Curators
Curators administer collections, such as artwork, collectables, historic items, or scientific specimens of museums or other institutions. They conduct instructional, research, or public service activities of institutions.
Curators’ job and responsibilities involve ordering instructional or library materials or equipment, constructing exhibits or parts of exhibits, developing a library or actual databases, researching topics and areas of expertise and providing information to the general public.
A curator's career and main duties entail acquiring, collecting, and cataloguing works of art, as well as assuring their overall care. Art curators are involved in research, and writing articles, and also giving lectures.
For a curated art profession, an individual typically needs a master's degree in history, museum studies, art history, or archaeology. Students with on-the-job or internship experience may have an advantage in the competitive job market. In small museums, curated art roles may be available to aspirants with a bachelor's degree.
They also possess excellent customer service skills. As they deal with the general public, curators are supposed to be courteous, friendly, and able to help users find materials. The majority of the art curators work in museums, galleries, historical sites, and similar institutions.
To succeed in curated art jobs and earn a reputed curator salary, one must be fearless and charismatic, and willing to take risks. Great curators develop with innovative ideas, embrace and expose unexpected themes and sources, and make bold predictions about their passions and beliefs.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- MFA Master of Fine Arts
- BFA Bachelor of Fine Arts
Tasks
- Develop and maintain an institution's registration, cataloging, and basic record-keeping systems, using computer databases.
- Provide information from the institution's holdings to other curators and to the public.
- Inspect premises to assess the need for repairs and to ensure that climate and pest control issues are addressed.
- Train and supervise curatorial, fiscal, technical, research, and clerical staff, as well as volunteers or interns.
- Negotiate and authorize purchase, sale, exchange, or loan of collections.
- Plan and conduct special research projects in area of interest or expertise.
- Confer with the board of directors to formulate and interpret policies, to determine budget requirements, and to plan overall operations.
- Attend meetings, conventions, and civic events to promote use of institution's services, to seek financing, and to maintain community alliances.
- Schedule events and organize details, including refreshment, entertainment, decorations, and the collection of any fees.
- Write and review grant proposals, journal articles, institutional reports, and publicity materials.
Progression Routes
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