Art Handler Legal, Social & Cultural Technicians
SaveWhat Does an Art Handler Do?
Art handlers are trained individuals who work directly with objects in museums and art galleries. They work in coordination with exhibition registrars, collection managers, conservator-restorers and curators, among others, to ensure that objects are safely handled and cared for. Often they are responsible for packing and unpacking art, installing and deinstalling art in exhibitions, and moving art around the museum and storage spaces.
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Where Do I Start?
Deliver Correspondence
Distribute mail correspondence, newspapers, packages and private messages to customers.
Sign up to trackReady to go deeper? Pick up to 3 skills to focus on from the list below.
These are common skills for this role. Real-world experience matters more than ticking every box — use this as a guide, not a checklist.
Skills You Need to Become an Art Handler
Essential Skills
Essential Skills
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EssentialDeliver Correspondence skill
Distribute mail correspondence, newspapers, packages and private messages to customers.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialAdvise On Art Handling skill
Advise and instruct other museum professionals and technicians on how to manipulate, move, store and present artifacts, according to their physical characteristics.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialAssess Object Condition skill
Work together with the collection manager or restorer, to evaluate and document the condition of a museum object for a loan or an exhibition.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialEnsure Safety Of Exhibition skill
Ensure safety of exhibition environment and of artefacts by applying safety devices.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialHandle Art skill
Work directly with objects in museums and art galleries, in coordination with other museum professionals, to ensure that artworks are safely handled, packed, stored and cared for.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialSupervise Artefact Movement skill
Supervise any movement of museum artefacts and ensure their security.
Course recommendations coming soon.
Optional Skills (5 of 9 displayed)
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OptionalArt History knowledge
The history of art and artists, the artistic trends throughout centuries and their contemporary evolutions.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalConservation Techniques knowledge
The procedures, instruments, techniques, materials and chemicals used in conservation and archiving.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalArt Collections knowledge
The variety of paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and other works that form collections in a museum and prospective new collections which are of interest for a museum or art gallery.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalFine Arts knowledge
The theory and techniques required to compose, produce and perform works of visual arts as drawing, painting, sculpture and other art forms.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalCommunicate In English In A Competent Way language skill
Competent use of English; R351refers to level C1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalPresent Exhibition skill
Present an exhibition and give educational lectures in a comprehensible way that is attractive to the public.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalAdvise On Loans Of Art Work For Exhibitions skill
Working together with curators and museum collection managers, a registrar evaluates the condition of art objects for exhibition or loan purposes. The registrar also decides whether or not an artwork …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalCompose Condition Reports skill
Document the condition of artworks prior to and after movement and manipulation.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalManage Loan Administration skill
Oversee the loan administration for exhibitions.
Course recommendations coming soon.