Printable version

Conservators and Curators (5112)

Job titles

Nature of work

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

Fields of interest

  • Working in the arts, culture, music, and recreation
  • Working with computers, information technology, and communications
  • Working with your hands

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 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.

Main characteristics of the occupation

These headings are provided for the following occupation(s) :

Employment requirements

  • * Conservators require a master's degree in art conservation orCompletion 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.

Skill type

  • Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport

Skill level

  • Professional

More information

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

Job titles - Classified elsewhere