Museum Curator Resume examples & templates

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Copyable Museum Curator Resume examples

Ever stood in front of a museum exhibit that completely transported you? Behind that immersive experience is a Museum Curator—part storyteller, part historian, part detective. Curators breathe life into objects that might otherwise gather dust, connecting visitors to cultures, moments, and ideas that transcend time. It's a profession that blends scholarly research with creative vision and public engagement, often requiring you to wear multiple hats (sometimes literally, on those collection assessment days in drafty storage facilities!).

While traditional curation remains vital, today's museum landscape increasingly values digital literacy alongside academic credentials. With virtual exhibitions growing 78% since 2020, curators now build experiences that extend beyond physical walls. The field is also reckoning with its colonial past—many institutions are reimagining how objects are displayed, interpreted, and in some cases, repatriated to source communities. Museums are slowly becoming more diverse too, though there's still work to be done; only about 12% of leadership positions are held by people of color. As museums evolve from temples of knowledge to forums for community dialogue, tomorrow's curators will shape not just what we preserve from our past, but how we understand our present.

Junior Museum Curator Resume Example

Olivia Bennett

Chicago, IL | (312) 555-8762 | obennett@emaildomain.com | linkedin.com/in/oliviabennett

Recent Art History graduate with curatorial internship experience at the Field Museum and Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. Skilled in collection management, exhibition planning, and educational program development. Passionate about creating engaging visitor experiences that blend historical context with contemporary relevance. Proficient in museum database systems and digital cataloging.

Experience

Assistant Curator – Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL (Jan 2023 – Present)

  • Assist lead curator in organizing 4 contemporary art exhibitions, managing artwork selection, installation logistics, and label creation
  • Developed digital catalog for “Urban Perspectives” exhibition featuring 17 local artists, increasing online engagement by 34%
  • Coordinate with 5-8 artists monthly to discuss exhibition opportunities and maintain ongoing relationships
  • Write exhibition texts, gallery guides, and contribute to quarterly newsletter sent to 1,200+ members

Curatorial Intern – Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL (May 2022 – Dec 2022)

  • Researched potential acquisitions for permanent collection, creating detailed reports on 25+ artists
  • Assisted with installation of “New Media Frontiers” exhibition, handling artwork placement and light calibration
  • Contributed to educational materials for school groups, designing 3 interactive worksheets for K-12 students
  • Helped maintain collection database, updating records and digitizing 200+ slides from archive

Collections Management Intern – Field Museum, Chicago, IL (Sep 2021 – Apr 2022)

  • Cataloged and photographed 150+ artifacts for digital database using PastPerfect software
  • Conducted condition reports on textile collection, flagging 12 items needing conservation
  • Assisted visitors during weekend research hours, helping them access appropriate materials
  • Supported weekly educational programs, including facilitating hands-on artifact exploration sessions

Education

Master of Arts in Museum Studies – University of Illinois Chicago (2022)

  • Thesis: “Accessibility in Contemporary Museum Spaces: Balancing Preservation and Inclusion”
  • Graduate Research Assistant for Prof. Marlene Chen, Cultural Heritage Department

Bachelor of Arts in Art History – DePaul University (2020)

  • Minor: Public History
  • Study Abroad: Renaissance Art in Florence, Italy (Spring 2019)
  • Dean’s List: 6 consecutive quarters

Skills

  • Collection Management Systems (PastPerfect, TMS)
  • Exhibition Design & Installation
  • Artifact Handling & Preservation
  • Provenance Research
  • Grant Writing (contributed to successful $7,500 programming grant)
  • Educational Program Development
  • Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator)
  • Digital Cataloging & Photography
  • Microsoft Office Suite & Google Workspace
  • Social Media Management for Cultural Institutions

Professional Memberships

  • American Alliance of Museums (Student Member since 2021)
  • Chicago Museum Professionals Network (Member since 2022)
  • Emerging Museum Professionals – Chicago Chapter (Secretary, 2023)

Mid-level Museum Curator Resume Example

Eliza Thornton

Boston, MA | (617) 555-8294 | ethornton@emailpro.net | linkedin.com/in/elizathornton

Museum curator with 5+ years specializing in 19th century American textiles and decorative arts. Developed 7 successful exhibitions attracting 87,000+ visitors. Skilled in collections management, donor relations, and interpretive storytelling. Passionate about making historical artifacts accessible to diverse audiences while maintaining preservation standards.

