Overview

A curator, sometimes called a keeper, is a person who manages and cares for a collection of items. Curators commonly work for institutions that preserve cultural heritage, overseeing the selection, care and presentation of materials for study and for public access.

Where they work

Curators are employed in a variety of settings, including art galleries and museums, libraries and archives. In settings that focus on living collections, such as zoos, staff who perform similar duties are usually known as keepers or zookeepers; these roles share many responsibilities with curators but are adapted for animal care.

Typical responsibilities

Although tasks vary by institution and subject area, a curator's activities generally include:

  • Acquiring and documenting items through purchase, donation or long-term loan;
  • Conserving and maintaining objects to prevent deterioration;
  • Researching the history, significance and condition of the collection;
  • Organizing exhibitions and displays to communicate information to the public;
  • Managing records, catalogues and databases that describe holdings;
  • Arranging loans and coordinating access for scholars and other institutions;
  • Developing educational and outreach programmes tied to the collection.

Scope and expertise

Curators are typically subject-matter specialists who combine scholarly knowledge with managerial responsibilities. Their work centers on particular objects or types of material—examples include artworks, historical artifacts, scientific specimens or large archival holdings—and they often collaborate with conservators, registrars and educators to care for those items. In some organisations, curatorial posts may be volunteer roles; in most museums and similar institutions they are paid professional positions that may require formal qualifications and experience.

The name and focus of the role can vary. In botanical collections, aquaria or animal collections such as those in zoos, the title and daily duties are adapted to the living nature of the collection. Other institutions may use titles like collections manager, registrar or head of department for related responsibilities.

Etymology

The word curator derives from the Latin verb curare, meaning "to take care of" or "to look after."