Art historian job prospects
#1
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Joined: Jun 2017
Location: Hertfordshire
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Art historian job prospects
Hello and thank you for your interest in my humble topic.
My other half is an art historian, specializing in East Asian art and...even more arcane...she has a penchant for Chinese ceramics of the Middle Ages.
The arrival of our daughter has forced us to think long and hard about our collective future and we're seriously considering emigrating to Australia.
Our visa application is 50/50 as her skills are not on any shortage list, but besides that our concern is that of her job prospects.
She has a PhD (Doctorate) and five years post-qualification experience lecturing.
We accept that sacrifices will need to be made in the short-term to secure the long-term we want; thus we are not hung up on location.
If you're in the know about art history, museums, things Chinese and Japanese or the general art scene then we'd love to know your opinion on what her job prospects might be.
Your feedback is much appreciated.
Don
My other half is an art historian, specializing in East Asian art and...even more arcane...she has a penchant for Chinese ceramics of the Middle Ages.
The arrival of our daughter has forced us to think long and hard about our collective future and we're seriously considering emigrating to Australia.
Our visa application is 50/50 as her skills are not on any shortage list, but besides that our concern is that of her job prospects.
She has a PhD (Doctorate) and five years post-qualification experience lecturing.
We accept that sacrifices will need to be made in the short-term to secure the long-term we want; thus we are not hung up on location.
If you're in the know about art history, museums, things Chinese and Japanese or the general art scene then we'd love to know your opinion on what her job prospects might be.
Your feedback is much appreciated.
Don
#2
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Joined: Feb 2017
Location: https://t.me/pump_upp
Posts: 261
Re: Art historian job prospects
Hello and thank you for your interest in my humble topic.
My other half is an art historian, specializing in East Asian art and...even more arcane...she has a penchant for Chinese ceramics of the Middle Ages.
The arrival of our daughter has forced us to think long and hard about our collective future and we're seriously considering emigrating to Australia.
Our visa application is 50/50 as her skills are not on any shortage list, but besides that our concern is that of her job prospects.
She has a PhD (Doctorate) and five years post-qualification experience lecturing.
We accept that sacrifices will need to be made in the short-term to secure the long-term we want; thus we are not hung up on location.
If you're in the know about art history, museums, things Chinese and Japanese or the general art scene then we'd love to know your opinion on what her job prospects might be.
Your feedback is much appreciated.
Don
My other half is an art historian, specializing in East Asian art and...even more arcane...she has a penchant for Chinese ceramics of the Middle Ages.
The arrival of our daughter has forced us to think long and hard about our collective future and we're seriously considering emigrating to Australia.
Our visa application is 50/50 as her skills are not on any shortage list, but besides that our concern is that of her job prospects.
She has a PhD (Doctorate) and five years post-qualification experience lecturing.
We accept that sacrifices will need to be made in the short-term to secure the long-term we want; thus we are not hung up on location.
If you're in the know about art history, museums, things Chinese and Japanese or the general art scene then we'd love to know your opinion on what her job prospects might be.
Your feedback is much appreciated.
Don
2.Is she in a tenured position.
3. Has she a publication record.
When I moved to Canada as an academic. I just looked for positions in Canada advertised in the Journals in the area of my expertise.
Then applied for those positions and when I was accepted for a position, the institute did the paper work for the visa.
#3
Re: Art historian job prospects
Unfortunately if her skills are not on any list then the likelihood of getting a visa based on her job are next to nil. What is your job? What education and training do you have?
#4
Re: Art historian job prospects
But "university lecturer" is on the Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List, making her eligible for sponsorship by an employer. No?
#5
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Re: Art historian job prospects
I guess if the skill is still on the list sponsorship is not impossible but I'd think its pretty unlikely.
#6
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Re: Art historian job prospects
Just to clarify a few points, starting with Geoff52's questions...
1. She has emailed decision-makers in her field but so far has met with a stoney silence.
2. Not tenured. She works freelance for a private education facility, an art institute. The degrees awarded go up to Masters level and are accredited by a reputable British university. Her preference is to teach at tertiary level.
3. She has not published anything since her PhD.
Now for the lists...
One of the casualties of the April shake-up was 'historian'. This where things get iffy because we argue semantics...she teaches art history...so from a list point-of-view is she a teacher, an artist or historian?
We're looking at the 'teacher' route for the 190 visa, so that leads us to ANZSCO. We've identified 249211 (Art teacher) and 249299 (private tutor & teacher). Both are on STSOL, but not the MLTSSL (so 189 visa not an option). At the moment only South Australia and Tasmania sponsor that, but jobs are scarce.
That's why I said we're willing to start off anywhere and work our way forward from there. I travelled around Oz for 3 months in 2010 and visited the big 5 cities, so I have some idea of what each is like. My missus hasn't been so this is all ethereal to her.
