Career Research: Costume Curator
Morgan Garner- Fashion Design (Period 5)
Nature of the Work:
- Acquire, store, and exhibit collections
- Select the theme and design of exhibits
- Design, organize, and conduct tours and workshops for the public
- Attend meetings and civic events to promote their institution
- Clean objects such as ancient tools, coins, and statues
- Direct and supervise curatorial, technical, and student staff
- Plan and conduct special research projects
Training and Qualifications:
Education
Most museums require curators to have a master’s degree in an appropriate discipline of the museum’s specialty—art, history, or archaeology—or in museum studies. Some employers prefer that curators have a doctoral degree, particularly for positions in natural history and science museums. Earning two graduate degrees—in museum studies (museology) and a specialized subject—may give candidates an advantage in a competitive job market.
In small museums, curator positions may be available to people with a bachelor’s degree. Because curators—particularly those in small museums—may have administrative and managerial responsibilities, courses in business administration, public relations, marketing, and fundraising are recommended. For some positions, applicants need to have completed an internship of full-time museum work, as well as courses in museum practices.
Qualities
Analytical Skills, Customer-Service Skills, Technical Skills
Job Outlook
- Archivists, curators, museum technicians, and conservators held about 29,300 jobs in 2012.
- Employment of curators is projected to grow 13 percent from 2012 to 2022, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Museums receive millions of visitors every year and the number of visits has been increasing steadily. Continued public interest in these cultural centers will lead to demand for curators and the collections they manage.
Earning Potential
University/College
Some of the top 5 schools in our area for this carrer include:
- Texas Christian University
- University of Texas at Arlington
- Baylor University