Art Auction House Junior Cataloguer Job Description

Art Auction House Junior Cataloguer Job DescriptionArt Auction House Junior Cataloguer Job DescriptionJunior cataloguers work in art auction houses to assist head cataloguers with the behind-the-scenes details of auction sales. Their work includes researching property for cataloging, and its typically conducted using online databases, the internet, and various print media. A juniorchefin cataloguer conducts extensive research to seek all available information about a work of art. Auction House Junior Cataloguer Duties Responsibilities This job generally requires the ability to do the following work Verify artwork authenticity, provenance, and medium.Compile artist biographies.Write lot descriptions.Vet property.Amend the catalog. Auction houses are the pulse and heartbeat of the art market. Sales here predict trends and can punktlicht emerging new artists. A cataloguers work is ground floor to some extent, but it supports the industry. Much depends on their research and descript ions. Auction House Junior Cataloguer Salary The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics doesnt cite salary figures specifically for junior cataloguers, but archivists, curators, and other museum workers earned the following salaries in 2018 Median Annual Salary $48,400 ($23.27/hour)Top 10% Annual Salary More than $86,480 ($41.58/hour)Bottom 10% Annual Salary Less than $27,190 ($13.07/hour) Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018 Curators were the highest-paid among these professionals in 2018 and earned a median salary of $53,780. Junior employees and assistants can expect to earn less. Education, Training Certification Those looking for a career as junior cataloguers should ideally have a college degree and related experience. Education A 4-year college degree is typically required to work in an auction house as a junior cataloguer. Majors in art or business are recommended for this position.Experience A junior cataloguer should have some previous cataloging experience, but research experience and a history of working with various forms of data can be helpful as well. A publication record can be an asset for this position. Auction House Junior Cataloguer Skills Competencies You should have several essential qualities to succeed at becoming a junior cataloguer. Determination A junior cataloguer should be skilled at conducting formal and deep research, not just gathering readily-available facts.Writing ability Being a highly-skilled writer who is able to write in various tones is key to this position.A love of art A deep love for and interest in the form of art that the auction house represents is essential.Efficiency Efficiency, multi-tasking, and attention to detail are vital skills for a junior cataloguer. Overlooking or omitting one small detail can be a serious mistake. Job Outlook The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates job growth for archivists and related professionals in the area of art at about 14% through 2026. This is above average for all occupations, but the BLS also forecasts that there will be significant competition for these jobs. This might be particularly true for entry-level positions. Work Environment This is predominantly a research job, and it can require working long, focused hours alone at a computer. Some minimal travel may be involved for purposes of interviewing sources. Work Schedule This is generally a full-time job limited to regular business hours. Showings and sales in the evenings or on special occasions can require nontraditional, excess hours. How to Get the Job SEARCH JOB LISTINGS Art auction houses often post job listings on their websites or on other art-related sites when job opportunities become available. Also, check out the Association of Registrars and Collections Specialists and U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.SELL YOURSELF WITH THE WRITTEN WORDQualified applicants usually email their cover letters and resumes to an auction houses human resources department to be considered for a position. Comparing Similar Jobs Some similar jobs and their median annual pay include Artist $48,960Historian $61,140Librarian $59,050 Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018