The career of MUSEUM CURATOR is seeking artsy, hard-working, & organized applicants!
This lesson contains interviews with several successful museum curators. These people manage art museums of different sizes & types...some on University campuses, others affiliated with a city, or some incorporated with a historic site. Curators are responsible for making sure exhibit artwork is cared for properly, hung in a correct and interesting manner for shows, and then crated carefully for shipping for their next destination; hence the need for organization. Also, the curator is responsible for recruiting the public to see the exhibit, providing related activities for different ages to enjoy, organizing staff to carry out these activities, & PUBLICIZING all the dates & times, and the price of fees, if any, that visitors will need to pay for museum admittance or special events. And since there are several exhibits each year in most museums, curators are busy people! But they're happy people, too, if they enjoy being surrounding by art and art enthusiasts!
Essential Question
What skills are required to successfully apply for and succeed at the job of managing an arts museum? And what are the skills needed for people you will need to hire?
Grade(s):
- 10
Subject(s):
Recommended Technology:
Chromebook
Access to a color printer
Other Instructional Materials or Notes:
*INFORMATIONAL ART BOOK- [or print-out] about a favorite artist, containing pictures of their artwork, & details of their personal and work history...also, anything that was going on culturally or geographically that influenced their work [a war, moving to a new country, a particular "movement" in the art world, etc.]
* ASSORTED ART SUPPLIES- such as poster board, colorered pencils, markers, washi tape, scissors, glue, etc.
* CAMERA /CELL PHONE- to take photos of artist's work to print later
* PRINTER PAPER
Lesson Progression
VOCABULARY: [explaining the arts jobs you will see in the videos]
Curator- [cur’-a-tor]one who has the care and supervision of something; especially a museum, zoo, or other place of exhibit. [“curatus”= Latin/ “care”]
Conservator-[con-ser’-va-tor] one who is responsible for the repair and preservation of things of cultural or environmental interest; such as works of art or buildings. Many people who aim for this job must 1.) acquire an arts degree, and 2.) take college chemistry courses to help them understand the effect of different chemicals on canvas, oil paint, dust & dirt, etc. OR: acquire an arts degree, and apprentice with someone in the United States or Europe who is willing to take you on as a “learning helper.”
Exhibition preparator-[pre’-par-a-tor] a person who prepares something; a preparer of exhibits, specimens, etc.
Art Auctioneer- a person who can combine 1) an extensive knowledge of art & artworks 2) contact skills with people 3) a knowledge of the products to be sold 4) process skills with the ability to appraise and sell these products 5) a level of financial literacy
Curator- [cur’-a-tor]one who has the care and supervision of something; especially a museum, zoo, or other place of exhibit. [“curatus”= Latin/ “care”]
Conservator-[con-ser’-va-tor] one who is responsible for the repair and preservation of things of cultural or environmental interest; such as works of art or buildings. Many people who aim for this job must 1.) acquire an arts degree, and 2.) take college chemistry courses to help them understand the effect of different chemicals on canvas, oil paint, dust & dirt, etc. OR: acquire an arts degree, and apprentice with someone in the United States or Europe who is willing to take you on as a “learning helper.”
Exhibition preparator-[pre’-par-a-tor] a person who prepares something; a preparer of exhibits, specimens, etc.
Art Auctioneer- a person who can combine 1) an extensive knowledge of art & artworks 2) contact skills with people 3) a knowledge of the products to be sold 4) process skills with the ability to appraise and sell these products 5) a level of financial literacy
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ASSIGNMENT:
1. Watch the first video on your Chromebook. After watching, write this information in your ARTIST CAREERS notebook:
- The name of the video
- The name of the speaker [curator], and location where he/she is employed
- Write AT LEAST 3 quotes: what does he say about his job duties, how does he feel about it? …anything you think is important or interesting to YOU.
- Would you enjoy this job? If it IS appealing, write WHY. If NOT, describe WHY NOT.
- Use 1 entire page for your answers and comments based on this video. Do not put 2 video “reviews” on one page.
2. Continue this process with each video, describing by using all the BULLET POINTS in #1 for EACH separate video.
3.After viewing ALL THE VIDEOS, describe which arts job seemed the most appealing to you and why.
- Write at least 7-8 sentences about this preferred art job.
- Write at least 5-6 sentences about the other positions, & why they didn’t appeal to you.
1.Front view/ "Paul Klee Art Exhibit" brochure...also CLAY in the style of KLEE, family activity
You will be making a brochure that will have an interesting cover, and on the inside:
* dates of exhibit * dates/descriptions/ pictures of special activities that will be offered to the public
* fees that will be charged for any special activities * location of the museum
[This will be a fictional museum & exhibit, etc.]
The inside of the "Paul Klee Exhibit" brochure
sample of a description of activities...a few Klee paintings printed to add color & interest
View ResourceMUSEUM GALLERY PROJECT
You will make a museum gallery constructed of posterboard, cardboard, etc....and thoughtfully hang it with the works of an artist you have chosen. You will "frame" each painting with washi tape, or some other frame-like trim. Have a reason for the way in which you hang this exhibit...chronological? according to subject matter? etc.
View ResourceCAREER CONNECTIONS/ Museum Curator
A curator comes up with ideas for exhibitions in the museum, etc. in he works, and then must create plans to hang, care for, and advertise the exhibit to the public
"I solve problems!" is this curator's good humored quote. Great interview.
