Museum Curator

A museum curator oversees the collection of diverse exhibits in an art gallery or a museum.

Who's a Museum Curator/Museologist?

Museum curators perform a very important role in our understanding of the past, the present and the future of humanity. Their role goes way beyond just helping visitors understand the exhibits and the stories behind them. They are essentially in charge of the museum. This includes the entire process of maintaining a museum – right from setting up the exhibits to ensuring a wholesome visitor experience. Part of their role could also involve arranging for special exhibitions coinciding with any special event.

In smaller organisations, a curator may have sole responsibility for acquisitions and even for collections care. A curator makes decisions regarding what objects to select, oversees their potential and documentation, conducts research based on the collection and its history, provides proper packaging of art for transportation, and shares research with the public and community through exhibitions and publications. In very small, volunteer-based museums, such as those of local historical societies, a curator may be the only paid staff member.

In larger institutions, the curator’s primary function is that of a subject specialist, with the expectation that he or she will conduct original research on objects and guide the organisation in its collecting. Such institutions can have multiple curators, each assigned to a specific collecting area (e.g., curator of ancient art, curator of prints and drawings, etc.) and often operate under the direction of a head curator.

The museum curators have to perform a number of different tasks to make sure that the museum functions smoothly. You have to pick the area you wish to master and then pursue museology accordingly. Without a curator, museums would have a very tough time catering to the public on a regular basis.

Responsibilities

What will you do?

Acquiring, storing and exhibiting museum collections.

The curator is responsible for deciding which art, science or historical objects and collections will be brought to the museum. You also have to make sure that these original and exclusive artefacts are stored properly and are well taken care of. After all, they are pieces of our history, aren’t they?

 

Designing and selecting the themes for the exhibits.

Choosing the designs and themes of exhibits and setting up exhibit materials accordingly. You also plan out the dates of temporary and permanent exhibits. For example, imagine you have managed to acquire a rare, ancient relic for two weeks. Now you have to plan an entire exclusive exhibition around it and make sure that people who are interested can come to see it.

Designing and preparing lectures, tours, and workshops for visitors.

As a museum curator, it is your job to educate visitors as much as possible about your exhibits and their history. You essentially have to help them enjoy the collection and exhibits. You can also do that by giving lectures or arranging for industry experts to brief them.

Arranging for the restoration and conservation of rare objects at the museum.

You also have to make sure that all the acquisitions are documented accurately, and complete indexes and records are maintained.

Overseeing background research and promotional content for websites and publication.

You would need to oversee background research and promotional content for websites and internal as well as external publications. You have to make sure that the information conveyed to the public is accurate. For this, you need to check and double-check the research of the exhibits done by your employees. You will also be responsible for any promotional content that goes out either online or offline regarding the museum or any of its exhibits.

Negotiating.

Negotiating terms when you get valuable artefacts to your museum on loan. These negotiation skills also come in handy when you are asking for funding for different museum projects!

Budget forecasting, planning, and reporting.

As a museum curator, you have to handle the museum finances, usually in tandem with the finance team. This will involve creating budget forecasts, planning, and reporting.

Introducing relevant technology for enhanced visitor experience.

Making the best use of technology for efficiency and better visitor experience. For example, if you can work on an interactive display exhibit with your team, it makes for a more memorable experience for visitors.

Coordinating and negotiate with clients or patrons.

For example, a client could be a wealthy philanthropist who agrees to purchase an expensive relic and leaves it for public display at your museum. This way, you only bear the maintenance cost, making it a beneficial deal for both, the client and the museum

Conducting special research projects in collaboration with experts.

Planning and conducting special research projects with experts. For example, your museum has acquired an artefact about which not much is known. You could get in touch with researchers and other experts in the field and figure out a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Undertaking supervisory responsibilities.

Supervising curatorial, technical and assisting staff matters. This could include many things like training, recruitment, management and more.

Coordinating and collaborating with other departments.

You might have to work with teams in charge of marketing, fundraising, conservation, and other departments within the museum.

Collaborating and networking with different categories of people.

At different points of time, you might have to work with different voluntary groups and agencies. This may include the local community, schools, grant agencies, trustees, governors, political groups, etc.

Workplace

Where will you work?

Museum

Much of the work for a Museum Curator is at the Museum itself. Even in pandemic times, though the museums are closed to the public, their work goes on behind closed doors. There could be some work-related travel from time to time, for a variety of reasons. You could travel to acquire artefacts and collections, or for client meetings and other such reasons. Most of the travel is usually short-term. Museum curators usually work fixed hours from Monday to Friday. However, extra hours are put in when special exhibitions and events approach. On occasion, you might even have to work on weekends. Many museums also offer part-time opportunities. Museum curators have a more or less fixed schedule unless the situation demands otherwise. However, they have to make sure they plan the schedules of museum employees accurately. Museums are usually busier over weekends, which is when most employees would be required to work their shifts. All this needs to be planned properly to avoid issues.

Colleges and Universities

At a later stage in your career, you could also take up teaching opportunities at colleges or universities.

Education

How do you get there?

