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Curator

Curators develop, maintain, research and exhibit collections for museums, art galleries and artists.

Tasks & duties

Curators may do some or all of the following:

research items in a collection
consult with other staff to decide what items to display in exhibitions
decide what items to add to the collection
liaise with artists, art dealers, and other museums or galleries to source and acquire items for exhibitions and collections
work with designers on displays
research and write information about exhibitions and collections
store, transport, and keep database records for items
organise the repair of damaged items by a conservator
give talks on exhibitions and collections
organise maintenance and security of exhibitions

Specialisations

Curators may specialise in areas such as art, art history, natural history, or Māori or Pasifika culture.

Skills & knowledge

Curators need to have:

knowledge of the subject area they work in such as art, history, or material culture (the study through artefacts or objects of a community's beliefs)
knowledge of how to handle, conserve and preserve items in collections and exhibitions
good research skills, including up-to-date knowledge of theories and research methods
excellent writing skills
time management skills
negotiation skills, particularly when sourcing items for an exhibition
communication and public relations skills
knowledge of funding sources

Entry requirements

Curators need to have a postgraduate degree majoring in a specialist area such as art, art history, science, cultural studies or history. A postgraduate Diploma in Museum Studies may also be useful.

Secondary education

A tertiary entrance qualification is needed to enter further training. Useful school subjects include Māori studies, Pacific studies, art history, art, classical studies, history, science or English.

Training on the job

Curators may gain additional skills and knowledge on the job. They may attend seminars, conferences and workshops as part of their ongoing professional development, as it is important to keep up to date with national and international best practice.