What Experience Do You Need to Be a Museum Curator?
Museum curators have the pleasure of overseeing potentially priceless artifacts and working to create displays of these artifacts to educate the interested public. Because this is a high level position, it is unlikely that you will obtain this job without extensive experience. If you desire a position of this type, begin the acquisition process by fulfilling the necessary credentials.
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Museum Work Experience
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Though not universally required, most museums prefer that you have some experience working in museums prior to hiring you as a curator. If you know that becoming a curator is your ultimate dream, it may be wise to start volunteering at a local museum to accustom yourself to the environment. As you simultaneously gain your educational degree, you can also get industry experience.
Education
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As the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, almost all museum curators are expected to hold at least a master’s degree in a related field. This field should be relevant to the contents of the museum. For example, individuals looking to work in museums that house historical artifacts should seek degrees in history or similar fields. Some museums, particularly prestigious ones, require that candidates hold doctoral degrees before they will take them into consideration.
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Internship
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Many museums require that potential curators begin with an internship where they will work with an experienced curator familiarize themselves with the role and function of the curator position. In some instances, these future curators will perform their internships at the museums that will later be under their charge, working under the current curator they wille evenutally replace. In others, the curators in training gain this experience at a different museum then later transfer to the museum they will ultimately oversee.
Exceptions
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If you are eager to become a museum curator but lack one or all of these credentials, you may still be able to find work in this industry by working at a smaller museum. Smaller, less prestigious museums often have more lax credentials, as the curators will not be charged with handling as valuable a set of goods. Working at a small museum, at least to start, is an effective way to build your experience and prepare yourself to tackle more challenging jobs of this nature in the future.
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