Gallery Assistant CV example

Art may be subjective, but a great CV isn’t. If you want to work behind the scenes in a gallery, you need more than a love of fine art – you need a document that shows your ability to make exhibitions happen without a hitch.

This guide walks you through each section of writing a CV and shows you how to turn your experience into a clear and relevant application that curators will actually want to read.

In a gallery, how something is presented matters – and your CV is no different. Even if your work happens in the background, the document that describes it needs to take centre stage. Good structure makes sure your qualifications and experience are easy to spot, while also showing off your ability to stay organised and detail-focused.

Here’s the layout to follow:

• Name and contact details – Ensure your name and personal details are easily visible at the top. A photo is optional and depends on the role.
• Profile – Craft a short introduction that showcases your professional background and key accomplishments.
• Core skills – Provide a quick overview of your top skills that show why you’re a great fit.
• Work experience – Outline your career progression in reverse order, emphasising your contributions and successes.
• Education – Provide details on your academic background, including certifications or specialised training.
• Additional info – You can add hobbies or activities here that reflect your enthusiasm for the industry.
  

Keep your font readable and your formatting simple. Use bullet points to break down the text – it makes things easier to digest. Divide your sections with clear headings and avoid visual clutter. Aim for a CV that fits neatly onto two pages in length and uses white space well – just like a good gallery wall, your format should never be crowded or hard to read.

This top paragraph is your first impression – think of it as your label text in a new exhibition. In just a few lines, it should express your experience, knowledge of gallery operations, and what you’d bring to a team.

You don’t need to list every exhibition you’ve ever helped with – just focus your CV profile on showing recruiters that you’re dependable and understand the rhythm of gallery work.

Include the following:

• Where you worked – Mention the types of galleries or art spaces you’ve worked in and any notable exhibitions or collections.
• Your top qualifications – Note any training or academic background related to art, museum studies, or curation.
• Essential skills – Highlight your understanding of gallery operations, front-of-house duties, and art handling.
• The environments you’ve supported – Explain the scale or format of the galleries you’ve worked in (e.g. contemporary, heritage, commercial).
• Value delivered – Focus on what you helped achieve – such as keeping exhibitions running smoothly, supporting visitor engagement, or maintaining security and care of artworks.
  

Your core CV skills section helps hiring managers see – at a glance – whether you’re equipped to thrive in their gallery environment. It’s a great place to show that you’re adaptable and experienced with both public-facing and behind-the-scenes work.

Use this section to reinforce your practical strengths, especially those relevant to the specific job. That might mean supporting installs, assisting visitors, managing ticketing, or working with artists. Be careful not to pad this section with generic traits – make sure each skill included is something tangible and role-specific.

Gallery work is often quiet and subtle – which makes it even more important to explain clearly what you’ve done. This section should highlight your contributions to exhibitions, openings, and day-to-day operations, as well as your ability to keep everything running in the background.

List each role in reverse order, starting with the most recent. Open each with a short paragraph introducing the gallery, the type of work experience, and the scope of your role. Then use bullet points to detail responsibilities and noteworthy achievements.

• Outline – Set the scene with a brief summary of the gallery, your job title, and the type of exhibitions you worked with.
• Responsibilities – Use action words like “assisted” and “coordinated.” For example: “assisted with the installation of rotating exhibitions” or “coordinated visitor bookings and front-desk operations.”
• Achievements – Show the results of your work. Did you help improve visitor experience? Did you support a successful exhibition opening? Include anything that demonstrates the positive impact of your involvement.

You don’t need a fine art degree to work in a gallery – but if you’ve studied art history, curation, museum studies, or similar fields, this is the place to mention it. Just list your qualifications clearly and in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent.

No need to list individual modules – but if your studies involved practical exhibition work, artist liaison, or conservation, you can briefly mention it in the description. Additional education like short courses or workshops in relevant areas are also worth including here if they support your application.