Artificial shortage: there are not enough restorers and technical specialists in the field of culture in Russia

There is still a shortage of cultural personnel in Russia. It is especially acute in the museum business, where there are not enough restorers, as well as bricklayers, painters and chemists for scientific restoration. Technical specialists such as lighting, sound engineers and stage fitters are in demand in theaters. However, overall, the industry remains highly competitive. Together with industry experts, Izvestia figured out why some vacancies remain in demand, while others remain unclosed.

Without difficulty

The market situation is ambiguous. In the field of art and culture, there are an average of 44 resumes per vacancy. This indicator is due to creative professions. So, according to the hh.ru CV for the position of videographer — more than 55, and for the position of director or screenwriter — 69.

— There are a lot of good directors and screenwriters. There are not enough technical specialists, high-quality props, production designers, and so on. This is due to the fact that there has been a platform boom. There were a lot of venues, and the best specialists were in great demand," film producer Hayk Asatryan told Izvestia.

There is also a shortage of technical specialists in local theaters, analysts say. First of all, these are lighting designers, sound engineers, and stage designers. The problem is most acutely felt in the museum sector.

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— Vacancies requiring narrow qualifications and willingness to work outside major cities remain open the longest. For example, regional museums are sorely short of restorers, as well as bricklayers, painters, and chemists for scientific restoration. Museum workers are also required," the director told Izvestia. hh.ru according to the research of Maria Ignatova.

In the categories of "Museum worker", "Guide, tour guide", "Electrician, electrician, electrical technician", there are three resumes per vacancy. At the same time, there are plenty of open positions.

For example, only at the A.A. Bakhrushin Theater Museum on hh.ru 44 vacancies. They are looking for applicants for the positions of researcher, methodologist, curator of museum objects and others. The Russian National Museum of Music has 12 vacancies on the same resource: from researchers to an energy engineer. Five of the institution's ads are posted on the Superjob platform.

Expectations and reality

According to experts, the shortage of personnel in the field of culture, and in particular in the museum business, is due to several factors at once.

— One of the reasons is the aging of the staff. The largest share of resumes in the field of culture and art falls on applicants aged 35-40 years — 59%. Another 18% are candidates over the age of 45, and specialists aged 18-30 years — 22%.Thus, a significant part of potential employees are mature people, and young people do not replace them as quickly. Low salaries are another factor of personnel shortage. Currently, the proposed salary in culture is at the level of 80.5 thousand rubles, while the national median is 87.1 thousand rubles," the director noted in an interview with Izvestia. hh.ru according to the research of Maria Ignatova.

The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts has been looking for a caretaker for 41,434 rubles per month (before taxes) for a month now. The vacancy has been posted on the recruitment platform. The State Historical Museum-Reserve "Gorki Leninskie" is in search of a lecturer-guide with a salary of 56 thousand rubles. The Shchusev State Museum of Architecture is looking for specialists in exposition and exhibition activities with salaries from 65 thousand to 90 thousand rubles.

It is difficult to interest young people in attractive conditions, given the fact that the prospects for career growth may seem vague to a novice specialist.

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— Museums, like a theater or a temple, have always been not a place of work, but a place of service. Therefore, when a young specialist or even an undergraduate student without proper work experience comes for an interview and starts by asking what my career path will be, the answer may clearly disappoint them: the museum is a budgetary institution. With a clear staffing table, financing, and the need to coordinate changes in the staffing table with the Ministry of Culture and the founder. Therefore, even if a direct supervisor wants to promote a person, it is not always possible," explains Alexey Levykin, General Director of the State Historical Museum (GIM).

In cultural institutions, he explains, a career develops more on a horizontal plane — when competencies, connections are developed, and unique experience is gained that is not taught in universities. At the same time, there is a demand for the widest range of specialists. This issue is especially relevant for the State Museum of Fine Arts — staff is also being sought for a museum facility near the Novodevichy Monastery.

— The shortage of qualified workers today is felt not only in production, but also in the field of culture and art. In addition to the classical museum professions — restorers, curators, curators, and tour guides — museums lack financiers, specialists in fundraising, communications development, and marketing, IT specialists, lighting designers, engineers, exhibit installers, and so on," added Alexey Levykin.

According to the expert, the development of creative industries requires the creation of an official aggregator of vacancies in the field of culture. In addition, new opportunities for professional growth and closer work of schools, universities and museums on career guidance programs will help solve the problem of staff shortages.