Gallery Owner Job Description

A gallery owner is the proprietor of an institution that exhibits and sells works of art on a local, national, or international level. The gallery owner is involved in a multitude of activities that makes their job very diverse. They may spend much of their time juggling present and future exhibits.

Typical Job Duties

• Maintain and correct lighting conditions

• May be asked to conduct interviews with local and national press to promote exhibits, which also helps to attract visitors

• Gallery owners may spend much of their time searching and applying for grants, as well as compiling much of the necessary paperwork

• Attend art festivals and other art community events to develop contacts, promote the gallery as well as support the art community as a whole

• May be involved in the marketing and sales of local artwork using the gallery as a selling floor

• Work with individual artists to determine display fees

• Must be concerned with gift shop replica art display and sales

• Host public events such as fundraisers for local artists and other causes

• Schedule tours for educational institutions in order to inspire youth to pursue and cultivate artistic skills and ambitions

• Speak with artists and other galleries about future exhibits

• Speak with museums about display requirements for exhibits

Career Paths for Becoming a Gallery Owner

There are many different paths an individual can take if they wish to become a gallery owner. All Gallery owners must however, either purchase a gallery from an existing owner, or create a gallery of their own.

If planning to purchase an existing gallery from a person or an organization, a good place to start is to contact a local business broker to see if they know of any owners who are selling. If the broker specializes in this niche, they will likely be aware of any owners who are looking to sell their gallery.

Another way to purchase a gallery from an existing owner is to simply get in touch with them and inquire as to whether or not they would consider selling to a qualified buyer.

For those who are interested in starting their own gallery, a good place to start is by creating a business plan. A business plan will help outline a concrete set of actions toward realizing the dream of opening a gallery. A solid business plan will also help attract funding from investors, as well as help obtain government grants.