Working at the Gallery
About the National Gallery
The National Gallery exists so that people can engage with great art.
It is a public museum with an important collection of pictures for the benefit of all. It tells a coherent story of European painting spanning seven centuries. It reflects how artists and the societies in which they lived have responded to myth and religion, history and contemporary events, landscape and the human form, and to the tradition of art itself.
The National Gallery constitutes a living legacy of humanity’s highest cultural achievements in paintings and is an inestimable resource for understanding the world as we have inherited it. We, who currently have responsibility for the Gallery, want to share this resource, and our enthusiasm for it, with the widest possible audience.
Established in 1824, the National Gallery is a national responsibility ultimately underwritten by Parliament. Twenty-five years ago the Gallery’s statutory responsibilities were set out: to care for and add to the collection; to display it for the public; to advance scholarship and research; and to promote enjoyment and understanding. Millions of people now visit the National Gallery every year and we reach many more online. We are committed to the idea of the National Gallery as a place of learning and enjoyment and we aim to realise the Gallery’s potential as a source of inspiration for this and future generations.
From its inception the National Gallery has been free for all to visit. We believe that free admission represents a commitment to the public which must be reaffirmed and developed, a commitment to visitors of all ages, from the UK and abroad, and from all walks of life.
The National Gallery has an important role to play in enabling people to understand and negotiate the changes that society is undergoing by providing long-term historical perspective, mediated access to works of art of great significance and beauty, and a safe environment for reflection on questions of identity, beliefs, and on the relationship between the past and the present.
About National Gallery Global
National Gallery Global is the Gallery’s commercial arm, generating vital income to support the care and preservation of the collection.
As well as running the Gallery’s cafés, restaurants and shops, in Trafalgar Square and online, we also publish books, license images worldwide, create merchandise inspired by the paintings in the collection, manage venue hire for events, and run the National Gallery Membership Scheme. The income generated helps ensure that the world’s greatest paintings can be cared for, shared, and enjoyed - today and for generations to come.
Where does the Gallery advertise vacancies?
Before you register for job vacancies or apply for a post, you can view our Applicant Privacy Notice.
National Gallery and National Gallery Global
National Gallery and National Gallery Global vacancies are posted in the jobs section of the Gallery’s website.
Find out more
Our Strategic Plan 2021 – 2026
Our Strategic Plan outlines how we are working to relaunch as the Gallery for the nation over the coming years.
Our structure
Find out about the organisational structure of the National Gallery
Our values
Find out more about the National Gallery's values
Frequently asked questions
Jobs in museums and galleries are wide-ranging and each may require different qualifications, experience and skills. The Museums Association has some advice for people interested in a career in the sector.
Unfortunately, as the Gallery is a comparatively small organisation, we lack the space and other facilities to offer voluntary work, and only very rarely have any opportunities for work experience.
We occasionally recruit casual workers. Details are posted on our jobs page, so please check back regularly.
Wages are determined by assignment and are paid in line with the London Living Wage.
If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited for an interview, and if you are successful at the interview stage, you will be offered a casual contract subject to passing our security screening process.
Rather than send the Gallery your CV in this way, we would suggest that you register for job alerts on our online recruitment system and apply specifically for any that you think would be suitable.
This would depend on the type of current visa you have in your passport and the post you are applying for.
Certificates of Sponsorship for skilled jobs are not issued to individuals; an application for a Certificate of Sponsorship can only be made by a United Kingdom Home Office-licensed employer in the UK, who has a specific skilled job to offer a named person. The National Gallery currently holds a United Kingdom Home Office licence.
The United Kingdom Home Office considers visa applications from individuals with a job offer under the points-based system. Points are awarded for the level of qualifications required, prospective earnings and areas in which there is a particular skills shortage in the UK. In addition, under the points-based system, two statutory requirements must be met – a certain level of English language skills and the ability to maintain yourself financially when you first arrive in the UK.
This information correct as at September 2023 and is kept under review.