Museum/gallery curator: Job description

A museum or gallery curator acquires, cares for, develops, displays and interprets a collection of artefacts or works of art in order to inform, educate and inspire the public.

In addition to responsibility for a particular collection, the job can include other activities, such as public relations, marketing, fundraising and education programmes. Curators are also expected to prepare budgets, manage staff and build relationships with both internal and external partners and stakeholders.

There is a growing need for museums, galleries, heritage and tourism attractions to develop collaborative relationships and share collections, as well as their expertise. It is essential that curators construct innovative and creative exhibitions that appeal to a wide cross-section of the general public.

Typical work activities

The specific responsibilities of a curator can vary from museum to museum. At a small independent museum, a curator may, in effect, manage the museum, looking after the collection, operations, staff and volunteers, whilst at a large national museum 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. However, typical activities are likely to include the following:

• 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 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;
• writing bids;
• 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.