Research, understand, develop and interpret collections, themes or subjects.
This occupation is found in accredited museums, galleries or organisations such as local authorities, universities, historic environments and properties or trusts, with art, natural history or cultural collections which are accessible to the public. They may work with collections, built heritage, or the natural and historic environments.The size of the organisation that a Curator may work in varies from large national organisations employing hundreds of specialised staff to local organisations employing 1 or 2 staff with multiple responsibilities.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to research, understand, develop and interpret collections, themes or subjects e.g. historic buildings, natural and historic environments, to make these accessible to wide ranging and diverse public or private audiences. This ensures that collections, themes or subjects are kept accessible and safe guards them for future generations.
The Curator’s activities support the audiences’ development of knowledge by captivating their interest in collections or places. They communicate information to them in a wide variety of ways including developing narratives through displays, exhibitions, public events, digital media methods and publications to bring to life collections both modern and/or ancient across a variety of subjects on a scale from paintings and sculpture to large scale vehicles and taxidermy’. Curators may be subject, collections or cultural asset specialists (such as historic places, folklore or oral history). They use this specialist knowledge and expertise to oversee the care of collections and ensure their long-term preservation. Where further expertise or support is required, they may use their personal networks of other specialists.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with the public. They might also work with:
• Technical colleagues (internal/external) e.g. Conservators, Registrars, Technicians, Project Managers, Designers
• Internal engagement colleagues e.g. marketers, business development, learning & engagement, visitor experience, security, volunteers
• External organisations e.g. local authorities, other museums (local/national/international), funding bodies. local and national Government, subject specialist networks, private sector.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for researching, understanding, interpreting and developing collections, themes or subjects to make these accessible to wide and diverse public or private audiences. They may manage the projects, including timescales, budgets, deliverables and interfaces associated with these activities which may include internal and external stakeholders. Curators advise and make recommendations to technicians, conservators and operational colleagues such as building managers in order to inform them about collections and provide better care and display. This supports and builds the capability of colleagues to make effective decisions in relation to the care of collections and to ensure the adherence to appropriate standards and accreditation requirements. Depending on the organisation, they would report to the Head of Collections, Chief Curator, Directors of Service/Departments or the organisation’s Chief Executive, Art Directors, Heads of Research, or a private collection owner or Board. Depending on the scale of the organisation, they may manage volunteer and or internal staff and the majority of their work is either working autonomously e.g. collections activities or with project teams e.g. to deliver exhibitions.
Employers will specify their own entry requirements, which may include a degree or the equivalent level of knowledge and thinking ability gained through experience.
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Duty 1 Develop creative interpretation approaches and approaches to content development to make sure that objects/collections will captivate audience interest and increase audience subject knowledge and engagement |
K1 K6 K7 K10 K11 K12 K14 K15 K18 K21 K22 K23 |
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Duty 2 Advise on and manage collections development which may include acquisition, disposals and loans. |
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Duty 3 Identifies intended audience requirements by proactively reaching out to them, ensuring access and inclusivity and demonstrating that all developed and delivered activities are relevant to those requirements |
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Duty 4 Work collaboratively with and motivate teams which may include direct staff and/or volunteers |
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Duty 5 Manage and lead internal/external projects from inception to completion including temporary and permanent Exhibitions |
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Duty 6 Undertake research to develop knowledge , and specialist knowledge in relevant fields of study of objects/collections to support all internal/external stakeholders and taking into account audience feedback and indicators |
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Duty 7 Advise and make recommendations to technicians, conservators and operational colleagues such as building managers to inform them about collections and help them provide better storage, presentation and authenticity, secure movement and access arrangements |
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Duty 8 Respond to public enquiries and/or research requests |
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Duty 9 Deliver all activity objectives in-line with resource constraints |
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Duty 10 Act as Ambassador for their organisation to raise its profile and communicate the importance of its work to the public through media, attending/speaking at conferences/workshops |
K6 K7 K10 K11 K14 K15 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 |
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Duty 11 Acquire and share best practice and/or deliver training to internal and external staff to increase their knowledge, competence and latest thinking about the sector |
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Duty 12 Supervise safe and secure installations, including handling and movement, of objects, art work and exhibitions. |
K1: The Accreditation standards under the Arts Council England’s Museum Accreditation scheme
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K2: The current UK collections management standard, overseen by the Collections Trust
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K3: Organisation’s collections management and documentation policies and procedures
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K4: Museum Association Code of Ethics, including the theory of ethical curating
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K5: Collections care best practice including professional standards for preservation, preventive and remedial conservation
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K6: Research methodology/techniques and knowledge management processes, and up-to-date knowledge on the debates affecting the sector eg. sustainable collections, the future of collecting
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K7: Content development, interpretation and application strategies across a wide variety of internal/external engagement methods e.g. exhibition and display, collections interpretation, digital curation, online and electronic portals, screenings, tours, events and talks
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K8: Business and project planning processes including long, medium and short-term e.g. business continuity, exhibition and display planning and programming
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K9: Understand how to identify their key stakeholders and how to most effectively engage with and manage them
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K10: Visitor experience processes which may include interpretation/exhibitions/display and audience access
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K11: Partnership building to share knowledge/best practice, internally and/or externally
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K12: Project management processes including an understanding of brokering, commissioning, managing external consultancies, creative, design and build services. This may include both small and/or large-scale projects and could be internally or externally focused.
