Art curator

Art curators manage art collections, including paintings, drawings, prints, photographs and sculpture. Depending on the gallery size, this may be an entire collection, or a particular genre or period.

The role of an art curator

You will manage collections of paintings and objects of artistic, historical and general interest.

As an art gallery curator, your work would include:

• researching, identifying and cataloguing paintings and other items
• making sure paintings and other items are stored in the right conditions
• organising displays and exhibitions
• answering visitors' questions
• giving talks to groups or school parties
• finding ways of attracting visitors to the gallery
• negotiating funding and the loan of paintings and other items.

You may also be responsible for supervising or managing staff or other tasks such as insurance, security and publicity.

Many art curators work normal office hours (usually to coincide with gallery opening hours). However they may be required to work in the evening and at weekends to fit around special events and exhibitions or to help set-up exhibitions when the gallery is closed.

Becoming an art curator

You would usually need a degree in a relevant subject such as art or art history. Many curators also have a postgraduate qualification such as a Masters, diploma or certificate. It is possible to study for postgraduate qualifications part-time or by distance learning which can be combined with paid or unpaid work.

Postgraduate study offers you an opportunity to specialise in, for example, museum studies or in a particular style or period of art.

Before you begin looking for a job, it is advisable to gain some volunteering experience in a gallery or heritage property.

Once you are working as an art gallery curator you can work towards the following qualifications:

• NVQ Level 3 in Cultural Heritage Operations
• NVQ Level 4 in Cultural Heritage
• NVQ Level 5 in Cultural Heritage Management.

You can add to your skills and knowledge by attending short courses run, for example, by museums and galleries, private training providers and specialist organisations.