EXPERIENCE

Associate Curator, Textile Collection | Peabody Essex Museum | Salem, MA | June 2020 – Present

  • Lead curator for “Threads of Liberty: Women’s Textiles in Early America” exhibition that increased museum attendance by 18% during its 4-month run
  • Manage preservation and documentation of 700+ textile artifacts, implementing updated cataloging system that reduced retrieval time by 37%
  • Secured $78,500 in grants and private donations to fund conservation of fragile quilts from the 1830-1860 collection
  • Collaborate with education department to develop curriculum materials for K-12 students, reaching 1,900+ students annually
  • Mentor 2-3 graduate interns each semester, with 4 former interns now employed at major museums

Assistant Curator | Historic New England | Cambridge, MA | August 2018 – May 2020

  • Co-curated “Domestic Lives” exhibition featuring household items from 1800-1850, writing object descriptions and coordinating with design team
  • Conducted provenance research on 230+ artifacts, discovering previously unknown connections to prominent Boston families
  • Organized and led 46 public tours and 12 members-only events, increasing membership renewals by 14%
  • Assisted with emergency response when basement storage experienced minor flooding, helping salvage all at-risk items

Curatorial Assistant | Museum of Fine Arts | Boston, MA | January 2017 – July 2018

  • Supported senior curators with research, object handling, and exhibition installation for the American Decorative Arts department
  • Cataloged 300+ artifacts using TMS collections management software
  • Created digital archive of curator’s handwritten notes from 1960-1985, making previously inaccessible research available to staff
  • Gave weekly gallery talks on rotating exhibits (my talk on mourning jewelry consistently got the highest visitor feedback scores!)

EDUCATION

Master of Arts in Museum Studies | Tufts University | Medford, MA | 2016

Thesis: “Preserving Context: Documentation Methods for Textile Collections” – Received departmental honors

Bachelor of Arts in American History | Smith College | Northampton, MA | 2014

Minor in Material Culture Studies | Magna Cum Laude

CERTIFICATIONS & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Preventive Conservation Certificate, International Council of Museums (2019)
Collections Management Database Training, TMS & PastPerfect (2018)
Grant Writing for Cultural Institutions, New England Museum Association (2021)

SKILLS

  • Collections Management & TMS Software
  • Exhibit Design & Installation
  • Artifact Handling & Preservation
  • Provenance Research
  • Budget Management
  • Donor & Board Relations
  • Public Speaking & Tours
  • Grant Writing
  • Digital Asset Management
  • Adobe Creative Suite

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Alliance of Museums
New England Museum Association
Costume Society of America (Regional Board Member, 2021-present)

Senior / Experienced Museum Curator Resume Example

Vanessa Mitchell

Boston, MA | (617) 555-8744 | vmitchell@emaildomain.com | linkedin.com/in/vanessamitchell

Dedicated museum curator with 11+ years of experience developing compelling exhibitions that engage diverse audiences. Known for innovative interpretive strategies and securing major artifact acquisitions. Built cross-departmental relationships that increased exhibition funding by 37% over 5 years. Passionate about making cultural heritage accessible through both traditional displays and digital platforms.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Senior Curator of Cultural History | Museum of American Heritage | Boston, MA | 2018–Present

  • Lead team of 6 curators and 3 collection managers overseeing 45,000+ artifacts spanning 18th-21st century American cultural history
  • Spearheaded award-winning “American Innovation” exhibition attracting 127,000+ visitors and generating $876K in revenue
  • Secured 3 major collection donations valued at $2.4M, including rare textile collection from prominent Boston family
  • Developed museum’s first comprehensive digital catalog, increasing online engagement by 218% and research requests by 49%
  • Established partnerships with 7 regional museums, creating collaborative exhibition program that reduced costs by 31%

Curator of Decorative Arts | New England Historical Society | Cambridge, MA | 2015–2018

  • Curated 6 temporary exhibitions focusing on New England furniture, textiles, and household objects (1750-1920)
  • Wrote successful grant applications totaling $378K for collection preservation and exhibition development
  • Instituted revised cataloging standards that improved artifact documentation accuracy by 43%
  • Launched popular “Curator’s Talk” series, averaging 87 attendees per event (up from 32 in previous program)

Assistant Curator | Smithsonian National Museum of American History | Washington, DC | 2012–2015

  • Assisted in curation of “American Enterprise” exhibition, researching and writing interpretive materials for 600+ objects
  • Conducted provenance research on 200+ potential acquisitions, leading to 89 new additions to permanent collection
  • Co-developed educational materials for K-12 programs serving 14,000+ students annually
  • Managed conservation treatment for 75+ objects, coordinating with specialized conservators across departments

EDUCATION

Ph.D., American Studies | Brown University | Providence, RI | 2012
Dissertation: “Material Culture and National Identity: Objects as Narrative in American Museums, 1876-1976”

M.A., Museum Studies | Georgetown University | Washington, DC | 2009

B.A., Art History | Tufts University | Medford, MA | 2007
Magna Cum Laude

CERTIFICATIONS & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

American Alliance of Museums – Collections Management Certificate (2017)
Getty Leadership Institute – Museum Leaders Program (2019)
Digital Collections Management Workshop – Smithsonian Institution (2016)

SKILLS

  • Collection Management & Conservation
  • Exhibition Design & Development
  • Fundraising & Grant Writing
  • Artifact Authentication & Provenance Research
  • PastPerfect & TMS Collection Databases
  • Budget Management ($50K-$750K)
  • Donor Relations & Acquisition Negotiation
  • Public Speaking & Educational Programming
  • Digital Asset Management
  • Team Leadership & Mentorship

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

  • “Reinterpreting Domestic Spaces: Gender and Material Culture in 19th Century New England” – Journal of American Material Culture (2020)
  • “Digital Strategies for Small and Mid-Sized Museums” – New England Museum Association Conference (2019)
  • Contributing Author – “American Decorative Arts: A Field Guide” published by Yale University Press (2017)

How to Write a Museum Curator Resume

Introduction

When applying for Museum Curator positions, your resume serves as your first exhibition—a carefully curated display of your professional journey. I've spent 15+ years helping curators land jobs at institutions ranging from small local galleries to world-renowned museums, and I've seen firsthand what makes hiring managers take notice. The competition is fierce (sometimes 100+ applications for a single position!), but with the right approach, you can create a resume that showcases your expertise in collections management, exhibition development, and cultural preservation.

