Commercial World to Scholarly World

[JayLS]

Question for both current and future grad students:

Since finishing undergrad two years ago I have been working in a registrar's office at a well-known museum. My goal has been to return to grad school to focus on 18th century (with the hope of pursuing a curatorial career). Recently, however, I was offered a directorial position at a contemporary gallery.  At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to delay returning to school, but I'm intrigued by the position and feel that I would like to try gallery work to determine which path is for me: the museum world, or the art market.

What do you think- is it impossible to transfer from the commercial realm to a strong grad program? Is working with contemporary art going to hurt me if I decide to stick to my roots and follow through with 18th century?

Any advice is much appreciated!

[condivi]

When I was thinking about grad school, my professors told me (and I think it's sound advice) only get a PhD if you can imagine doing nothing else. Try other options first. I think you owe it to yourself to try this gallery position, if it interests you at all. The job market for 18th-century specialists is not good. If you can be happy working in a gallery, you'll have the satisfaction and security of having a real job and salary now, as opposed to 6-10 years of grad study, plus 2-4 years of post-docs, plus who knows how many years of adjunct positions before you find a tenure track job in God knows where. If you decide later that your true passion lies in the 18th century and that you must study it in grad school, then you certainly won't have burned any bridges. As long as you have research experience in the eighteenth century from undergrad, working for a couple years in a gallery won't hurt your application. In fact, it might help it, since you'll be able to say definitively, maturely, that studying the 18th century is what you really want to do.

[jikl]

A very important point to consider is the reputation and quality of the gallery in which you are offered a job. An experience in an unknown contemporary art gallery like there is many will not give you a trenchant insight of the art market nor will be a significant professional experience according to a university's committee. 

 

Anyways, art market and scholar research are not always to be opposed! Art business studies are flourishing!

 

Good luck!!!

[JayLS]

Condivi & Jach,

Thank you for such balanced, fair advice! My gut instinct is to give the position a shot, and it's comforting to know that I'm not necessarily closing any other doors if I open this one.

Best of luck to you both in your pursuits!!