Job description Curator in the Wood Buffalo–Cold Lake Region

Find out what work is like for a curator in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Conservators and curators (NOC 51101).

Conservators and curators

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, archives, libraries, government agencies and universities. Conservators may be self-employed.

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Conservators and curators have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Conservators
  • Examine artifacts, determine their condition, suggest methods for treating them and recommend preventive conservation techniques to their owners
  • Restore and conserve paintings, photographs, books, papers, sculptures, furniture, pottery or other museum and art gallery artifacts as per particular field of specialization
  • Provide advice on display and storage of museum and gallery artifacts to ensure proper maintenance and preservation
  • Explore new conservation and restoration techniques
  • Provide consultation to museums, art galleries or private individuals
  • Supervise conservation technicians and other museum technicians.
  • Curators
  • Recommend the acquisition of paintings, photographs, sculptures, documents and other museum and art gallery artifacts
  • Conduct research into objects' methods of construction techniques, structure and materials to understand its physical and chemical makeup
  • Develop storylines and themes and organize displays and exhibitions
  • Coordinate 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.

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 51101), and a list of similar occupations:

  • art gallery conservator
  • art objects conservator
  • conservator - museum
  • curator
  • historical artifact conservator
  • natural history museum curator

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Conservators and curators in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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