Curators

A curator is a professional who manages, interprets, and presents a collection in museums, galleries, libraries, archives, or online platforms. Curators are responsible for acquiring items, organizing the collection, and designing exhibitions or programs that contextualize objects for the public. They may specialize by region, period, medium, or thematic focus.

Core duties include evaluating potential acquisitions, authenticating items, assessing provenance and condition, cataloging and maintaining records, coordinating conservation and storage, developing interpretive labels and didactic materials, arranging loans to other institutions, and coordinating public programs, lectures, and educational activities. They work with other staff such as conservators, registrars, educators, and administrators to ensure that collections are accessible, secure, and properly cared for.

Curators in different settings have different emphasis: in art, history, or natural science museums they lead disciplinary departments; in libraries and archives they manage rare books, manuscripts, maps, or digital assets; in online or community projects they curate digital content, datasets, or exhibitions.

Education and skills: typically hold advanced degrees in relevant fields (art history, archaeology, anthropology, or library science). They require strong research and writing, analytical abilities, project management, and communication skills. Knowledge of provenance, ethics, repatriation, deaccessioning, and preservation is important. Collaboration with other professionals such as conservators, registrars, educators, IT staff, and governance bodies is common.

The term originates from Latin curare, meaning to care for. While historically curators were guardians or stewards of collections, modern curators are professionals who plan and interpret exhibitions, conduct scholarship, and advocate for access to cultural heritage. The role continues to evolve with digital media, cross-institutional partnerships, and growing emphasis on audience engagement and inclusion.