CAREER CONNECTIONS / Museum Exhibitions Preparator
This resourceful young man had a Fine Arts degree, but was unemployed in his field. While working as a caterer & server for an event at the local art museum, somehow he talked to a "preparator" who was working in the museum. Find out what he did next! Sometimes, face-to-face, chance meetings can be extremely beneficial...and with the proper schooling already in hand, good things can happen!
View ResourceART ASSIGNMENT/ What's a Curator?
Another interview into the life of a museum curator.
View ResourceConservators of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco: Visual Arts
This conservator began as another conservator's APPRENTICE, but had painted a lot growing up, and in his later school years. It is apparent that he has NEVER gotten tired of this job, and approaches the chance to repair masterworks with reverence and great respect.
View ResourceTHE ART ASSIGNMENT / Please Do Not Touch
An interesting interview between art professionals who both used to be curators, but one is now a conservator, trying to take care of artwork, repair, preserve, etc. He likes to describe his profession as one in "cultural heritage."
View ResourceCAREER CONNECTIONS / Art Auctioneer
This woman graduated as a Fine Arts graduate, spent some time traveling, and came back home needing a job. Calling an auction house and offering to work as a "GOPHER" led to amazing opportunities for learning about the career of art auctioneer! Watch and learn the lesson of "being willing to start at the bottom."
View ResourceThe Lunder Conservation Center/ Smithsonian American Art and Portraiture Gallery
This is an amazing resource which describes the various sorts of repair and restoration that must be carried out by trained professionals...even FRAMES must be expertly repaired, along with paintings, sculptures, objects, photography, matting , etc.
View ResourceGrahame Long, Curator of the Charleston Museum/SCETV knowitall.org/ 4:30
Meet a SC museum curator and see "behind the scenes" at a large Charleston art museum, where art and all types of historic relics are stored before they get placed in an exhibit. These tasks fall to the CURATOR, a job that requires many different skills and interests!
View ResourceConway, Part 2: Turpentine and Timber Industries, PALMETTO PLACES / SCETV knowitall.org 5:25
A curator in a Conway, SC historical museum describes his job exhibiting historical relics, photos, maps, etc.
View ResourceDIGITAL TRADITIONS: Crossroads of Clay / SCETV knowitall.org
A curator who used to work at the USC McKissick Museum has researched the location of potters from the past, trying to exhibit pottery with particular glazes that were used in early times.
View ResourceStandards
Assessments
MUSEUM EXHIBIT PROJECT:
You will design a museum exhibition, with activities included to ENHANCE ATTENDANCE at the exhibit. There are 3 steps, and with each is an art project. These projects will be assessed by your Visual Arts teacher. Excellent research BEFORE the project, and NEATNESS for the assembly of each part of the project, will count toward the final assessment grade.
STEP 1 - "BUILD YOUR GALLERY & EXHIBIT"
- RESEARCH an artist who is NOT still living, noting significant facts that may have influence his/her artwork, geographical location of their lifespan, birth/death dates, etc.
- Find printable pictures of SOME of their artwork [12-15 works at least]. Take photos of these pictures and print them extremely small , they will need to fit into your "POSTER BOARD GALLERY."
- Cut your poster board in half LENGTHWISE. You will need to hook both halves together LENGTHWISE ,[SEE RESOURCES] and BEND the posterboard so that your gallery has 3 walls on which to hang pictures, and add graphics on one wall introducing your exhibit.[ SEE RESOURCES PHOTO FOR THE "LOOK" OF THE GALLERY]
- Cut out printed pictures of the tiny “gallery paintings”, and frame them with WASHI TAPE [arts & crafts store] or some other method [construction paper with decoration, scrapbook paper, etc.]
- After framing, decide how you will HANG the show…chronologically, referring to dates of which paintings were created by artist? Or in some other order that fits your gallery set-up better? Choose your method, and then “hang” them on the walls with tape blobs on back, or quick-setting glue.
- Type up an INTRODUCTION to the exhibit, by introducing the artist, some biographical background, style period to which he/she belonged, any interesting details. Print it in the smallest font possible, cut it out, & “hang” it in your gallery.
STEP 2.- CREATE A SAMPLE “CHILD/FAMILY ART PROJECT” [ to be offered at a special "family visit" day at the museum exhibit]
- Based upon the period/painting/sculpting style of the artist, create a simple project that will be easily created by family members in a 60 minute session in the museum “classroom.” [see photo in resources]
- Remember that projects must use materials that will not injure children in any way.
- Take a photo of your sample art project that will be printed and used on your brochure.
STEP 3 - CREATE A BROCHURE for the exhibit
- Fold a piece of printer paper into thirds lengthwise, like a brochure [see photo in resources]
- On front side, include a print from the exhibit, and exhibit dates/times
- Inside- 1 panel, describe a “gallery talk” that will be offered by an expert, time & details
- Inside- other panel, describe a “children’s or family” activity that is offered, w/ time & details, including sample photo of the art activity
- On the back side of brochure, describe an” evening of music” that will draw in crowds to see the exhibit…why this band? Do they play music reflecting the time period of the exhibit artwork, or perhaps the REGION where the artist lived , etc?