Explore unit group
- Version:
- NOC 2021 Version 1.0
51101 – 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.
Profile
Index of titles Example job titles
- Archaeology curator
- Archaeology museum curator
- Architectural conservator
- Art gallery conservator
- Art gallery curator
- Art object curator
- Art objects conservator
- Artifact conservator
- Assistant conservator
- Assistant museum curator
- Aviation and space museum curator
- Book conservator
- Ceramics and glass conservator
- Conservator - museum
- Contemporary art curator
- Contemporary art museum curator
- Curator
- Ethnographic objects conservator
- Ethnology curator
- Ethnology museum curator
- Fine art and polychrome conservator
- Fossil conservator
- Fossil curator
- Furniture and wooden objects conservator
- Herbarium curator
- Historical artifact conservator
- Insectarium conservator
- Insectarium curator
- Invertebrate zoology curator
- Invertebrate zoology museum curator
- Library and archives conservator
- Library curator
- Metals conservator
- Museologist
- Museum curator
- Museum objects conservator
- Natural history museum curator
- Natural history specimen conservator
- Natural sciences curator
- Natural sciences museum curator
- Ornithology curator
- Ornithology museum curator
- Paintings conservator
- Paper conservator
- Photograph conservator
- Photography museum curator
- Science and technology curator
- Science and technology museum curator
- Sculpture conservator
- Textile conservator
- Vertebrate zoology curator
- Vertebrate zoology museum curator
- Art gallery conservator
- Art objects conservator
- Conservator - museum
- Curator
- Historical artifact conservator
- Natural history museum curator
Inclusions
- Assistant conservator
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.
Additional information
- Conservators and curators may specialize in a particular type of collection or material, such as furniture, weapons, books, paintings and musical instruments.
- Progression to museum or art gallery management positions is possible with experience.
Exclusions
- Curatorial assistant (in 53100 Registrars, restorers, interpreters and other occupations related to museum and art galleries)
- Museum designer (in 53123 Theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers)
- Restaurateur - food services (in 60030 Restaurant and food service managers)
- Museum educator (in 11202 Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations)
Breakdown summary
- Broad occupational 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
- Sub-major group
- 511 – Professional occupations in art and culture
- Minor group
- 5110 – Librarians, archivists, conservators and curators
- Version
- NOC 2021 Version 1.0