In the world of arts and culture, the art director is the person who is responsible for the direction of a performance, which could be dance, drama, art or music. This is an all encompassing role which has its specialists for those defined categories.
Employers of art directors are mostly the arts and theatre departments of regional councils or independent playhouses. For example, a theatre may employ a person for such a role to work on its various performances. This is a high profile job which demands dedication and a real love of the arts in all its forms. The role is for a person who will have completed a course at a good drama school such as the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London or, for older professions, a substantial amount of experience in the field
A theatre art director with a well-respected provincial theatre would attract a salary of between £30,000 and £35,000 per annum. Salaries depend on the project, however, with art directors for art galleries sometimes earning top range salaries.