Hi, Bethany.  One thing you could do is get a master's degree in art
history, art education, etc. (whatever you are interested in studying.)
With a master's degree, even if you can't find a job immediately, you can
try to publish your thesis and teach part-time at a community or city
college while working at a non-museum related job.  That way, you keep your
hand in the field while pursuing a full-time position and paying your rent.
Also, don't discount the learning experiences from for-profit jobs in terms
of applicability for non-profit jobs.  Marketing, public relations, and
editing are all good experiences to have on a resume when applying to
non-profits.

I know how hard it is to find a job in this field, and I really hope you
find what you're looking for. My experiences in terms of trying to find a
job in this field have been so horrible that I am no longer looking in this
field.  You have to weigh how much you want to work for this industry
versus the difficulty in finding a job, the low pay, etc.  Don't get me
wrong--there are many, many reasons to keep searching, and many wonderful
positions in the field.  But don't be so focused that you don't open
yourself up to other possibilities as well.

Good luck!

Lara

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