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Museum Curator

Also known as Exhibitions Officer and Gallery Curator.

Museum curators look after, manage, organise, display and develop museum collections, and conduct related research.

Museum curators usually specialise in a broad discipline, such as anthropology, art, decorative arts, natural history, social history, science or technology.

Within that discipline they are generally recognised as authorities on one or more specific subject areas.

They generally work indoors in museums and art galleries, but they may be required to travel extensively on field study.

In small museums, one curator may be responsible for the management of the entire institution and its collections.

TASKS

Museum curators may perform the following tasks:

acquire items for the collections in their care
examine items to determine condition and authenticity
identify and classify specimens, and arrange conservation and restoration work
maintain records about all items in the collection
organise and participate in display teams, which may involve travelling or arranging for loan exhibitions, or overseeing the organisation of in-house temporary exhibitions or displays
initiate and maintain research and publication programmes
establish networks and assist other professionals on request
lecture and write about collections and answer public enquiries
supervise support staff and organise administrative duties associated with the use and care of collections

PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS

appreciation of the history of science, the environment or the arts
patient
able to pay attention to detail
an objective, methodical approach to work
good oral and written communication skills
a good imagination
aptitude for research

Interest Area

EDUCATION & TRAINING

To become a museum curator you usually have to complete an arts or science degree at university with a major in a relevant area, such as anthropology, archaeology, fine arts, history, cultural studies, astronomy, biology or environmental science (preferably at honours level), followed by a postgraduate qualification in museum studies, curatorship or cultural heritage management.

To get into the degree courses you usually need to gain your HSC/ACT Year 12. Entry to postgraduate courses usually requires completion of an appropriate bachelor degree and may require previous museum experience.

A number of universities in Australia offer degrees in these areas.

Universities have different prerequisites and some have flexible entry requirements or offer external study. Contact Open Universities Australia or the universities you are interested in for more information as requirements may change.