Curator

Curator job description: Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills | Useful links | Find jobs and courses

Curators are in charge of a collection of exhibits in a museum or art gallery. Their job is to build up collections, often in specialist areas. Curators develop ways in which objects, archives and artworks can be interpreted, through exhibitions, publications, events and audio-visual presentations. Their work involves buying exhibits, organising exhibitions, arranging restoration of artifacts, organising loans, identification as well as recording of items and dealing with enquiries. All these tasks require curators to work with other colleagues in conservation, education, design and marketing departments, for example. In addition, they may conduct research and may lecture on findings or ongoing activities.

Other typical responsibilities of curators include:

• Developing and organising new collections to expand and improve educational and research facilities
• Researching extensively, negotiating on prices and buying items such as sculptures, statues and paintings that can add value to the collection
• Maintaining records and cataloguing acquisitions
• Researching, compiling and preparing written information about catalogues and publishing it on the institution's website
• Collaborating with other institutions
• Ensuring that collections are properly preserved
• Raising funds and grants
• Interviewing, hiring and training staff.

Some curators may occassionally have the opportunity to travel, but the work is mainly daytime and in one location. The work of a curator can involve some evening and weekend work.

Typical employers of curators

• National museums/galleries
• Local authority museums/galleries
• Independent museums/galleries
• Heritage centres.

Qualifications and training required

A good honours degree is essential for the majority of curatorial positions. Many curators also hold postgraduate degrees or diplomas.

This area of work is open to graduates of all disciplines, but particularly relevant subjects include:

• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Art
• Art history
• Arts administration
• Event/exhibition management
• History

Many (but by no means all) museums and galleries like to recruit staff with postgraduate museum-studies, arts administration or similar qualifications. The sector is becoming increasingly professionalised and there are now a number of postgraduate programmes available.

Some museums run volunteer programmes or offer work placements, so anyone interested in following this career should try to spend some time on such a placement. Experience in public relations would be an advantage.

Key skills for curators

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to organise, present and communicate messages effectively through design
• Excellent project management and organisational skills
• Knowledge of fundraising for cultural projects
• Knowledge of working with museum databases and IT issues
• Knowledge of local authority structures and practices
• Knowledge of structure and practices of heritage councils
• Good team-working skills
• Excellent research and IT skills.