STEP 1: Class XI-XII/Junior College

While studying in high school or junior college, you could shortlist and pursue free online courses about certain subjects to see what you like and what you don’t. For example, if you think natural history and art both are interesting, you could study online certificate courses for both. Maybe you will realise that natural history is not really your thing, but art definitely is. Another important thing to be noted is that it is imperative that you choose your subjects at this stage.

STEP 2: Graduate Degree

Pursue a graduate degree in your chosen field. It could be history, language, fine arts, archaeology – you name it! For example, you could pursue a Bachelor of Arts in English, Archaeology, History etc.

STEP 3: Internship

Internships are the best way to find out everything about this career. It gives you a practical insight into the industry, its people and how it functions. Ideally, you could look for internships during your bachelor’s course itself. That way, you can try out a couple of options to see what suits you the best. At this stage, you might not get a lot of high-profile work to do in the museum, but you will be much more aware of how things work by the time you’re done. This could also be your opportunity to bag a full-time job once you graduate.

STEP 4: Postgraduate Degree

You could try for a job immediately after your graduation, but it is preferable that you pursue your post-graduation first. The more you know, the better your chances of getting that dream job. You can pursue your postgraduate degree in your chosen field- similar to what you did during graduation. For example, if you have done your BA in English, you can go on to do an MA in English. Similarly, you could do an M.Sc. in Archaeology or History. Alternatively, you could now opt for a postgraduate degree in museology. You could do an MA in Museology after graduating in your chosen field. This could make for a great combination – knowledge of both, specialisation and museology. You could also go on to pursue a PhD in Museology.

STEP 5: Land a Job

Armed with your degrees and internship experience, you can now look for the perfect job opportunity. Make sure your first job gives you maximum exposure and learning experience. It is an important stepping stone to the career you really want. As a fresher, you might not get your dream job right away, but experience is the best teacher. Make it worth it. Congratulations, you are now officially a Museum Curator/Museologist!

This stream won’t help you make an entry into this field.

STEP 1: Class XI-XII/Junior College

If you want to specialise in science museology, you need to have a science background to be able to do that. In this case, you will need to study subjects like Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Maths at this level. If you aren’t very clear, you can just opt for whatever subject interests you the most at this stage. You can later go on to specialise in it.

STEP 2: Graduate Degree

Pursue a graduate degree in your chosen field. It could be Chemistry, Botany, Zoology – you name it! For example, you could pursue a B.Sc. in subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Botany,  Zoology etc.

STEP 3: Internship

Internships are the best way to find out everything about this career. It gives you a practical insight into the industry, its people and how it functions. Ideally, you could look for internships during your bachelor’s course itself. That way, you can try out a couple of options to see what suits you the best. At this stage, you might not get a lot of high-profile work to do in the museum, but you will be much more aware of how things work by the time you’re done. This could also be your opportunity to bag a full-time job once you graduate.

STEP 4: Postgraduate Degree

You could try for a job immediately after your graduation, but it is preferable that you pursue your post-graduation first. The more you know, the better your chances of getting that dream job. You can pursue your postgraduate degree in your chosen field- similar to what you did during graduation. For example, if you have done your B.Sc. in Zoology, you can go on to do an M.Sc. in Zoology. Similarly, you could do an M.Sc. in Chemistry, Botany etc. Alternatively, you could now opt for a postgraduate degree in museology. You could do an MA in Museology after graduating in your chosen field. This could make for a great combination – knowledge of both, the specialisation and museology. You could also go on to pursue a PhD in Museology.

STEP 5: Land a Job

Armed with your degrees and internship experience, you can now look for the perfect job opportunity. Make sure your first job gives you maximum exposure and learning experience. It is an important stepping stone to the career you really want. As a fresher, you might not get your dream job right away, but experience is the best teacher. Make it worth it. Congratulations, you are now officially a Museum Curator/Museologist!

What skills would you need?

Research

Research

Research is the systematic process of collecting, analysing, and interpreting information to increase understanding of a particular topic or issue. It involves identifying a question or problem, gathering relevant data, and evaluating sources to draw meaningful conclusions. Research can take various forms, including qualitative studies (which explore perceptions and experiences) and quantitative studies (which focus on numerical data and statistics). Strong research skills will enable you to find reliable information, assess the credibility of sources, and synthesise findings to support decision-making or further exploration. This skill is crucial in many fields, such as academia, business, healthcare, and technology, where informed decisions rely on thorough investigation and analysis. build this skill
Scientific Skills

Scientific Skills

Scientific skills encompass a range of abilities that enable individuals to conduct scientific research, understand scientific concepts, and apply scientific reasoning. Having strong scientific skills is crucial in fields such as healthcare, environmental science, engineering, and research, as they underpin the ability to innovate and solve complex problems. They also foster a deeper understanding of how scientific principles impact everyday life. build this skill
Creative Skills

Creative Skills

Creative skills involve the ability to think outside the box, generate new ideas, and find innovative solutions to problems. These skills include imagination, design thinking, artistic abilities, and the capacity to develop fresh concepts or approaches in different fields, from writing and art to problem-solving in business. Creative skills help you come up with original ideas, improve processes, and develop unique solutions in the workplace. In roles like marketing, design, or product development, creativity is essential for staying competitive and bringing new perspectives to projects or challenges. build this skill
Promotion levels

How do you make it to the top ranks?

