Curator Career Guide and Counseling

Question: How do I get on the right track to becoming a museum curator? I am a junior in college and I have just changed my major to history. I would like to become a museum curator but I am not sure how to prepare for this career? I would like some help on how I can get started on the road to my dream career.

Answer: Having worked in a prominent historical museum, and closley with many curators, the major thing they all have in common is their degrees... to the doctorate level. So... Education, Education, Education. I've never been a fan of that "Piece of paper" called a degree. But in that field, it actually pays off. As a curator, you REALLY need to know your stuff.... not just be able to look it up. Good luck. I can tell is a rewarding career and you can make some good cash. Oh - an a good starting point is to at least get your foot in the door. Almost every museum has volunteer programs. Even if you're not working directly with artifacts and exhibitions, you can still be a presenter or a "Period" worker.

Question: What should i study for to become a Curator? Is there anything else i should major (or minor) in( besides Art History) to become a Curator for a gallery?

Answer: It would help greatly if you include Cultural Heritage Studies and Museum Studies in your academic pursuits. It may interest you to know that organizational skills are needed for planning of exhibitions as well as communication skills to liaise with design and display staff. IT skills are important too to manage information about art collections.

Question: how would i persuade a museum curator to include the tsunami 2004? for english i have a task to choose an event that happened in the 21st century and persuade a museum curator to include it in the museum. what should i write?

Answer: Make sure you choose a museum with plenty of water... Seriously, you need to decide what sort of museum and what sort of message about the Tsunami you want to show. Human impact of that event? Physical cause of that tsunami? Prevention? Detection? Perhaps a science museum would let you show how it happened and could include display material about the impact on people, animals, crops and buildings. Good luck!

Question: What kind of schooling will I need in order to be a museum curator? A museum curator is a person who mainly manages the collections in a museum.

Answer: A university degree in history, paleontology, geology, anthropology or even all of them. Many years working in one or more of those fields combined with public recognition in the subject. And then some experience and success in public relations and business management. Even for a small, local museum you are going to need the public relation, business management and degree in history.

Question: How to become a museum curator? Looking for colleges, colege majors that would help in becoming a museum curator. I have already looked in Histroric Preservation as a major.

Answer: This government site will give you details of the "typical" qualifications of museum curators. Of course (as you can see) the kind of museum you wish to take care of will influence the major you might want to pursue. You also should not forget that many factors could be more important than your degree. Receiving a degree in any discipline proves your ability to study & to focus. Additional factors will often sway whether you or the person interviewed before or after you gets the position. You might want to build a history of volunteering part-time at museums, writing museum reviews for a local paper, or participating in fund-raising activities for an institution that interests you. Good luck! http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos065.htm#training

Question: Do you have to have a masters degree to work as a museum curator? Or do you just need a bachlors degree? I would like to get a bachlors degree and major in art history and get a job as a museum curator. Or would I need a masters?

Answer: it used to be that you could get a curating job with just a masters degree in art history but those days are no more. you absolutely need a phd. it seems like you should probably familiarize yourself with exactly what a curator does because your assumption that it is something that can be done with a bachelors degree is kind of wacky. do a little research: you will soon find out that being a curator requires a TON of knowledge about the works of art you are in charge of as well as managerial skills. a bachelors degree is the first step toward becoming a curator but it is by no means the only step. you can get an internship in a museum to get some hands on experience with museum work. does your college/university have a museum? start there.

Question: What is good pay for a Museum Director or Curator? I want to know an average pay of a Museum Director or Curator that has a PhD in history.

Answer: In Australia you would be paid between about AUS$100,000 and $500,000 depending on the institution. Skilled graduates in this area start on about $70,000.

Question: How do I prepare myself to become a museum curator during my high school years? I want to become a museum curator but i am only a junior in high school right now what are ways to get my self ready for the curator position and some things that will look good on my application to become a curator and to get into a good collage

Answer: in some high schools they offer business classes. take some of those. also, take a lot of history classes and do well in them. the basis of a job as a curator is to know a lot about history.

Question: How can I get a curator to help me to get sponsors for an exhibition about Elizabeth II? My husband is finishing his work about Lindsay Kemp's play `The last Dance´. I'd like to know how to get a good sponsor in England because I'm sure the performance my husband is thinking with his paintings inspired by the play would be more than interesting in this country.

Answer: There must be a gallery owner who will find this interesting enough to take it on -- have you asked around and seen what type of content the exhibitions that are on show at the moment involve or whether someone might take a theatrical interest in sponsoring something like his work instead..sounds interesting have you used the net, to promote this ---

Question: Zoo curator? How do you become one and what exactly do you do? I know that you have to get a doctorate degree in Zoology, but then what? I mean it is not like there are a ton of zoos out there and its easy to get a job. Do you have to work your way up? I mean starting from a zookeeper and then working your way up? Also, are they in charge of breeding and getting the animals and their overall care?

