Career Post - Museum Curator

For those interested in art and history, becoming an art curator for a museum can be a good career choice. The responsibilities of this job are curating exhibitions by planning and organizing which artworks will be displayed, and creating engaging and informative narratives. Once they finish planning, they must purchase these artworks and oversee their intake. Curators also manage how the public views exhibitions by researching and analyzing artworks to create content such as the wall-texts displayed next to works. They further interact with the public with lectures, workshops, and guided tours and act as the museum’s spokesperson. 

Because of all these responsibilities, there are many important skills and experiences necessary to achieve the position. Curators must have extensive understanding of art history, knowing different movements and historical periods. They must also have good communication and writing skills so they can relay information to the public. An unexpected skill that is needed is leadership, because curators end up having to manage museum staff, including volunteers or interns. Moreover, attention to detail is necessary in all parts of a curator’s day. 

While some smaller institutions accept bachelor’s degrees, it is recommended that curators get a master’s or Ph.D.. Some college majors that provide the training for this career are fine arts, museum studies, and art administration. Many successful curators have two degrees: one in a specific art history field, such as the Renaissance, and another in museum studies or art management. There are a few recognized top schools that offer good programs for becoming a museum curator. These include Bard College’s Center for Curatorial Studies, New York University’s Institute of Fine Arts, Tufts University’s MA in Art history and Museum Studies in conjunction with the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and George Washington’s Corcoran School Museum Studies MA program, which has helpful connections to the Smithsonian Institution.