You must make significant changes in what you present to committees if it's the second time around. I don't know what documents you are asked to provide in art history, but be sure that your CV shows definite improvement, such as the curatorial jobs and any conferences you may have presented at or publications that are in the works. Your SOP probably needs to reflect what research interests you would like to pursue. Even though all of that may change, committees want to know you are focused and what you bring to the table. They also want to see some inkling of what you hope to gain by getting a PhD in their particular program. Doing all of this while working is exhaustive and overwhelming. Even if you were a fulltime student during your master's, you may have been working as a GA/TA/RA, so the same thing applies. Did you do any significant work for a professor regarding research, etc.? That can go on your CV. You need more than great grades/GRE. Do your professors from school know you well? You need outstanding LORs. You need to show committees you have the goods and that's why they should choose you over 200+ others applying for admission to the same program.
