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What does a typical day for a museum curator/manager look like?

Hi! I am a high school senior and I want to major in history in college. I am interested in becoming a museum curator and I am interested in every aspect of the career itself. #history #museums #museum-education

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Daniela’s Answer

Hi Jazzmim,


The specific responsibilities of a curator can vary from museum to museum. At a small independent museum or gallery, a curator may, in effect, be the manager. This would involve looking after the collection, operations, staff and volunteers. At a large national museum or gallery, on the other hand, a curator may be responsible for one specific area of the collection, for research in a specific field of knowledge and for the management of a small team of assistants and volunteers.


Whatever the size of their workplace, a museum or gallery curator's job is likely to include:


-responsibility for a collection of artefacts or works of art;
-acquiring objects or collections of interest to the museum/gallery;
-cataloguing acquisitions and keeping records;
-carrying out background research and writing catalogues;
-displaying objects or collections in way that makes them accessible and engaging to the general public;
-writing materials and articles for the website;
-writing articles for internal and external publications;
-planning, organising, interpreting and presenting exhibitions and lectures;
-collection documentation and management;
-collaborating with other museum departments, such as education, fundraising, marketing and conservation;
-negotiating loan items and external loans and the accompanying funding;
-handling enquiries from researchers and the public;
-dealing with and understanding computer-generated imagery and website software as part of enhancing the -visitor experience and interaction;
-budget planning, forecasting and reporting;
-staff management, recruitment, annual appraisals and disciplinary matters;
-staff training, promotion and development;
-dealing with enquiries from clients and stakeholders;
-liaising with voluntary groups, the community and industry (including schools, local history and other community groups), as well as grant agencies to secure sponsorship for events, publications and development projects;
-liaising with management boards, governors, trustees and local council and political groups to secure the future of the museum;
-networking with other museum and art gallery professionals and outside agencies.


It's essential to construct innovative and creative exhibitions that appeal to a wide cross-section of the general public.


Sorce: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/museum_gallery_curator_job_description.htm


I hope this information can help you!!!
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Adam’s Answer

Cool question - I had the same one my first year in college. I took a course and learned a ton about what it takes to run a museum. As part of the course, we had to spend a certain number of hours volunteering in a local museum. I didn't even know how many small museums were around my town! I had an incredible experience and learned first hand what it meant to not only set up exhibits, and classify donations, and work with visitors. I also discovered that I didn't like the work as much, especially the business side of the museum with soliciting donations. I wouldn't have had that perspective without the practicum. Try it out - you may love all aspects of it, you may not. But it's good to trade some of your time in high school to get some experience seeing first hand what's involved with running a museum.
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