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Intern / Apprentice

Museology is one of those rare careers that do not follow a typically linear path. You enter the market as a graduate or more commonly, a postgraduate. You can look to do internships and apprenticeships. You can also enrol for certificate programs in subjects such as Art History, Ancient History etc.

Assistant Curator / Department Assistant

Entry-level posts are open to you after the completion of your degree. These are usually assistant curators or even assistants in other departments in the case of bigger museums. Once you have garnered enough experience and expertise, you can look forward to being promoted to the post of curator. In smaller museums, there is usually just one curator who looks after it all.

Curator

In bigger museums, there are different curators for different sections, who all work together. As we have discussed earlier, being a curator requires you to have many more skills than just knowledge of your subject. You learn administrative, financial, supervisory and other such skills. This prepares you very well for self-employment and contract-based work.

Consultant

You can work on a consulting basis, depending on your area of expertise. For example, in a field like archaeology, consulting is the best pattern as you can work on a project-by-project basis. It also gives you the freedom to keep an eye out for rare opportunities of historical significance.

Scope

Pursuing your career locally VS abroad

India being a culturally rich country, has many important museums such as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya at Mumbai, The National Museum at Delhi, among others dedicated to the preservation, research and exhibition of our cultural artefacts. Many of the large, national museums have many positions for Curators, Deputy Curators, Assistant Curators etc. You can pursue courses in Museology from institutions such as the National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation and Museology, Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) of Baroda, Calcutta University, and others. Fees are quite affordable ranging from around Rs.5000 for a PG in Museology from Calcutta University, to around Rs. 25000 for a Master of Visual Arts (MVA) in Museology from MSU.

Countries such as France, UK, and the USA boast many world-renowned museums including the Louvre, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The British Museum among others, which have fascinating collections from various continents. Getting into one of them would be an opportunity of a lifetime. Universities of San Francisco, Harvard, George Washington University among others are the top universities in the USA for a course in Museology. The Total Cost for a Graduate Program in Museum Studies at Harvard is around $30,000 (INR approx. 22 lakhs). University of Leicester, UK has courses in Museum Studies ranging from £15,810 (INR 16 lakhs) for a PG Diploma to £19,760 (INR 20 lakhs) for MA, MSc.

Payscale

How much would you get paid?

Experience and qualifications are the two most important factors that decide your income in this field. As an undergraduate intern, you can earn close to INR 60,000 p.a. while an experienced curator can earn over INR 6 LPA. 


Specialisations

What are your career options?

Museum Director

Museum Director is one of the top positions in a Museum, especially a large one. The Museum Director takes leadership of the entire museum with responsibility for – Direct policymaking, planning, staffing, and operations. He/she would work closely with the Governing Body to refine and develop the strategic direction. They would also lead and participate in all fundraising and development activities, including grant writing and developing relationships with foundations, corporations, and individual donors. The Museum Director serves as the spokesperson and chief advocate for the Museum. You may need additional training in understanding the business aspects of running a museum.

Archivist

Archivists acquire, manage and maintain documents and other materials that are of historical and cultural importance to individuals, organisations and nations. As an archivist, a large part of your work will be related to preserving information and making it accessible, often in digital format. Archives may include valuable historical books, papers, maps and plans, as well as photographs, prints, films, tapes, videos and computer-generated records. Persons who are interested in these archives include researchers, academics, and the general public.

Anthropologist and Archeologist

Anthropologists and archaeologists study the origin, development, and behaviour of humans. As an archaeologist, you’ll record, interpret and preserve archaeological remains for future generations. You may be involved directly in carrying out excavations or work in related settings, such as – museums or heritage centres, universities and research organisations.

Historian

Historians conduct research and analysis for governments, businesses, individuals, nonprofits, historical associations, and other organisations. They use a variety of sources in their work, including government and institutional records, newspapers, photographs, interviews, films, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries, letters, and other primary source documents. Once their research is complete, they present their findings through articles, books, reports, exhibits, websites, and educational programs. The work may involve some travel in order to carry out your research. Although most historian positions require a master’s degree, some research positions require a doctoral degree.

University Faculty

Many curators teach at local schools, publish research, and review academic articles for publication during their work as Curators. Those who are interested in the research and educational arena, can continue this involvement in education by joining a University in the Arts, History, Anthropology, or Museology departments, where their knowledge and experience can be used in conducting research in new aspects, and educating and guiding students in this field.

Conservator

Conservators are specialists in the care and preservation of artefacts. They know how to prevent deterioration and to give a new lease of life to the old artefacts. Depending on which area of conservation you’re working in, you may be involved in treating objects directly to prevent deterioration, stabilise the object and undertake restoration. Alternatively, you might focus on monitoring and controlling the environment in which collections are stored or displayed to prevent deterioration. Conservators work in museums and galleries, historic properties, or archives and libraries. You can also work in the private sector for conservation practice.

You’ve only scratched the surface.

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