Ever since he was young Timothy Dale had a strong interest in art, but he never thought his career would lead him to hang masterpieces on the walls of the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

As a casual Installation Officer at the Art Gallery of NSW, Timothy has worked on major exhibitions such as Nude, which featured artworks on loan from the Tate London, including pieces by Picasso and Modigliani.

Timothy started his art career by volunteering at the Blacktown Arts Centre while completing his studies; six months later he setup an ABN so he could start working as a freelancer.

“I’ve always loved art, I started out in administration, but my focus was to be more hands on and actually handle the art,” said Timothy Dale.

“There was a real supply and demand; galleries had a need for people working hands on with the art. By starting out as a freelancer and combining that with my studies I was able to grow as a small business and gain a lot of valuable experience.”

Timothy completed the Certificate II Visual Arts, Certificate IV Fine Arts and Diploma Fine Arts at TAFE NSW Nepean and credits his studies to helping him get on his career trajectory.

“I learnt a lot of basic skills at TAFE NSW that I still refer back to now. It may seem like something simple but things such as colour theory and even Work Health & Safety are useful, as well as learning to take a practical approach to solving problems.”

Freelancing as an art installer, Timothy assists in the design, planning and installation of exhibitions and displays in a range of galleries and exhibition venues.

“The best thing about my job is that it’s really rewarding. Many people do not realise the behind-the-scenes aspects of what goes into an exhibition and how the different organisations’ operate.

“I’m learning things every day that I’m at work. One of the good things is that each exhibition and artwork is different and teaches you new skills and techniques,” said Timothy.

If you have a passion for art and want to follow your dream, Timothy’s advice is: “make sure that you have the drive to stay with it, it’s a career that doesn’t happen overnight. Volunteer as much as you can to get that experience and study so that you learn practical approaches.”

To find out more about studying Fine Art or Visual Art at TAFE NSW visit www.tafensw.edu.au or phone 131 601

Media contact: Teresa Lane, TAFE NSW Media and Communications Business Partner 9796 5476, mobile 0412 773 887