The Ultimate 101 Awesome Arts Careers’ Guide

Updated On: November 07, 2023 by   Ciaran Connolly

Across the centuries, Ireland has been celebrated for its rich offering of arts, culture and heritage. Working within this sector represents a truly enriching and rewarding experience, placing you at the forefront of some of the country’s most popular destinations and visitor attractions.

In many cases, those working in Arts, Culture and Heritage will work as part of a wider operations or marketing team, delivering educational materials to visitors that is engaging, inspiring and information. Roles within this sector are often accessible through volunteering, as well as through third level qualifications in arts, history or related fields.

Skills and Experience

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Third-level qualification from an arts, culture or heritage subject
• Experience working in an arts, culture or heritage environment
• A passion for Irish culture and history and a willingness to learn
• Experience in the protection and promotion of Irish heritage assets
• Ability to speak a second language is highly desirable
• Willingness to work overtime at peak periods
• Skills in greeting, hosting and tour guiding
• Commitment to punctuality and timekeeping
• Right to work in the EU

Careers in Ireland’s Arts, Culture and Heritage sector are some of the most sought-after jobs in the country. Whilst the role can be demanding, many excel in these roles with a strong interest in the education and preservation of Irish history. Successful applicants to this sector will have considerable experience working in a previous Arts, Culture and Heritage environment.

Entering an Arts, Culture and Heritage role for the first time can be a daunting, yet rewarding experience. Understanding the variety of roles offered by this sector can help you to understand the many career options available.

Arts, Culture & Heritage Careers Overview

Arts, Culture & Heritage staff are employed across the entire sector, meaning that you could work with a team as part of a large attraction, or in a small museum as a single member of relevant staff. See below for an overview of the sector’s most prominent roles.

Tour Guide

As a Tour Guide, you will go about your work with a true passion for Ireland, its geography and its history. You will create fun, informative and interactive experiences for visitors, relating to international audiences. A successful candidate will have strong interpersonal and customer service skills, as well as excellent problem-solving skills. Overall, you will have a passion for knowledge and an insatiable desire to learn.

Heritage Officer

As a Heritage Officer, you will be passionate about promoting the importance or historic locations and landscapes to the public in order to ensure that they are understood, appreciated and protected. You will lead various educational events, developing conservation guidelines whilst cataloguing and preserving archives. Successful candidates will hold a strong degree in history or a related discipline.

Teaching

In a teaching role within Ireland’s vibrant Arts, Culture and Heritage sector, you will play a key role in providing educational, informative and entertaining visitor experiences to tourists and locals alike. Teaching roles represent some of the most rewarding and sought-after positions in the sector, and successful candidates will bring strong experience in a previous teaching role. Overall, you will have a passion for teaching and learning to succeed.

Administrative Assistant

As an Administrative Assistant, you will often work as part of a wider administrative team to oversee key organisational duties. These duties include processing orders and receipts; stock replenishment and control, processing of membership renewals, data control and the overseeing of Health and Safety audits. You will also maintain and update physical files and take care of invoicing. In this role, strong organisational skills are essential.

Curator

The role of a Curator is one of the most sought-after and lucrative jobs in Ireland’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Sector. You will be a qualified and experienced conservationist of heritage, assisting creative and exhibition directors in budgeting, workforce planning and estate management. Overall, you will be responsible for ensuring that a tourist’s visit to your museum or visitor attraction in engaging, informative and inspiring. Successful candidates will hold advanced degrees in history, archaeology or a related discipline.

Now that you have full oversight of the roles available within an Arts, Culture and Heritage environment, you are ready to find the perfect role to start your career in the sector. To discover more Irish tourism and hospitality vacancies, visit our jobs board.