This FAQ addresses questions about various museum careers. If you have a question about something else, please see the other FAQs listed on the menu.
I am interested in becoming a curator. What should I do?
Curators take the stuff of history—objects, art, documents, and more—and interpret them to tell stories about the past for the museum's audiences. They help manage collections, handle acquisitions, research and write about their areas of expertise, develop exhibitions, and give presentations to everyone from kindergartners to academic conferences. There is no one way to become a curator, but many curators have a master's degree or a Ph.D. in Museum Studies, History, or specialized or related topics. Curators often begin their careers with internships, fellowships, and academic work in their field, as well as working in local museums or collections management. If you are interested in working as a curator, some places to start would be volunteering at history and heritage sites, pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees, interning at museums, and talking with curators in fields you are interested in.
I am interested in becoming a collections manager. What should I do?
Collections managers work with other museum staff to manage, care for, organize, and maintain specific collections within the museum. They are often responsible for cataloging and tracking the physical state of their assigned collection, assisting research visitors, and collaborating with curators on exhibits and programs. Collections managers often need a graduate degree in Museum Studies or a related topic, but hands-on experience is also highly valued. They often begin their careers with internships and project-based contracts. Someone interested in working in Collections Management should intern with collection management teams, interview current collection managers, and join museum professional organizations like the American Alliance of Museums.
I am interested in becoming an archivist. What should I do?
Archivists document, collect, preserve, manage, and make accessible archival materials of enduring value. They also collaborate with museum curators and collection managers to acquire new materials, care for collections, and plan exhibitions and public programs. Archivists work in a variety of repositories, including universities, large corporations, libraries and museums, government institutions, hospitals, historical societies, and religious communities. Most archivists have graduate degrees in information and library science, history, or conservation. They work with digital documents, rare manuscripts, analog film, letters, postcards, diaries, photographs, and organizational records. Someone interested in being an archivist should explore an advanced degree, interning or volunteering with an archive, and joining archival organizations such as the Society of American Archivists.
I am interested in becoming a museum data manager. What should I do?
There are many positions and roles within data management at museums. Many data managers work with collections information and digital asset management systems to create data standards, develop policies and procedures, facilitate public access, and assist database users. Undergraduate and graduate degrees in Library and Information Sciences, Archival Studies, and Museum Studies are common, but not required. Those interested in this career should keep informed on current data management policies, software, research, and ethical responsibilities in the field as well as interning with data offices in museums, libraries, or archives.
I am interested in becoming an exhibition designer. What should I do?
Museum exhibit designers work with other museum staff to create the visual and spatial experiences of a museum exhibit. Their work involves a blend of creativity, education, and technical skills to bring content to life in an engaging, accessible, and informative way. Many exhibit designers have postgraduate degrees in Museum Studies, Design, and related fields, but hands-on experience is also highly valued. A good website to learn more about exhibit design is run by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. It gives a good overview of the design profession in general, and under the FAQs for students and parents there is a list of accredited art and design colleges. People interested in exhibit design should also check out the professional organizations that designers and museum professionals belong to: http://www.aam-us.org, http://www.idsa.org/, http://www.segd.org/, to name a few.
I am interested in exhibit development and production. What should I do?
The exhibit development and production teams work with designers, curators and collection managers to translate the stories of the past into exhibits for the public to enjoy. The exhibit development and production process varies greatly depending on the size of the museum. In a large museum, museum developers design the educational experience of exhibits, working closely with the production team who bring the vision to life. They work with graphic designers, mountmakers, conservation teams, and curators to create the educational experience within the constraints of space, budget, and materials. Some exhibit developers, production specialists, and designers have graduate degrees in various design fields, Museum Studies, and other related topics, but experience is highly valued. Internships, other museum positions, and short-term projects are powerful ways to explore the field and make connections. Exhibit production teams are also often hiring with entry-level jobs on USAjobs.gov.
Where can I find more information about career opportunities at the museum, elsewhere at the Smithsonian, or in the museum field?
https://americanhistory.si.edu/about/careers