Marcus Chen
Working in a museum can be a varied and exciting career, with many different roles and responsibilities. From curators and archivists to art handlers and exhibition designers, there are numerous opportunities for individuals of varying backgrounds to work with and around museum paintings. Curators, for example, manage collections of art or museum artefacts, conduct academic research, and put together exhibition catalogues. Art handlers, also known as preparators, are responsible for the physical aspects of storing, transporting, and exhibiting artwork. They work closely with gallery technicians to build, repair, and maintain exhibition spaces. Conservators, on the other hand, are responsible for treating and maintaining the museum's collection, including repairing or restoring artwork before it is displayed. These are just a few examples of the diverse roles that contribute to the functioning of a museum and its painting collections.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Job Title | Curator, Registrar, Preparator/Art Handler, Director of Acquisitions, Docent, Conservator, Exhibition Designer, Collections Officer, Gallery Technician, Archivist, Museum Educator |
| Curator's Qualifications | PhD in a relevant field, e.g. art history with a focus on a specific type of art |
| Curator's Responsibilities | Academic research on an artist or topic, putting together an exhibition catalogue, writing wall text, deciding content of exhibition |
| Registrar's Responsibilities | Arranging loans of objects, coordinating shipping, communicating condition of art, asking for object lists with insurance values |
| Preparator/Art Handler's Responsibilities | Preparing space and content for public view, storing, transporting, and exhibiting artwork, painting walls, putting up labels, building display mechanisms, overseeing lighting and climate control |
| Conservator's Qualifications | Master's degree in art/history conservation |
| Conservator's Responsibilities | Treating and repairing items in the museum's collection, maintaining artefacts and historical documents, environmental and climate control, pest management, storing and packaging sensitive items, encasing items, preventing long-term deterioration, retaining aesthetic appeal of items |
| Exhibition Designer's Qualifications | Bachelor's degree in theater or set design |
| Exhibition Designer's Salary | $40,000 to $60,000 |
| Exhibition Designer's Responsibilities | Creating new and exciting exhibits, working with curators to develop plans for future exhibitions |
| Museum Educator's Qualifications | Bachelor's degree in education, history, art, or other relevant subjects |
| Museum Educator's Salary | $30,000 to $40,000 |
| Museum Educator's Responsibilities | Informing and guiding visitors about exhibits, history, and backgrounds, writing pamphlets, providing online educational resources |
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What You'll Learn
- Curators: Research, write and decide on exhibition content
- Art handlers/preparators: Physically handle and install artwork
- Registrars: Help acquire items, coordinate loans and shipping
- Conservators: Treat and maintain artworks, reverse damage
- Exhibition/exhibit designers: Create exciting exhibits, working with curators
Curators: Research, write and decide on exhibition content
A curator is someone who works with museum paintings. Curators are meticulous record-keepers of the museum and usually have a background in art or art history. They are responsible for managing collections of art or museum artefacts, which could include anything from paintings to everyday objects. Curators decide the content of an exhibition and conduct academic research on an artist or topic. They put together a written textbook called an exhibition catalogue that includes many of the objects. Curators also work closely with the marketing team and other directors, instructing and guiding exhibit designers on the long-term goals of the museum. Curators are also responsible for identifying species in their particular discipline and comparing them to see if what they have collected is a specimen that hasn't been identified before.
Curators start their careers as exhibitions assistants, helping with the preparation of exhibitions and events. They steer the development and delivery of new galleries, working alongside a collective that adopts a co-curation approach. Curators also help with research and putting together books and exhibitions. Curators need to have good research and communication skills, along with high levels of responsibility and the ability to lead a team.
Curators work with registrars, who help get items to the museum and coordinate loans and shipping arrangements. They also work with preparators/art handlers, who are responsible for the physical aspects of storing, transporting, and exhibiting artwork. Conservators are also important, as they treat and work on the museum's collection that might need to be repaired or touched up before viewing.
Curators play a crucial role in museums, and their expertise and leadership contribute to the successful management and presentation of art and artefacts.
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Art handlers/preparators: Physically handle and install artwork
Art handlers, also known as preparators, are responsible for the physical handling and installation of artwork and artefacts. They work directly with objects in museums, art galleries, and various other venues, including private collectors, corporate art collections, and public art collections. Art handlers ensure the safety of the artworks and artefacts in their care. They work with registrars, collection managers, conservator-restorers, exhibition designers, and curators to safely handle and care for objects.
Art handlers are often responsible for packing and unpacking art, installing and deinstalling art in exhibitions, and moving art around the museum and storage spaces. They may also construct custom boxes or crates for objects, load and unload crates from trucks, and secure crates and packages in transport vehicles to prevent movement during transit. Art handlers may act as couriers, accompanying objects during transport and being present during unpacking at the destination. They may also be responsible for preparing packing and shipping paperwork.