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K13: Fundraising principles, policies and processes in relation to their organisation
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K14: The strategic goals of the organisation and the wider context in which it sits, and where their personal activities support these goals
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K15: Theory and practice of presentation, interpretation and programming, including established and emerging digital skillsets
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K16: Appropriate financial processes which may include budget preparation and management
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K17: People (staff) management policies and procedures
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K18: Written and verbal communication techniques to engage, in accordance with brand guidelines, with internal and external colleagues and provide appropriate communication content e.g. in reports, making presentations, attending/speaking at conferences and conveying information to others.
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K19: Negotiation strategies to achieve a breadth of successful outcomes for the organisation for example delivering an exhibition; budget savings; signing of legal agreements
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K20: Influencing techniques which take in to account others’ views and considerations along with the organisation’s objectives
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K21: The significance and importance of your role to the success of the organisation
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K22: Engagement and relationship building techniques to enable effective communication including developing and delivering audience-appropriate talks and tours to wide ranging and diverse audiences
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K23: Organisation process and procedures, relative to their role e.g. data management, GDPR, health & safety and security
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S1: Lead on the application and/or development of collections management processes including cataloguing whilst ensuring suitable handling,storage provision and audits
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S2: Deliver new exhibitions, projects and collections displays as appropriate and with authenticity, e.g. research, development, organisation, administration, installation
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S3: Refresh and/or re-present permanent, temporary and online displays/ exhibitions, determining and using appropriate interpretation methodologies
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S4: Lead on and/or manage collections development which may include acquisition, disposal and loans, including national/international inter-organisation loans as appropriate. Ability to evaluate the long-term implications of collections development decisions.
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S5: Commission, undertake and/or disseminate collections-related research
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S6: Interpret and respond to research, intelligence and analysis of audience feedback and preferences
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S7: Work with subject experts to develop creative interpretation/story telling approaches and content for exhibitions, displays and digital content
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S8: Build subject specialist and sector networks internally and/or externally to keep abreast of emerging trends and developments that may impact medium and long-term plans
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S9: Relate collections to a wider historical or contemporary understanding
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S10: Recruit and select, as required by their organisation, subject experts, internal/external agencies, contractors and other organisations to work with collaboratively
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S11: Work with others to achieve projects from inception to completion meeting agreed outcomes
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S12: Develop exhibitions and display through internal/external designers as appropriate for their organisation
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S13: Analyse and respond to visitor research when planning exhibitions, displays and digital content
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S14: Manage teams, which may include some/all volunteers as required
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S15: Set/agree milestones, deadlines and workflow for colleagues (in other departments or members of project/programme teams) to ensure delivery, as required by the organisation.
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S16: Contribute/signpost to fundraising/income generation through grant applications, sponsorship and charging activities as appropriate for the role
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S17: Interrogate, interpret and evaluate data sets on audience engagement
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S18: Negotiate with stakeholders in order to achieve desired outcomes and to align with institutional objectives
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S19: Communicate, both in writing and verbally, to a range of stakeholders to achieve shared goals, objectives and solve problems
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S20: Write reports, for a range of internal/external audiences, regarding activities
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S21: Act as an Ambassador for the organisation to raise its profile and communicate the importance of its work. This may mean representing the organisation including attending and/or presenting at conferences and workshops as well as developing/contributing to publications for the organisation
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S22: Share best practice and/or deliver training to internal staff and external organisations e.g. Museum Association regarding accession activities.
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S23: Deliver talks/tours/presentations/events to continue to engage existing audiences e.g. members and supporters as well as to broaden the participation base
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S24: Contribute to the institution’s on-line and social media presence, and digital content in accordance with the organisation’s objectives
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B1: Passion and commitment: acts with purpose by being enthusiastic and enthusing others
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B2: Trust: acts with integrity and high ethical standards
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B3: Innovation: proactively uses initiative and imagination to develop and identify new ideas where appropriate
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B4: Results focus: achieves tasks in a timely manner
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B5: Problem solvers: has a can do approach
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B6: Expectation management: diplomatically manages the differing expectations of others, both internal and external, regarding what is practically achievable in terms of stipulated requirements e.g. time scales, budgets.
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B7: Interpersonal skills: gets along well with others, establishes effective working relationships with co-workers, managers, clients and/or the public.
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B8: Team working: by personal example, encourages and facilitates cooperation and collaboration; takes into account inclusion and diversity factors; ensures group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; identifies and works to others’ strengths
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B9: Work under pressure: works well in an environment where there will be many tasks and situations to deal with at once. There may be constraints outside their control or unforeseen changes or problems to deal with.
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B10: Continuous Professional Development: Proactively keeps industry and best practice knowledge and skills up-to-date, having an eye to the future.
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| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 27/04/2020 | Not set |
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