Getting a foot on the ladder as an Auction House Specialist, or General Valuer can sometimes be difficult. At DRAW we are in daily contact with candidates frustrated at their lack of progress and disillusioned by the competitiveness of the London market for these roles. My advice is consider taking some time out of London to get your career up and running. This is one of the only areas within the art market where there are more opportunities regionally than there are in the capital city, and it is true you can get an iced oat milk latte outside the M25 these days! We work with some fantastic regional auction houses up and down the country who are dynamic and ambitious. Many have excellent General and Specialist departments across the full range of antiques and collectables and have an international reach.
To secure one of these roles you may be a graduate in Art History, or Art Market Appraisal, or maybe you have grown up around antiques and collectables and attended auctions in your pram. Alternatively you may be a lifelong collector, or have developed some particular expertise academically that you would like to take further. An ideal candidate will have a year or two experience working in an Auction House, this could be in an administrative role, as an intern in a specialist department, or even as a porter/saleroom assistant.
We currently have Junior Specialist opportunities outside London in Ceramics, General Valuations and Asian Art. If you would like to explore the prospect of cheaper rent, the career path you have been dreaming of and an escape to the country then please do get in touch: info@drawrecruitment.com
Notes from DRAW · 06.07.2021
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