Conservators and Curators
Formal 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.” (NOC 2021)
Sample Job Titles
This category includes a variety of job titles that may not necessarily be reflected by the category title. For a full index of job titles, see the category entry on the ESDC site. Example job titles include:
Archaeology Curator
Art Gallery Conservator
Assistant Museum Curator
Fossil Conservator
Library and Archives Conservator
Museum Curator
Sculpture Conservator
Vertebrate Zoology Museum Curator
Typical Employment and Education Requirements
The requirements listed for each occupational category will tend to vary across particular roles, job titles, and contexts.
The following typical requirements are listed on the ESDC’s 2021 entry for this occupational category:
- “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.”
Success with a Social Sciences Undergraduate Degree and Beyond
When reviewing typical requirements, please remember:
- Degree and diploma listings often end with a purposefully open-ended phrase (“or a related field”, “or a similar discipline”) that acknowledges the variety and applicability of social sciences and liberal arts degrees.
- Employers often focus less on the name or title of a candidate’s degree, and more on how they articulate their transferable skills and experiences.
- Many qualifications and certifications are available as post-graduate certificates aimed at recent university graduates; these can make an excellent further education option for a social sciences or liberal arts degree.
Related Sectors
Whereas Economic and Social Development Canada’s ‘occupational’ categories tend to focus more on the duties and functions that people play in specific roles, exploring careers by ‘sectors’ helps us to sort by employer type, industry, or general field of work. Here are just a few of the sectors that may be relevant to this category:
Academic Program Connections
As you select your program of study and the courses you will take, you can chart a path towards success in this sector from any one of our social sciences departments and programs. Here are just a few examples of academic disciplines that have connections with this sector:
Anthropology Learn More
Anthropology emphasizes the study of human societies and their material culture, it can also involve fieldwork in archaeology. Anthropology students are equipped with the foundational knowledge of how human societies have interacted with material culture over time, and experience handling fragile materials, informing preservation practices.
Environment & Society Learn More
Many artifacts and collections are connected to the natural environment they come from. A degree in Environment & Society helps students understand these objects within the context of human-environment interactions, allowing them to present artifacts in ways that highlight their ecological and cultural importance.
Indigenous Studies Learn More
Understanding the rights of Indigenous peoples, including land rights, sovereignty, and cultural preservation is crucial for working in institutions that house Indigenous collections, as Indigenous Studies students will be able to advocate for policies that protect Indigenous cultural heritage and ensure that it is treated with the care and respect it deserves.
Society, Culture & Religion Learn More
Many conservators and curators work with religious or sacred objects. A degree in Society, Culture, and Religion helps students understand the rituals, symbolism, and respect these objects require, ensuring they are handled with care.
