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 Titles

• Book conservator
• Conservator – museum
• Historical artifact conservator
• Library and archives conservator

Main Duties

• 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.

Workplaces

• Art galleries
• Museums
• Self-employed
• Universities

Work Environment

• Hazardous conditions
• Hazardous equipment, machinery, tools
• Indoors, environmentally controlled
• Skin Injury

Physical Demands

• Handling material manually
• Sitting
• Standing

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.

Skills

• Decision Making
• Oral Communication: Oral Comprehension
• Problem Solving
• Coordinating
• Critical Thinking

Abilities

• Colour Perception
• Depth Perception
• Finger Dexterity
• Near Vision
• Arm-Hand Steadiness

Personal Attributes

• Attention to Detail
• Active Learning
• Analytical Thinking
• Collaboration
• Creativity

Similar Occupations

• Museum designer (in 53123 Exhibit designers)
• Curatorial assistants, museum extension officers, museology technicians and museum registrars and cataloguers (53100)

Source: OaSIS