Curators
Curators are like treasure hunters and storytellers rolled into one, managing collections of artwork, historical artifacts, and cultural objects in museums, galleries, and cultural institutions. They design exciting exhibits, conduct tours and workshops for visitors, and use modern technology like digital databases and 3D scanning to preserve and showcase collections. This career combines research skills, creativity, and public speaking, often requiring a degree in art history, museum studies, or a related field. Curators work collaboratively with artists, historians, and education teams to bring history and culture to life for the public.
Did you know?
Most curator positions in American museums require a Master's degree or PhD in art history, museum studies, or a specialized field relevant to the collection.
At a glance
Typical average pay
$60,000 Avg/yr
Growth
Fast growing
Top skill
Speaking
Things to consider
Highly Competitive Job Market
The museum curator field in the US has limited openings with many qualified candidates competing for each position, making networking and internships crucial.
Grant Writing and Fundraising Skills
American museums increasingly rely on external funding, making the ability to write grants and assist with fundraising efforts a valuable skill for curators.
Key responsibilities
Write and review grant proposals, journal articles, institutional reports, and publicity materials.
Confer with the board of directors to formulate and interpret policies, to determine budget requirements, and to plan overall operations.
Establish specifications for reproductions and oversee their manufacture or select items from commercially available replica sources.
Attend meetings, conventions, and civic events to promote use of institution's services, to seek financing, and to maintain community alliances.
Train and supervise curatorial, fiscal, technical, research, and clerical staff, as well as volunteers or interns.