how to become a museum curator

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Museum curators work with artistic and historic artifacts to create educational displays for the public. They are typically experts in a particular aspect of art, history, or science, and their daily responsibilities can range from artifact restoration to fundraising to public relations.^[1] 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.

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Choose your interest area. There are as many types of curators as there are types of museums - art museums, history museums, children's museums, science museums, and a vast range of specializations in between. You will need to choose what sort of museum you want to work for in order to pursue the appropriate education.
- Consider what experiences have influenced your desire to be a museum curator. Were you inspired by an Aztec history exhibit you saw on a school field trip? Do you dream of working in a place like the Metropolitan Museum of Art?
- Be as specific as possible. If you know you want to work in a science museum, think about what aspects of science interest you the most. Chemistry? Physics? Astronomy? The more specific your choice, the more extensively you can educate yourself in it.
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Get your Bachelor's degree. Many colleges offer Bachelor's degrees in museology, or museum studies, but it's not absolutely necessary that you choose this as your major.^[2] Museums will look for candidates with extensive education and experience in a field that is relevant to what they're curating, such as art or history, as well as knowledge of business administration, marketing, and fundraising.^[3]
- Bachelor's degrees typically take 4 years to complete, although it may take more if you choose a double major.
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Get a Master's in the field you wish to specialize in. By this time, you should have some idea of what subject you want to focus on. If you became particularly interested in African art while getting your Bachelor's in art history, look for Master's programs that have a focus in African art.
- Look at the faculty of graduate departments as well as the programs. Who you work with can have a great impact on your education, as well as your career. Many curators find jobs through the recommendations of professors in their field, so building a good relationship with faculty is a must.^[4]
- Graduate programs typically take between 1.5 and 3 years to complete.
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Get a PhD if you want to increase your career options. Many lower-level curatorial positions only require a Master's, but if you want to become curator at a national museum, you'll need a PhD.^[5] This should be in the field you wish to specialize in. Because of the competitive nature of this field, a specialized degree is increasingly necessary.^[6] You want to demonstrate as much expertise in whatever you hope to curate as possible.
- When you choose a subject for your thesis, it's ideal to find something unique that will stand out from other research in your field.^[7] Educate yourself on what research has already been done and aim to make a distinctive contribution.
- PhD programs typically take at least 5 years (the average length, however, is 8.2 years).^[8]
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Visit the type of museums you want to work in. If you want to work in an art museum, visit as many art museums as possible. When you visit, introduce yourself to museum staff and ask as many questions as possible. Take notes on what you see. Start with what's closest to you, but try to visit at least a few of the top museums in your chosen field, such as:^[9]
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City (art)
- The Louvre in Paris, France (art)
- The Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. (history & science)
- The British Museum in London (history & science)
- The Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece (history)
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Volunteer at a museum. Most museums are happy to accept volunteers,^[10] and the experience will improve your prospects later on. This will also give you a chance to learn more about the inner workings of a museum and determine whether it's the right career path for you.
- Talk to the museum staff about your aspirations. The staff will most likely be happy to answer your questions, and may give you more specialized assignments, such as helping out with an exhibit you're particularly interested in, if they know you are motivated to learn more about museum work.
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Apply for an internship at a museum. Many museums offer unpaid internships for aspiring museum professionals. An internship will give you more specialized and interesting work than volunteering will, and may also count towards your education if you arrange it through your university. It will also give you an opportunity to work more closely with museum staff and form valuable working relationships.
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Get a job in a museum. Even if you're still working on your education, you can apply for lower-level positions at respected museums to gain work experience. Most museums look for candidates with at least 5 years of work experience when hiring curators.^[11]
- You should aim for the highest position you're qualified for at the most prestigious museum possible, but any museum job is better than nothing.
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Start building a portfolio of curatorial work. Curate shows that relate to your specialty at galleries and local venues. When you add each show to your portfolio, include its title, date, venue, contributors, and a brief blurb describing the show. You should also include several photographs of the pieces shown and the opening event, as well as any news articles or press relating to the show.
- Websites such as Squarespace and Wix can make assembling an online portfolio easy and affordable. However, you will also want a physical version to take to job interviews.
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Build good relationships with museum professionals. As with most jobs, personal relations can be crucial to a successful career in curating.^[12] If you already work at a museum in some capacity, make sure you have a good relationship with higher-level staff, including, of course, the curator(s). Network with curators and professionals from other museums as well.
- You should attend as many conferences in museum studies and in your specific field as possible, especially national ones. Apply to give presentations or moderate panels at conferences to increase your visibility and gain valuable experience.
- Attend special events, openings and galas at other museums. Check the museum's website beforehand for information about their staff and curator, and make an effort to find those people and introduce yourself.
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Publish research papers in respected publications. You will be required to do research for your Master's degree and PhD, and it's important to publish the best of your work as often as possible. Aim for publications that are highly respected in your field as well as more visible and publicly accessible ones.^[13]
- Some respected curatorial publications include Journal of Curatorial Studies, Exhibitionist, and Curator: The Museum Journal.^[14]
- Some more visible art journals include Juxtapoz, ARTnews, and Artforum.^[15] Popular science and history publications include Nature, Popular Science, and National Geographic.
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Broaden your education with business-related courses and special trainings. In addition to extensive expertise in your chosen field, museums will look for candidates with a range of relevant skills such as team management, computer technology, fundraising, public relations, and business administration. Consider taking special courses or trainings to build your resume.
- Many universities offer training programs for professionals, often online. Check with your own school or another respected university to see if such options are available.
- Joining a local business association can often give you access to discounted courses and seminars in subjects such as marketing and business administration.
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Search for available curator positions at respected museums. You should use common job hunting sites such as Monster and Indeed, but also check the websites of museums you hope to work for for job listings. Send resumes to your top choices - even if they aren't hiring, they may be impressed by your experience and initiative and keep your resume on file for future openings.
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Ace your interview. No matter how impressive your resume is, you need to make an excellent impression in person to land the job. Research the museum thoroughly beforehand, dress professionally, and arrive a few minutes early. Be prepared to discuss your resume at length and communicate your strengths convincingly.

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What qualifications do I need to be a museum curator?

You need a least an MA. You don't need a PhD to become a curator. In 2016, the Art Institute of Chicago hired someone with an MA as the assistant curator of Chinese art. She is from China. She received her BA in archaeology from China.
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What is the average beginning salary of a curator?

It depends on what country you live in.

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Curating is an expanding but competitive field. While the variety of curating opportunities is growing,^[16] jobs at established museums remain highly sought after, which means heavy competition.^[17] In 2016, there were only 31,000 museum curator positions in the US (as opposed to 792,500 for lawyers, 1,018,700 for high school teachers, and 3,990,400 for administrative assistants).

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If you'd like to become a museum curator, start by choosing what type of museum you want to work in, such as an art museum or a science museum. Additionally, think about the kinds of exhibits you'd enjoy organizing and presenting to the public. Then, get hands-on experience by applying for an internship at a museum and work your way up to an entry level job since curator positions typically require 5 years of relevant work experience. You'll also need to have a Bachelor's degree in museum studies and a Master's in the field you wish to specialize in. For more advice, including how to search for available curator positions, keep reading!

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