How Does a Museum Curator Spend the Workday?

General Overview

A museum curator works in a museum and takes care of the daily activities and maintenance of the establishment. Most curators have a bachelor's degree in history, art history or a related field, and a vast knowledge of art, literature, historical events and biology, among other topics. It also helps if museum curators have an interest in design, as many are required to arrange and design museum exhibits. A curator is also involved with preservation and conservation of fragile artwork and antiques.

Typical Workday

A museum curator begins the typical workday early in the morning, arriving at the museum before it opens. During this time, a curator walks through the museum, making sure that everything is in place or putting the finishing touches on a new exhibit. When the museum doors open, curators are responsible for managerial and administrative duties such as customer service, public relations and supervising other employees. A large part of the work day is spent cataloging collections, maintaining or designing exhibits, giving lectures or tours to groups of visitors, and attending meetings with other curators to plan new and interesting exhibits for the future.

Other Duties

Less common duties during the workday include updating the museum's website, setting up fundraisers, implementing marketing plans to raise awareness of the museum and entice more people to visit, and making sure that the day to day activities of the museum run smoothly. Sometimes curators are asked to develop workshops that will be attended by the public in an effort to educate people and introduce them to the museum.