Heritage and Culture

From the British Museum to a local archive, the heritage and culture sector connects people to history, identity and place and it needs a wide range of talent to do it.

The field covers organisations that care for, interpret and share history, collections, places and cultural experiences. Employers include museums, galleries, historic houses, archives, libraries, heritage sites, auction houses and cultural institutions. Roles span everything from collections and conservation through to exhibitions, learning, digital content, fundraising and visitor experience. Securing long-term funding can be challenging for some of these organisations, which sometimes leads to temporary positions, especially in early-career roles.

Some careers require specialist knowledge or further training, particularly in conservation, archives and archaeology. However, the field also recruits graduates into project management, communications, operations, commercial and public engagement roles.

Competition can be high, particularly in museums and galleries, and relevant experience is often important. Volunteering, internships, student projects and paid visitor-facing work can all help you understand how organisations operate and build contacts in the field. There is no single route; thinking laterally and building relevant skills through adjacent roles or industries can be just as effective. Experience in administration, events, communications or customer-facing work all translate well.

Example job titles in heritage and culture

Useful websites for researching heritage and culture careers

There is no fixed recruitment cycle for the Arts, Culture and Heritage sector. The following job sites can support your research and help you identify jobs and opportunities. Use these alongside networking with industry professionals and alumni.