| Studying
the relationship between a culture and its art can reveal the
important ideas, values and institutions of that particular culture
and their effect upon individuals and society. Art History
examines the development of this relationship across cultures, as well
as the elements of style and the aesthetic ideas behind them.
Archivists, curators, and museum
technicians search for, acquire, appraise, analyze, describe, arrange,
catalogue, restore, preserve, exhibit, maintain, and store valuable
items that can be used by researchers or for exhibitions,
publications, broadcasting, and other educational programs. Depending
on the occupation, these items include historical documents,
audiovisual materials, institutional records, works of art, coins,
stamps, minerals, clothing, maps, living and preserved plants and
animals, buildings, computer records, or historic sites.
Archivists and curators plan and
oversee the arrangement, cataloguing, and exhibition of collections
and, along with technicians and conservators, maintain collections.
Archivists and curators may coordinate educational and public outreach
programs, such as tours, workshops, lectures, and classes, and may
work with the boards of institutions to administer plans and policies.
They also may research topics or items relevant to their collections.
Although some duties of archivists and curators are similar, the types
of items they deal with differ. Curators usually handle objects found
in cultural, biological, or historical collections, such as
sculptures, textiles, and paintings, while archivists mainly handle
valuable records, documents, or objects that are retained because they
originally accompanied and relate specifically to the document.
Career Sources and Professional
Organizations
Sample Job Titles
| Entry
Level: |
Experienced: |
| |
Archive
Assistant |
|
Archivist |
| |
Assistant
Curator |
|
Art
Appraiser |
| |
Conservator
Technician |
|
Conservator |
|
Library
Assistant |
|
Curator |
|
Museum
Attendant |
|
Education
Director |
| |
Museum
Inventory Specialist |
|
Exhibit
Designer |
|
Museum
Technician |
|
Historians |
Enhancing Employability
- Participate in internships
- Foreign language(s)
- Strong communication skills
essential
- Ability to work independently
- Strong research and analytical
ability
- Ability to organize large amounts
of information and write clear instructions for its retrieval and
use
- Computer skills
- Courses in business
administration, public relations, marketing, and fundraising also
are recommended
|