Answer: A zoo curator looks after the day to day running of the zoo, such as ordering food supplies, co-ordinating breeding programmes with other zoos, and sometimes the hiring and firing of staff. Some curators might help out with the animals from time to time, but others are never involved with the animals, leaving that to the keepers. You need a degree in Business Management or something similar to become a curator, but be aware that you generally can't just walk into this job off the street - you must work your way up the ladder at a particular zoo, which may take many years.

Question: What does it take to become a museum curator? What courses do you have to take? I really like history and art history, but i am also interested in anthropology what courses are required to take? I know you have to get a pHd. How competitive is it and is it really hard job to get?

Answer: The "road to the curator" is typically a combination of academic studies and practical experience, meaning advance degrees combined with internships, volunteer work, and jobs. Almost all senior-level curatorial jobs require PhD's in the discipline of the museum (e.g. science, art, history, etc.). But within the world of contemporary art you'll find more flexibility. You can get by with just a master's and in some cases just a bachelor's degree if you have experience as well. However this may not be the case at some of the most prestigious museums in the country. I think art conservation is actually the most competitive profession within the museum world, but curating comes close behind. So remember when you are searching for jobs that if you can't land a curatorial position there are many other ones that offer opportunities to interact with the discipline (art, history, anthropology) in a meaningful and intellectual way, such as in museum education or collections/registration. In terms of courses to take now, try to get as many within your field of interest as possible (art and anthropology). And, if you can, also try to take a few business classes (e.g. accounting or management) and especially classes focused on nonprofit management. While in school seek out museum experience as a volunteer, intern, or employee either where you are enrolled or in the same town where you live. If you have no museum work experience at all, literally any type of work, especially that involving interacting with public, will help you gain important skills. If this is not an option, seek out similar positions at other non-profits, in the arts (such as a theater) or any other service-related group, like a hospital, shelter, etc. All of this work builds your resume and you can find a way to apply it to future museum work (e.g. if you help set up a Facebook page for an animal shelter you can do the same for a museum if you end up in their PR department). I just saw that the College Art Association is publishing an updated directory of graduate programs in art history, which will include degrees in museum studies and curatorial studies. You might want to check that out. Also, take a look at job listings for curators on CAA's job site and the website for the American Association of Museums. You'll quickly learn what experience, education, and skills are required for top curatorial candidates.

Question: What qualifications would you need to become a museum curator? A masters for example in history or a PHD?

Answer: Both graduate education and practical experience are required for people who wish to become curators. Aside from an extensive knowledge of history and art, it is useful to have a basic understanding of chemistry, restoration techniques, museum studies, and even physics and public relations. Curators must have basic skills in aesthetic design, organizational behavior, business, fund-raising, and publicity. Many employers look favorably on foreign language skills as well. To become a collection manager or a curatorial assistant, a master’s degree is required. To become a curator at a national museum, a PhD is required, as is about five years of field experience. The market is competitive, and academic standards are very high. Useful graduate degrees include restoration science, curatorship, art history, history, chemistry, and business administration. Nearly all curators find it helpful to engage in continuing education. Research and publication in academic journals are important for advancement in the field. Good luck!

Question: I want to be a zoo curator should i go to college for zoology? I want to go to school for zoology. What type of classes that i could take in high school would look good on my college resume to give me more of a chance of getting accepted into a really good college for Zoology. Is zoology what i have to do to become a curator? If not what do I have to do to become a zoo curator and are there any schools in California for this kind of stuff? Thanx a mill

Answer: I think a curator is different from someone who works with animals. Curators are usually more involved with the running of the overall zoo, not the animals. I imagine that there are master's degrees that deal specifically with your field, but an undergrad degree is zoology is a good start. You should talk or email with people at a real zoo. They are usually very friendly. Whatever you do, don't work at the San Francisco zoo.

Question: Is there any ways online to become a rare book curator? I live in Tulsa, OK and have 5 children with 2 jobs, and also going to school. I don't have time nor money to travel to go to a course in Virginia or Connecticut. Any info will be greatly appreciated. Only serious answers please. Not purchasing rare books online. I want to become a rare book curator and was wondering if there were any ways to do it online.

Answer: sure..see www.exlibris.com www.amazon.com and www.google.com there are more rare books online than people can actually afford..

Question: What do I do if I want to become a curator at a museum? I have recently declared my major as Art History and I plan on taking Curating classes during my senior year in college. Are there any places that I can go to continue my curating education after college?

Answer: People in curatorial positions, particularly in large institutions, have post-graduate qualifications. At the very least you will want a Master's Degree either in Art History or a Museology degree. If you have your sights set on being a curator at an important metropolitan gallery then you should plan on getting a Ph.D. For specific programs I'd urge you to speak with one or more of your professors and get their advice. Good luck.

Question: Does anyone know who the curator of the Berlin Museum (egypt display) is? I never knew that many people curated one exhibition.

Answer: Dr. Caris-Beatrice Arnst, curator Klaus Finneiser, curator Dr. Karla Kroeper, curator Josefine Kuckertz M.A., research assistant Dr. Verena Lepper, curator Dr. Fabian Reiter, curator (papyrus collection) Claudia Saczecki, temporary assistant curator Dr. Olivia Zorn, curator These people curate that particular collection.