I used to work in IT as a software tester, but left that 4 years ago. My skills are obsolete. I work for myself publishing specialist ebooks via my own websites. If we were to be in Oz I would look around for opportunities that I might latch onto, but that can't be relied on. My baby-momma still wants to pursue her career.
So even if we were to secure a visa, what are her job prospects? The expensive visa is for nothing unless she can get work.
1. She has emailed decision-makers in her field but so far has met with a stoney silence.
2. Not tenured. She works freelance for a private education facility, an art institute. The degrees awarded go up to Masters level and are accredited by a reputable British university. Her preference is to teach at tertiary level.
3. She has not published anything since her PhD.
Now for the lists...
One of the casualties of the April shake-up was 'historian'. This where things get iffy because we argue semantics...she teaches art history...so from a list point-of-view is she a teacher, an artist or historian?
We're looking at the 'teacher' route for the 190 visa, so that leads us to ANZSCO. We've identified 249211 (Art teacher) and 249299 (private tutor & teacher). Both are on STSOL, but not the MLTSSL (so 189 visa not an option). At the moment only South Australia and Tasmania sponsor that, but jobs are scarce.
That's why I said we're willing to start off anywhere and work our way forward from there. I travelled around Oz for 3 months in 2010 and visited the big 5 cities, so I have some idea of what each is like. My missus hasn't been so this is all ethereal to her.
I used to work in IT as a software tester, but left that 4 years ago. My skills are obsolete. I work for myself publishing specialist ebooks via my own websites. If we were to be in Oz I would look around for opportunities that I might latch onto, but that can't be relied on. My baby-momma still wants to pursue her career.
So even if we were to secure a visa, what are her job prospects? The expensive visa is for nothing unless she can get work.
#7
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Posts: 2,900
Re: Art historian job prospects
She does not qualify as an art teacher. That is for "art teacher" as in teaching painting, drawing etc in a school, with a teaching qualification.
The skills assessors are quite rigid in their interpretations. They won't allow her to substitute university lecturing on Middle Age Far Eastern ceramics for teaching drawing to 14 year olds.
If I remember, university lecturer used to have its own code/place on the shortage list.
Having gone in and out of academia, and being published, as you know each field is very specialised when it comes to hiring and plays to its own rules. Generally speaking however: Art historian is not a field with a lot of demand; grant funding is scarce; and unless your partner has a strong publication record and a vibrant network of academics inside Australia, the odds are very dim.
Landing a position in academia is difficult enough for people in-country and in fields that have demand.
I would advise her to begin building up professional contacts through conferences etc, begin publishing, and hopefully that will turn over some rocks. If not, unfortunately for her, it will be time to look at Plan B if you want to come here.
The skills assessors are quite rigid in their interpretations. They won't allow her to substitute university lecturing on Middle Age Far Eastern ceramics for teaching drawing to 14 year olds.
If I remember, university lecturer used to have its own code/place on the shortage list.
Having gone in and out of academia, and being published, as you know each field is very specialised when it comes to hiring and plays to its own rules. Generally speaking however: Art historian is not a field with a lot of demand; grant funding is scarce; and unless your partner has a strong publication record and a vibrant network of academics inside Australia, the odds are very dim.
Landing a position in academia is difficult enough for people in-country and in fields that have demand.
I would advise her to begin building up professional contacts through conferences etc, begin publishing, and hopefully that will turn over some rocks. If not, unfortunately for her, it will be time to look at Plan B if you want to come here.
#8
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Re: Art historian job prospects
At a guess I would say there are enough skilled citizens in this field.
#9
Re: Art historian job prospects
I don't know if uni lecturer is on the skills list but having recently finished a masters, I had an Irish economics lecturer who was on a 457 - who was looking at PR at the time
#10
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Joined: Jun 2017
Location: Hertfordshire
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Re: Art historian job prospects
Carcajou, thank you so much for your input. What you say encapsulates what we are beginning to think, i.e. iffy visa and iffy job prospects.
#11
Re: Art historian job prospects
Networking and collaboration is the way to go in Academia here. She will need to make some contacts, plenty of academics travel for conferences and they are a good place to meet up. Or try contacting Aussie Academics who have published in her area to strike up some contact.
#12
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Re: Art historian job prospects
Your wife could look for postgraduate positions in the USA, as the first rung on the immigration ladder.
In many ways US has far more opportunities for immigrants than Australia.
In many ways US has far more opportunities for immigrants than Australia.
#13
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Re: Art historian job prospects
Vastly different country, and very different immigration policies though. Much harder country to get into generally as well.
#14
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Posts: 2,900
Re: Art historian job prospects
For academic positions, absolutely Geoff52 is correct that the US would be a much better option.
However, extraordinarily difficult - probably impossible - to get into, if neither of them are US citizens. There is no skilled migration program in the US like there is in Australia.
However, extraordinarily difficult - probably impossible - to get into, if neither of them are US citizens. There is no skilled migration program in the US like there is in Australia.
#15
Re: Art historian job prospects
We're seeing the same thing in Australia - albeit not as forcefully as the US