Curator
Learn about this occupation – including typical duties, education required, salary and job outlook information, job boards and more.
Curators acquire, document, study, interpret, maintain and provide access to collections (alis). They recommend the acquisition of museum artifacts and gallery works of art and research their artistic history. They are employed in museums, art galleries, archives, libraries, government agencies and universities. (NOC)
Occupational profile
Find detailed information about the occupation, including typical duties and working conditions, in the links below:
- National Occupational Classification (NOC) - Canadian occupational descriptions
- O*NET Online - U.S. resource for occupational descriptions and information
- OCCinfo by alis - Alberta-based occupational information
- What's a Curator - The Art Assignment/PBS Digital Studios
- Sokanu: Curator - occupational information and videos
- Interview: Museum Curator - StudyinCanada
- A Day in the Life of a Curator - The Princeton Review
- Article: The person with the most pressure-packed job in Canadian art - Maclean's
- Spotlight - Punctured Landscape: Reflections from the Curator - Canadian Council for the Arts
Education
Curators require a master's or bachelor's degree in museology, art history or a field related to their specific area of work. (NOC)
The University of Manitoba does not offer specific training in Curatorial Studies, but does offer other relevant programs, and pre-requisite education for students who wish to apply to these graduate programs at other schools. PLEASE NOTE: When considering institutions other than the U of M it is recommended that that you consult with the admissions office, review admission requirements, and consider any applicable transfer credits for those programs of interest.
U of M Academic Calendar
The Academic Calendar & Catalogue outlines program admission and course requirements. Use the left menu to navigate to a specific faculty and program. To determine which degree path suits your unique occupational goals, speak with a Career Consultant. For support with course registration and academic issues, speak with an Academic Advisor.
Faculty and Department Homepages
Visit U of M's faculty and department homepage to learn about program application deadlines and processes, as well as additional in-house resources and opportunities.
Exploring Other Education Options
Information for foreign-trained Curators - Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials
Labour market information
Labour market information informs users of supply and demand for specific occupations and sectors. It includes such things as salary and job outlook information. These resources support informed career decision making and job search efforts.
Resources
- Trend Analysis: Job Market Report (Winnipeg Region) - Gov. of Canada Job Bank
- Occupational Outlook Handbook - Job outlook for the U.S.
Professional Associations
Professional associations may organize events and provide directories, job postings, career and labour market information. Student membership opportunities may also be available: engage, learn and network!
Directories, Industry Associations, and Sector Councils
These resources provide industry news, labour market information and a list of potential employers. Remember, there are usually multiple industries worth exploring.
- Association of Manitoba Museums - museums list
- Canadian Museums Directory - Canadian Museums Association
- Creative Manitoba
- Contemporary Art Galleries Association - listing
- American Alliance of Museums - Find a Museum
- Association of Children's Museums - international directory
Job Boards
Search occupations of interest in the industry-specific job boards below to learn about skill requirements, employers, job duties and available jobs. You may also wish to search more general online job boards.
Other links
These external resources may provide you with additional information about the occupation and opportunities to build experience:
- Canadian Museum of History - RBC Indigenous Internship Program
- Canadian Council for the Arts
- Canadian Heritage Information Network - Government of Canada
- Cultural Human Resources Council
- UM Today News article: "Building on their curatorial practice: Visiting curators exploring diverse perspectives at UM"
- Article: 'People think curating just means choosing nice things' - Secrets of the museum curators - The Guardian
- Article: Putting the curator into context... Art Talk/Art Walk event seeks to open discourse on oft-misunderstood role - Winnipeg Free Press