Whether they be an artist, curator, gallery educator, or fundraiser, people who work in the world of contemporary art need a variety of skills to succeed. Some of these competencies are common across many disciplines and sectors; others are unique to the visual arts. Universities and colleges provide some of the necessary proficiencies - on-the-job training and professional development programmes provide others. However, despite having a relatively high-level of academic achievement, those who work in the visual arts often lack some of the key technical and professional expertise required for their chosen career.

Meanwhile, the visual arts workforce remains under-representative of the population as a whole, being predominantly white, middle-class and university-educated. It is also characterised by low pay and short-term contracts and has a relatively high number of freelancers and volunteers, who need the ability to manage portfolio careers and to transfer their skills to other creative professions.

In 2008, Arts Council England and Creative and Cultural Skills joined forces with employers and individuals working in the visual arts to address these issues and to produce a blueprint for developing the skills and training of the workforce.

Building on a study of employment patterns across the visual arts, commissioned from the University of Warwick by Arts Council England in 2005, the skills blueprint will cater for the needs of artists, freelancers, part-time and full-time workers. It will: provide better access to professional development opportunities, training and employment; develop better information on career pathways and entry routes; and enable stronger business skills and greater professionalism. It will also increase diversity through improved recruitment procedures and ensure higher education offers the best possible preparation for entering the visual arts profession.