How to Start a Career in Museum Curation

Museums offer a thrilling and fulfilling career path for those who love history, art, science, and culture. Curators also contribute significantly to preserving and displaying artifacts, artworks, and exhibits, so that future generations can learn about and enjoy all-important pieces of human history. In this post, you will learn a step-by-step guide on how to become a museum curator if you are interested in pursuing this profitable career.

What Does a Museum Curator Do?

But before we jump into how to become a curator, it’s important to know what the role is. What does a museum curator do?

• Collections Acquisition & Preservation — Choosing and overseeing artifacts, arts, and exhibits.
• Researching and Cataloging Items — Learning about the history and cultural significance of museum items.
• Designing and Developing Exhibitions – Creating and curating exhibitions to inform and attract visitors.
• Education Outreach – Giving lectures, tours and workshops.
• Fundraising and Grantwriting – Obtaining financial support to keep the museum running and to acquire new items.
• Collaboration with Scholars and Artists – Working with historians, researchers, and other experts to enhance museum content

How to Start a Career in Museum Curation

1. Obtain a Relevant Education

The second piece to a career in museum curation is a good educational background. Most curators have at least a bachelor’s degree, and many positions require a master’s degree or above.

• Undergraduate Degree:

• Ideal disciplines are Art History, Archaeology, Anthropology, Museum Studies or History.
• Courses in conservation, archival science, or cultural studies may also be helpful.

• Master’s Degree:

• Most museums prefer candidates that hold a Master’s in Museum Studies, Art History or Public History.
• Graduate degrees equip with specialized knowledge about curation, collections management, and exhibit design.

• Doctoral Degree (Optional):

• Certain specialized posts, especially at major museums, demand a Ph. D.
• This is useful if you want to work in academic museums or specialized research positions.

2. Gain Practical Experience Through Internships

Internships are an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience in museum curation. Look for opportunities at:

• Local Museums and Art Galleries — Many smaller museums have internships or volunteer positions.
• University Museums – Check your university museum or special collection department for openings if you are in school.
• Historical Societies and Cultural Entities – These sites usually have opportunities for research and curation;
• National and International Museums — Larger institutions may have very competitive intern programs.

Internships provide:

• Familiarity with museum operations.
• Networking with professionals from the industry
• Hands-on experience with cataloging, preservation and exhibition planning

3. Develop Key Skills

Curating a museum requires technical skills and soft skills. The following are some of the must-have skills:

• Research Skills – Aiming to review and study artifacts, art pieces, and historical objects in detail
• Attention to Detail – Accurate cataloguing, labeling, and handling of objects.
• Communication Skills – Writing exhibits descriptions; grants proposals; and educational materials.
• Organizational Skills – Collection, exhibition, and museum database management.
• Networking and Public Relations – Connecting with artists, historians, donors and the general public

4. Get Involved with Low-Level Museum Jobs or Volunteer Work

If you’re unable to get an internship, consider volunteering or working in an entry-level position, such as:

• Museum Assistant
• Collections Technician
• Exhibit Coordinator
• Research Assistant

These jobs will give you insight into how a museum functions on a day-to-day basis and can lead to curator positions.

5. Pursue Certification and Professional Development

Business & Finance Certifications and Memberships (degrees are not mandatory, but count) Consider:

• American Alliance of Museums (AAM) — Offers courses for professional development.
• International Council of Museums (ICOM) — Provides networking and training programs.
• Society of American Archivists (SAA) – A great choice for the archival-curation minded

Additionally, You stay updated by attending workshops, seminars, and industry conferences for museums.

6. Build a Strong Network

Networking is key in the museum world. You can build connections by:

• Seeing museum conferences and exhibitions.
• Becoming a member of museum-related organizations.
• LinkedIn groups for professors, historians and museum professionals.
• Involvement in research projects within the museum.

Good professional relationships can open doors for jobs and career advancements.

7. Become an Expert in Museum Technology

Modern museums depend on the help of various technologies to catalog and present exhibits. Learning about:

• Collection Management Software (for instance, PastPerfect, TMS, or EMu)
• Digital Archiving and Preservation
• Virtual Museum Tours and 3D Scanning
• Interactive Exhibit Design

Technical skills can give you an edge in a competitive job market.

8. Apply for Museum Curator Jobs

After you’ve acquired curator education, experiences, and skills, utilize that knowledge by applying for available curator opportunities. These are a few areas where you look for jobs:

• Museum websites (e.g., Smithsonian, The British Museum, The Louvre)
• Job Boards (e.g., Museum Jobs, the AAM Career Center, LinkedIn)
• University and Government Museum Openings

Please tailor your resume and cover letter to the specific job you are applying for, highlighting any relevant experience, research skills, and exhibit expertise.

Getting Career Growth/Becoming Specialized

Museum curators can specialize in different areas over time such as:

• Art Curators – Specialize in fine arts, canvasses, and sculptures.
• Natural History Curators – Get involved with fossils, minerals, and animal specimens.
• Historical Curators — Responsible for archives and historical objects.
• Science and Technology Curators – Deal with scientific exhibits and innovations.
• Digital and Multimedia Curators — Work with digital collections and interactive exhibits.

A curator can eventually advance to a museum director or head curator with experience who manages an entire museum department.

Some Challenges in Museum Curation Sector

Although museum curation is a rewarding career, it does have its challenges, such as:

• Very Few Available Positions – Curator roles are some of the most competitive.
• Funding Constraints – Most museums depend on grants and donations, making budgets tight.
• Often Very Long Hours And Extensive Research — Curators work long hours (especially ahead of exhibitions).
• Navigating Public Engagement/Scholarly Accountability – Speaking to the public without losing academic credibility.

Conclusion

Train and become a museum curator. Through these steps to earn the necessary degree, get internships, develop skills, and make connections, you can begin your career in museum curation. If you are passionate about Art, History, Science and Culture, you can always curate a museum collection that will preserve the knowledge and share it with the audience.