art history degrees. 

To increase their chances of getting a job, more people are doing postgraduate qualifications (Honours, Master's or doctoral degrees), as well as voluntary work or internships at galleries or museums to gain experience.

More job opportunities for graduates who combine art history with practical skills

With limited opportunities to work in the traditional art historian roles of university lecturer, researcher, curator or teacher, art history students are adding practical subjects to their degrees to help their chances of getting a job.

Papers in museum administration, marketing, communications, or business open up more career options for art historians, who can then work in arts policy development, management, or publishing.

Most art historians work in museums and art galleries, but there are also opportunities to work for:

• universities and schools
• libraries
• archives
• local government public art projects
• government departments, such as Creative New Zealand or the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
• auction houses.

Most art historians work in large cities where universities, museums and art galleries are located.

Significant regions of employment for art historians are:

• Wellington (28% of art historians)
• Auckland (26%)
• Canterbury (11%)
• Otago (9%)
• Waikato (6%).