5112- Conservators and curators

Canada NOC: 
5112
Job Title: 

Conservators and curators

Job Description: 

Conservators restore and conserve artifacts belonging to museums, galleries and owners of cultural property. Curators recommend the acquisition of museum artifacts and gallery works of art and research their artistic history. Conservators and curators are employed in museums, art galleries and universities. Conservators may be self-employed.

Main Duties: 

Conservators perform some or all of the following duties:


Examine artifacts, determine their condition, suggest methods for treating them and recommend preventive conservation techniques to their owners
Restore and conserve paintings, photographs, sculptures, furniture, pottery and other museum and art gallery artifacts
Provide advice on display and storage of museum and gallery artifacts to ensure proper maintenance and preservation
Research new conservation and restoration techniques
Provide consultation to museums, art galleries or private individuals
Supervise conservation technicians and other museum technicians.
Curators perform some or all of the following duties:


Recommend the acquisition of paintings, photographs, sculptures, documents and other museum and art gallery artifacts
Research origins and artistic history of artifacts
Develop storylines and themes and organize displays and exhibitions
Co-ordinate the storage of collections and the setting up of displays and exhibitions
Oversee the conservation, display and circulation of collections
Supervise curatorial assistants and other museum technicians.

Conservators and curators may specialize in a particular type of collection or material, such as furniture, weapons, books, paintings and musical instruments.

Employment Requirements: 

Conservators require a master's degree in art conservation
or
Completion of a three-year college program in conservation technology and several years of experience in conservation work.
Curators require a master's or bachelor's degree in museology, art history or a field related to their specific area of work.

Additional Inormation: 

Progression to museum or art gallery management positions is possible with experience.

Classified Elsewhere: 

Curatorial assistants (in 5212 Technical occupations related to museums and art galleries)
Museum designers (in 5243 Theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers)
Museum educators (in 1123 Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations)
Restaurateurs in food services (in 0631 Restaurant and food service managers)

Similar O*NET Careers (USA) : 
International Careers(ISCO): 
Source Of Info: 

National Occupation Classification, (2011)

Statistics Canada and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada,

February 2012,

Catalogue no. 12-583-X