Curators typically need a master’s degree in art history, history, archaeology, or museum studies. The process can be long and difficult, and yet many curators did not set out to get into curation at all. To become a museum curator, you'll need a bachelor's degree. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree Pay. Archivists, curators, museum technicians, and conservators work in museums, historical sites, governments, colleges and universities, corporations, and other institutions. With a proper education, extensive expertise in a specialized field, and a broad range of professional skills on your resume, you’ll be well qualified for a fascinating career as a museum curator. Be as specific as possible. However, there is so much to know about curators and the nature of their work, and therefore, it is not easy to become a part of the community of museum caretakers. They not only manage the acquisition of art pieces but also oversee their proper preservation and display among other museum artifacts. A career in management is varied but always requires good communication skills and an understanding of people. Curators. Attend special events, openings and galas at other museums. Museum Curator Education Requirements. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City (art), The Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. (history & science), The British Museum in London (history & science), The Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece (history). What do I need to do to become a museum curator? Even though most museum curators have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. But what do you do if your institution doesn’t have a huge social media following? Check with your own school or another respected university to see if such options are available. A museum curator is essentially a manager of the museum's collections and exhibits. At a small independent museum or gallery you may, in effect, be the manager. Museum curators look after and manage exhibitions. Choose your interest area. If visiting museums or art exhibitions make your heart buzz with excitement, then you should consider becoming a Museum Curator! How to Become an Archivist, Curator, or Museum Worker. How to Become a Curator. To become a museum curator you usually have to complete an arts or science degree at university with a major in a relevant area, such as anthropology, archaeology, fine arts, history, cultural studies, astronomy, biology or environmental science (preferably at honours level), followed by a postgraduate qualification in museum studies, curatorship or cultural heritage management. How to Become a Museum Curator. Find out what else you can do. A minimum of a master’s degree is required for most curator positions. To become a curator at a national museum, a PhD is required, as is about five years of field experience. Curators come from all sorts of academic backgrounds, but normally need to match their degree with the museum they wish to work for. Cataloging the museum's collections. People tend to use the word as shorthand for museum work of all sorts: perhaps what would suit you best would be museum education, or exhibition design, or fundraising, or visitor operations … museums even need accountants, IT people and cooks if it’s a museum environment that appeals rather than a curator’s work per se. Joining a local business association can often give you access to discounted courses and seminars in subjects such as marketing and business administration. Curators at smaller regional museums or galleries can earn $55,000 to $65,000 a year. You don’t need a PhD to become a curator. PhD programs typically take at least 5 years (the average length, however, is 8.2 years). Management experience is also highly desirable. [1] The more specific your choice, the more extensively you can educate yourself in it. While the path toward becoming a museum curator may vary between candidates and workplace environments, there are several steps that most professionals take. "I never thought of museum curator as a vocation, but when I saw one narrate a show on PBS, I found this article. Do you dream of working in a place like the Metropolitan Museum of Art? wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Source: Museums Aotearoa, 2018. Generally there are no specific subjects required, though humanities subjects such as history, religious studies and geography can be helpful. In small museums, curator positions may be available to applicants with a bachelor’s degree. Apprenticeships, internships and gap years, Undergraduate degree in a relevant subject, Postgraduate degree in a relevant subject. Approved. Experienced curators at larger museums can earn $65,000 to $70,000. Archaeological science degrees will require at least one science A level. Who you work with can have a great impact on your education, as well as your career. Were you inspired by an Aztec history exhibit you saw on a school field trip? There are managers in all kinds of job sector. Well written, and defined if one would pursue this academic endeavor. X How to become a Curator. If you know you want to work in a science museum, think about what aspects of science interest you the most. You’ll usually be expected to have a relevant degree and postgraduate qualification. Curators must also know how visitors consume art or artifacts, and adapt to the needs of the artist or institution. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Some of the more popular degrees include the Master of Museum Studies, Master of Cultural Studies, Master of Museum and Heritage Studies, or Master of Fine Arts. Last Updated: March 28, 2019 What qualifications do I need to be a museum curator? To become a curator at a national museum, like the Smithsonian in Washington DC or the National Gallery in London, a Ph.D. is required, in conjunction with five-years field experience. Evaluates and catalogs new collections according to department and library procedures. Most museums require curators to have a master’s degree in an appropriate discipline of the museum’s specialty—art, history, or archaeology—or in museum studies. Talk to the museum staff about your aspirations. Most work full time. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. One way to become a museum curator is if one is fortunate enough to have a member of the family that is into collecting items of significance, and they are highly educated in this area of interest. Assisting in the preservation of materials. • Accuracy when cataloging items. To get on a relevant degree you will need five GCSEs A-C, including maths, English and science and at least two A levels. As gallery work is a competitive field, gaining experience through volunteering or an internship is usually essential. How to Become a Museum Curator. Most museum curators hold at least a bachelor's degree in art, history, or museum studies. Find out Museum Curator - Higher Ed. In 2016, the Art Institute of Chicago hired someone with an MA as the assistant curator of Chinese art. How do I become … a museum curator. How to become a Museum Curator - Higher Ed.? {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8a\/Become-a-Museum-Curator-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Become-a-Museum-Curator-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8a\/Become-a-Museum-Curator-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1226729-v4-728px-Become-a-Museum-Curator-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"