Career Advice for a Curator

Curators manage collections of artistic, historical, or scientific objects. They arrange for exhibit items to be collected, catalogued, and displayed in exhibitions. Curators can work in museums that specialise in a specific area or an art gallery.

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How to Become a Curator

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become a Curator

Should you wish to work as a Curator you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for a Curator

  • 2 or 3 A Levels
  • Degree in Museum or Heritage Studies or similar
  • Apprenticeship in cultural operations

Key Responsibilities for a Curator

  • Acquiring new items for display
  • Researching and recording new artifacts
  • Designing displays
  • Maintaining items properly in storage
  • Negotiating artifact purchases or exhibit loans
  • Raising funds for research
  • Hiring and training staff
  • Handling administrative tasks including budgets and marketing
  • Representing the museum at public events
  • Updating website with new attractions

What to expect as a Curator

Curators collect and display artifacts and historical pieces or artworks. You will manage exhibitions, negotiate purchases and loans of items, and complete general business tasks. To be successful as a curator, you will need excellent attention to detail and project management skills.

Recommended Curator Jobs

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How to get Curator Jobs

Our advice on how to get a Curator job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete a Curator application. If you have not held a Curator position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held a Curator role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Curator CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Curator application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become a Curator in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become a Curator 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be a Curator and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Curator experience.

How to get Curator Experience

What does it take to be a Curator? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Curator jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Curator through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be a Curator Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Curator part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Curator or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Curator freelance work

If you have impressive Curator qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.