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 entertain the public.

Increasingly, the job role has expanded to include other activities, such as public relations, marketing, fundraising and education programmes. Curators are expected to prepare budgets and build relationships with both internal and external partners and stakeholders.

The role is no longer a purely academic research position and depending on the size of the institution, curators may be required to get involved in all aspects of the museum or gallery, including the visitor experience, human resources and finance.

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 which appeal to a wide cross-section of the general public.

Typical work activities

Typical work activities include:

• cataloguing acquisitions and keeping records;
• researching and writing catalogues;
• 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;
• 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.

The Heritage Lottery Fund  has had a major impact on the world of museums and galleries and, as a result, more and more time is being spent on the financial aspects of running a department or enterprise. This means that curators have less time available for managing collections, and the research element of their job, which used to be central, is only likely to come into play in preparation for exhibitions or in response to public enquiries.