Most commonly reported Work Activities

•   Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
•   Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
•   Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
•   Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
•   Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
•   Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
•   Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
•   Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
•   Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
•   Scheduling Work and Activities Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Working Life

A museum or gallery exhibitions officer is responsible for planning, organising, administering and producing, individual permanent or touring exhibitions.

This is largely a project management role. In larger museums and galleries, exhibitions officers may be specialists working alongside a team of curatorial, educational and marketing professionals.

In smaller venues, the role can involve taking part in lots of different jobs, including curatorial work.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Develop set designs, based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations.
• Prepare rough drafts and scale working drawings of sets, including floor plans, scenery, and properties to be constructed.
• Prepare preliminary renderings of proposed exhibits, including detailed construction, layout, and material specifications, and diagrams relating to aspects such as special effects or lighting.
• Read scripts to determine location, set, and design requirements.
• Submit plans for approval, and adapt plans to serve intended purposes, or to conform to budget or fabrication restrictions.
• Attend rehearsals and production meetings to obtain and share information related to sets.
• Confer with clients and staff to gather information about exhibit space, proposed themes and content, timelines, budgets, materials, or promotion requirements.
• Research architectural and stylistic elements appropriate to the time period to be depicted, consulting experts for information, as necessary.
• Observe sets during rehearsals in order to ensure that set elements do not interfere with performance aspects such as cast movement and camera angles.
• Collaborate with those in charge of lighting and sound so that those production aspects can be coordinated with set designs or exhibit layouts.

Further Information

• Exhibition Designer- from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Exhibition designer- from: GradIreland
• Exhibition organiser/event manager- from: GradIreland

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

 Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

 Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Degree areas that relate to museum collections are a good starting points from which to build a museum career. Subjects such as history, art history, archaeology, natural sciences and anthropology are typical of many employees working in museums. Universities and higher education colleges countrywide offer numerous courses and some provide distance-learning.

Sample Education and Training Pathways
A number of courses are available throughout the country that focus on learning and skills that may be useful for this career. The examples and links below may guide you in your research. 

Further Education (FET)
Further Education & Training (FET) Courses are delivered by local ETBs, ranging in duration from several weeks up to 20 months. Courses are designed to meet the labour market needs and often include a large element of work experience.

Example search terms include: tourism, retail, business, office admin.

Search for FET Courses

PLC Courses (FET)
PLC courses are full-time courses, one or two years duration, with awards at Level 5 and 6 on the NFQ. They are offered nationally in Schools and Colleges of Further Education.

Example search terms include: tourism, culture, heritage studies, access, pre-university arts, hospitality, tourism industry studies, management, marketing in tourism, events management, tourism with business.

Search for PLC Courses

Placements, Internships, Volunteering

Check the IMA Irish Museums Association website and search for 'training' for a full list of opportunities.

Some schools and colleges make arrangements with museums, galleries and other venues, for undergraduate/graduate students to go on placements and gain work experience. This is an invaluable way to find out the type of work that takes place in museums and whether you might like a job in this area. 

Qualified school leavers can find work in museums as Gallery Attendants or shop staff. But for any type of specialist work, it is necessary to have a degree, or a museum/heritage diploma, and potentially, post-graduate qualifications.

Higher Education CAO (Undergraduate) 
Higher Education courses at Levels 6 to 8 on the NFQ, delivered in Universities and Technological Universities & Institutes. Courses run from 2 – 5 years and places are allocated on a points-based system, processed by the Central Application Office.

Example search terms include: heritage studies, history, modern language, tourism management.

Search for CAO Courses

Graduate opportunities

The museum sector is becoming increasingly professionalised and there are graduate and post graduate programmes available both in Ireland and abroad, combining both campus based and distance learning options.

Some museums and galleries in Ireland and overseas offer graduate internship programmes of between three months and a year. Most of these training programmes are unpaid and cover many different roles within the museum. In general, interested applicants must make an application in writing to the museum, usually followed by an interview. Individual museum websites carry details of their internships and application procedures.

Volunteering: an excellent way to gain experience in the museum environment (and support your local museum!) is to volunteer your time. Some institutions have formal programmes through which you may volunteer as a museum docent, visitor services assistant, or other roles. Others accept informal enquiries as to volunteer opportunities.

Higher Education (Postgraduate)
Postgraduate courses are courses at Levels 9 and 10 on the NFQ and usually last 1 – 2 years full time, or longer if a PhD or part time. Entrants typically require an undergraduate award (Level 8).

Example search terms include: cultural policy, arts management, arts, heritage management.

Search for Postgraduate Courses

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €34k - €66k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
Payscale/ IMMA Keeper/ Indeed/ Pas

Last Updated: July, 2024

Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Librarians Archivists; curators; Journalists; newspaper and periodical editors; Public relations professionals; Advertising account managers; and creative directors.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment levels in this occupation has seen little change in recent years, with numbers employed in 2022 slightly lower than five years ago, resulting in a negative employment growth rate. The CSO Census data indicates that increases in employment related to public relations professionals and librarians. 

The numbers employed in the individual occupations are too small for any further analysis.

• Irish Museums Association

  • 11, Parnell Square East, Dublin, 1
  • (01) 873 4216
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• National Museum of Ireland

  • Kildare Street, Dublin 2
  • (01) 677 7444
  • Click Here

• National Gallery of Ireland

  • Merrion Square West, Dublin 2
  • (01) 661 5133
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here