51101 – Conservators and curators

Broad Occupation Category

5 – Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport

TEER

1 – Occupations usually require a university degree

Major Group

51 – Professional occupations in art and culture

Broad Occupation Category

511 – Professional occupations in art and culture

Broad Occupation Category

5110 – Librarians, archivists, conservators and curators

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.

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Example Titles

  • Art gallery conservator

  • Art objects conservator

  • Conservator - museum

  • Curator

  • Historical artifact conservator

  • Natural history museum curator

Main Duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

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.

Employment Requirements

  • Conservators require a master's degree in art conservation or completion of a two-year college program in conservation technology and several years of experience in conservation work.

  • Conservators may be accredited by the Canadian Association of Professional Conservators.

  • Curators require a master's or bachelor's degree in museology, art history or a field related to their specific area of work.