Art handlers play a crucial role in preparing objects for display in galleries. This includes sending objects out for conservation, framing and mounting objects, and labelling them. They work with the exhibition team to prepare gallery spaces, including installing furniture, mounts, crates, and other related elements of an artist project or installation. Art handlers may also be tasked with photographing objects and writing condition reports.
Art handlers must have a solid understanding of how to handle objects safely. They need to know the materials that make up the objects and how these materials may react with installation or packing materials. Spatial orientation, mathematical skills, and problem-solving abilities are also valuable assets for art handlers. Communication and planning are essential aspects of their work, as they coordinate with various museum departments to ensure the safe handling and display of artworks and artefacts.
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Registrars: Help acquire items, coordinate loans and shipping
Registrars are an important part of the team in any museum. They are meticulous record-keepers and usually have a background in art or art history. They are responsible for helping to acquire items, coordinating loans, and planning the shipping of items.
Registrars are often the ones who will ask for object lists with insurance values. They are the ones who will communicate with artists if there are any problems with the condition of the art. They coordinate shipping arrangements and are responsible for the safe transportation of artworks.
Registrars work closely with preparators or art handlers, who are responsible for the physical aspects of storing, transporting, and exhibiting the artwork. Preparators report to the registrar and may check with them about their wishes for installing the work. Registrars may also work with conservators, who treat and work on pieces in the museum's collection that need to be repaired or restored before being exhibited.
In addition to coordinating loans and shipping, registrars are also involved in the acquisition of new pieces for the museum. They may work with curators, who decide the content of exhibitions and conduct academic research on artists or topics. Curators put together exhibition catalogues and checklists, and registrars help to make these exhibitions a reality by acquiring the necessary items and ensuring they are transported and installed safely.
Registrars play a crucial behind-the-scenes role in museums, ensuring the smooth acquisition, loan, and shipping of artworks and artefacts. They work with various teams to make exhibitions possible and keep meticulous records of all items.
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Conservators: Treat and maintain artworks, reverse damage
Conservators are experts in artwork repair and preservation. They treat and maintain artworks, reversing damage where possible. They may also be responsible for preparing artworks for transportation and exhibition.
Conservators typically have advanced training, often at the master's level, in conservation techniques established by organisations such as The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works. These techniques are designed to be removable in the case of future repairs.
The specific conservation treatments applied depend on the materials that make up the artwork. For example, works of art on paper should be stored in a cool, dry room with minimal exposure to light, and framed under ultraviolet filtering acrylic sheeting. Paintings on wooden supports may require the removal of old cradle structures that have become harmful to the paint and ground layers, instead preserving what remains of the wood support.
In the case of damaged artworks, conservators can help extend the life expectancy of a painting by securing loose paint with adhesive, removing or reducing dirt and grime, and retouching with solvent mixtures or mechanical means. They may also remove the original canvas or wood support and re-adhere the paint and/or ground layer to a new support.
Conservators play a crucial role in museums and art collections by ensuring the long-term preservation and accessibility of artworks.
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Exhibition/exhibit designers: Create exciting exhibits, working with curators
Exhibition or exhibit designers are responsible for creating exciting exhibits in collaboration with curators. They work closely with curators and other stakeholders to understand the exhibition's theme, content, and objectives. This involves conducting extensive research to gather relevant information and artefacts, developing creative concepts, and considering the target audience and educational goals.
Exhibition designers play a crucial role in bringing the curator's narrative and context to life by creating the physical space that visitors experience. They decide on the exhibition flow, wall colours, panel designs, and any special furniture or mounts. They also collaborate with various professionals, including graphic designers, architects, and multimedia specialists, to ensure that all elements of the exhibition align with the overall vision.
In addition to the visual aspects, exhibition designers also manage budgets and find creative solutions to deliver high-quality exhibits within financial constraints. They estimate costs for materials, construction, and technology, ensuring that the exhibition stays within budget. Exhibition designers may also be involved in the selection and display of artefacts, ensuring their safety and preservation.
The process of designing an exhibition is highly collaborative, requiring effective communication and mutual respect between curators and designers. Both parties must understand each other's roles and expertise, with the curator trusting the designer to translate their vision into a physical space. This delicate dance results in exhibits that are visually stunning and rich in content and meaning.
Exhibition designers bring together various skills and perspectives to create dynamic and engaging exhibits that resonate with audiences and stand the test of time. Their work involves a range of tasks, from brainstorming ideas and sketching concepts to overseeing construction and managing budgets. By combining their creativity and craftsmanship with the curator's narrative, exhibition designers play a vital role in bringing exhibitions to life.
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