Resume Structure and Format

Museum professionals appreciate clean design and thoughtful organization—your resume should reflect these values. Keep these structural elements in mind:

  • Length: 1-2 pages max (even for senior curators with 20+ years of experience)
  • Font: Stick with readable classics like Garamond, Times New Roman, or Arial (10-12pt)
  • Margins: 0.75-1 inch all around
  • Sections: Contact info, summary, experience, education, skills, publications/presentations
  • File format: PDF (preserves formatting across devices—just like proper artifact storage preserves integrity!)
When listing exhibition experience, chronological order works best for recent grads, while more experienced curators might benefit from a hybrid format that highlights specialized expertise first.

Profile/Summary Section

Your professional summary should be brief (3-5 lines) but impactful. Think of it as the exhibition placard that entices visitors to explore further. Include:

  • Years of experience and specialization (e.g., "Contemporary Asian Art Curator with 7 years specializing in emerging Southeast Asian artists")
  • Most impressive credential or institutional affiliation
  • One signature achievement (increased attendance by 47% through innovative community engagement strategies)
  • Key skills aligned with the job description

Professional Experience

This is where you shine! For each position, include the institution name, your title, dates of employment, and 4-6 bullet points describing your contributions. Focus on:

  • Exhibitions curated (size, budget, attendance figures)
  • Collections managed (type, size, preservation techniques implemented)
  • Acquisition responsibilities (budget managed, significant pieces acquired)
  • Research conducted and published
  • Grants secured (specific amounts, if possible)
  • Staff supervised and mentored

Example: "Conceptualized and executed 'Threads of Time' exhibition featuring 83 textile artifacts spanning 3 centuries; secured $78,500 in grants and attracted 12,347 visitors over 4 months—the highest attendance for a temporary exhibition in the museum's history."

Education and Certifications

Museum curation typically requires advanced degrees. List your education with:

  • Degree, major, university, graduation year
  • Relevant thesis or dissertation titles
  • Fellowships, residencies, or study abroad experiences
  • Professional development and specialized training (ICOM workshops, preventive conservation certification, etc.)

Keywords and ATS Tips

Most museums use Applicant Tracking Systems to filter resumes. To pass through:

  • Study the job posting and mirror key terms (without keyword stuffing)
  • Include industry-specific software (PastPerfect, TMS, Mimsy XG, EmbARK)
  • Mention relevant methodologies (preventive conservation, provenance research)
  • Avoid excessive formatting, headers/footers, and tables

Industry-specific Terms

Sprinkle these throughout your resume (but only if genuinely applicable to your experience):

  • Deaccessioning procedures
  • Provenance research
  • Condition reporting
  • Cultural heritage preservation
  • Interpretive planning
  • NAGPRA compliance (if working with Native American collections)
  • Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Listing exhibitions without context or metrics
  • Overemphasizing administrative duties at the expense of curatorial achievements
  • Vague descriptions like "managed collections" (instead of specific conservation efforts)
  • Forgetting to include public engagement and educational programming contributions
  • Using generic objectives rather than targeted professional summaries

Before/After Example

Before: "Responsible for organizing exhibitions and caring for collection objects."

After: "Curated 'Urban Landscapes' exhibition featuring 42 works from the permanent collection alongside 17 loaned pieces, developing interpretive materials that increased visitor engagement time by 4.8 minutes and generating $31,275 in catalog sales."

Your resume should tell the story of your passion for cultural heritage and your ability to share that passion with the public. Good luck with your curatorial career journey!

Soft skills for your Museum Curator resume

  • Cross-functional collaboration – proven ability to work with conservators, exhibition designers, educators and fundraising teams on multi-year projects
  • Narrative development – skilled at crafting compelling stories that connect diverse artifacts with contemporary audiences (especially for temporary exhibitions)
  • Stakeholder management – experience navigating competing priorities between board members, donors, community groups and academic researchers
  • Project flexibility – adaptable approach to exhibition planning despite shifting timelines, budget constraints and last-minute artifact availability issues
  • Team mentorship – track record guiding junior curators and interns through collection management protocols while fostering their professional development
  • Visual communication – knack for translating complex historical contexts into accessible display layouts that engage visitors of varying knowledge levels

Hard skills for your Museum Curator resume

  • Collection Management Software (TMS, PastPerfect, EMu)
  • Preventive Conservation Techniques
  • Exhibition Design & Installation
  • Museum Database Administration
  • NAGPRA Compliance & Cultural Heritage Law
  • Condition Reporting & Object Documentation
  • Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator)
  • Provenance Research Methodology
  • Climate Monitoring Systems