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Curators

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Summary Description


	Administer collections, such as artwork, collectibles, historic items, or scientific specimens of museums or other institutions. May conduct instructional, research, or public service activities of institution.

Sample Job Titles

1.	Ancient Art Curator

2.	Art Gallery Director

3.	Asian Art Curator

4.	Assistant Curator

5.	Associate Curator

6.	Coin Collector

7.	Collections and Archives Director

8.	Collections Curator

9.	Collections Manager

10.	Content Curator

11.	Curator

12.	Curator of Collections

13.	Curator of Education

14.	Curator of Photography and Prints

15.	Director of Collections and Archives

16.	Director of Exhibit Development

17.	Educational Institution Curator

18.	Educational Resource Coordinator

19.	Exhibitions and Collections Manager

20.	Exhibitions Curator

21.	Exhibits Curator

22.	Exhibits Manager

23.	Field Collector

24.	Gallery Director

25.	Herbarium Curator

26.	Historic Site Administrator

27.	Historic Sites Supervisor

28.	Manager of Exhibitions and Collections

29.	Modern and Contemporary Art Curator

30.	Museum Curator

31.	Museum Director

32.	Museum or Zoo Director

33.	Museum Registrar

34.	Natural History Collections Curator

35.	Natural Science Curator

36.	Numismatist

37.	Old Coin Dealer

38.	Philatelist

39.	Photography and Prints Curator

40.	Prints and Drawings Curator

41.	Research Associate

42.	Stamp Collector

Job Tasks

	Plan and organize the acquisition, storage, and exhibition of collections and related materials, including the selection of exhibition themes and designs, and develop or install exhibit materials. Construct exhibits or parts of exhibits. Order instructional or library materials or equipment.

	Write and review grant proposals, journal articles, institutional reports, and publicity materials. Evaluate scholarly materials. Write grant proposals. Write articles, books or other original materials in area of expertise.

	Plan and conduct special research projects in area of interest or expertise. Research topics in area of expertise.

	Confer with the board of directors to formulate and interpret policies, to determine budget requirements, and to plan overall operations. Confer with others to conduct or arrange operational activities.

	Study, examine, and test acquisitions to authenticate their origin, composition, history, and to assess their current value. Evaluate characteristics of archival or historical objects.

	Train and supervise curatorial, fiscal, technical, research, and clerical staff, as well as volunteers or interns. Train staff members. Direct activities of subordinates.

	Develop and maintain an institution's registration, cataloging, and basic record-keeping systems, using computer databases. Develop library or archival databases.

	Negotiate and authorize purchase, sale, exchange, or loan of collections. Negotiate purchases or contracts. Order instructional or library materials or equipment.

	Provide information from the institution's holdings to other curators and to the public. Provide information to the general public.

	Attend meetings, conventions, and civic events to promote use of institution's services, to seek financing, and to maintain community alliances. Promote educational institutions or programs.

	Design, organize, or conduct tours, workshops, and instructional or educational sessions to acquaint individuals with an institution's facilities and materials. Plan community programs or activities for the general public.

	Inspect premises to assess the need for repairs and to ensure that climate and pest control issues are addressed.

	Arrange insurance coverage for objects on loan or for special exhibits and recommend changes in coverage for the entire collection.

	Schedule events and organize details, including refreshment, entertainment, decorations, and the collection of any fees. Plan community programs or activities for the general public.

	Establish specifications for reproductions and oversee their manufacture or select items from commercially available replica sources. Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.

Work Activities

Importance	Work Activity

Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources — Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Selling or Influencing Others — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

Staffing Organizational Units — Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.

Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Nature of the Work


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Archivists, Curators, and Museum Workers
	Archivists appraise, process, catalog, and preserve permanent records and historically valuable documents. Curators oversee collections of artwork and historic items, and may conduct public service activities for an institution. Museum technicians and conservators prepare and restore objects and documents in museum collections and exhibits.

	Read More >>

Working Conditions


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Archivists, Curators, and Museum Workers
	Archivists, curators, museum technicians, and conservators typically work in museums, historical sites, governments, colleges and universities, corporations, and other institutions that require their skills. Most work full time.

	Read More >>

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