How to Be Museum Keeper - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Aug 23, 2022 / 5 Minutes Read / By Albert

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The lack of museum keepers has caused a decrease in the quality of museums around the world. Without knowledgeable and experienced museum keepers, a museum's collections, exhibitions, and programs suffer. Museum keepers are responsible for ensuring that a museum's artifacts and collections are properly classified, preserved, and exhibited.

They also provide maintenance and security services to ensure that the museum is properly cared for. Without these important services, museums face a variety of issues such as deterioration, theft and vandalism, and inadequate conservation efforts. The result is an overall decline in the quality of a museum's offerings, leading to fewer visitors and reduced revenue.

Steps How to Become

Obtain a Bachelor's Degree. Museum keepers need at least a four-year bachelor's degree in a field related to museum studies, such as art history, anthropology, history, or museum studies.
Gain Work Experience. Potential museum keepers should gain related work experience, such as through internships, volunteer positions, or entry-level positions at a museum.
Pursue a Master's Degree. A master's degree in museum studies or a related field may be required for certain positions.
Become Certified. Certification is not always required, but it can be beneficial for museum keepers. The American Alliance of Museums offers certification for museum professionals at the professional, intermediate, and basic levels.
Stay Informed. Museum keepers should stay on top of new trends and developments in the field, as well as any changes to the laws and regulations that govern museums.

Staying ahead and competent in the field of Museum Keeping requires dedication and commitment. Regularly attending professional development courses and reading current industry publications are essential in order to stay abreast of the latest trends and best practices. Learning new skills, such as curatorial techniques and digital asset management, can also help Museum Keepers stay competitive.

Networking with colleagues, joining professional associations and attending conferences are also effective methods of staying informed and connected. developing a strong understanding of museum ethics, conservation principles, and the latest technologies can help a Museum Keeper remain competent in their field. By making a commitment to staying informed, knowledgeable and connected within the field, a Museum Keeper can ensure they stay ahead of the competition.

You may want to check Crib Keeper, Data Keeper, and Garden Keeper for alternative.

Job Description

Acquisitions Manager: Responsible for overseeing the acquisition and donation of museum artifacts and collections, determining their relevance and appropriateness for the museum.
Collections Manager: Manages the museum's collection, including the accession, cataloging, storage, conservation, and display of the artifacts.
Museum Educator: Develops and implements educational programs and activities to enhance visitors' understanding and appreciation of the museum's collections.
Museum Exhibit Designer: Designs and fabricates exhibits and displays to showcase the museum's collections.
Museum Program Coordinator: Coordinates public programs, events, and activities related to the museum's collections.
Museum Registrar: Manages all aspects of the museum's registration process, including loan agreements and registration records.
Museum Technician: Performs maintenance, repair, and setup tasks for museum exhibits, displays, and equipment.
Visitor Services Representative: Greets visitors, answers questions about the museum, and provides general assistance.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Knowledge of museum collections, history and culture.
Ability to communicate effectively with visitors.
Ability to explain museum artifacts and exhibits to visitors.
Knowledge of museum security and safety protocols.
Ability to maintain museum exhibits and displays.
Ability to conduct research and develop educational materials.
Competency with computers, databases and other technology used in museums.
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
Strong organizational skills.
Ability to multitask and prioritize tasks effectively.

Museum keepers are essential to the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage. They are responsible for the upkeep and management of museum collections, which include objects, documents, and works of art. To successfully fulfill this role, a museum keeper must have a number of skills, such as excellent organizational abilities, knowledge of the museum's history and contents, and the ability to communicate effectively.

Good communication skills are especially important since they allow museum keepers to explain the significance of artifacts and works of art to visitors. museum keepers must have a deep understanding of conservation techniques to ensure that the collection is properly cared for. This includes monitoring the environment, preventing deterioration, and taking steps to mitigate any damage.

Finally, museum keepers need to possess strong research skills in order to properly document objects and provide accurate information to the public. Without these essential skills, a museum keeper would be unable to fulfill their role and the valuable cultural heritage within the museum would be at risk.

Content Keeper, Guest Keeper, and Property Manager are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have working with museum artifacts?
How do you stay up to date with the latest museum trends and practices?
What techniques do you use to preserve museum artifacts?
What methods do you use to engage visitors in the museum experience?
How do you handle security issues related to museum artifacts?
What strategies do you use to create an educational environment in a museum?
What challenges have you faced in managing a museum collection?
How would you handle conflicting requests from museum visitors?
How do you collaborate with other museum professionals to create a successful museum experience?
How do you ensure all visitors feel welcomed and respected in the museum?

Common Tools in Industry

Computer. Used to store and organize data, such as documents, photographs, and artwork (eg: Microsoft Office).
Scanner. A device used to digitally capture images and documents (eg: Epson Perfection V550).
Camera. Used to take photographs for museum displays and exhibitions (eg: Nikon D7200).
Printer. Used to print documents and images for display and archival purposes (eg: Canon Pixma Pro-100).
Art Supplies. A variety of supplies used to create artworks, such as paints, pencils and paper (eg: acrylic paint set).
Conservation Tools. Specialized tools used to maintain artifacts in a museum, such as brushes and cleaning supplies (eg: brush set and microfiber cloths).
Digital Storage. A device used to store digital files, such as DVDs and external hard drives (eg: Seagate Backup Plus).

Professional Organizations to Know

American Alliance of Museums (AAM)
International Council of Museums (ICOM)
Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC)
American Association for State and Local History (AASLH)
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)
Association of African American Museums (AAAM)
American Association of Museum Volunteers (AAMV)
National Association for Interpretation (NAI)
Association for Museum Exhibition (AME)
International Council of Museums, USA (ICOM-USA)

We also have Farm Keeper, Orderly, and Conservation Keeper jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Curator. A museum professional responsible for a collection of artifacts or artworks, usually with the goal of preserving, researching, and interpreting them.
Exhibition. An organized presentation of artifacts or artworks in a museum or gallery.
Collection. A group of artifacts or artworks gathered together for the purpose of display, research, or preservation.
Conservation. The preservation of artifacts or artworks to prevent deterioration or decay.
Cataloguing. The process of organizing and describing a collection of artifacts or artworks.
Education. The teaching of museum visitors about the history, purpose, and significance of a collection.
Accessioning. The process of formally adding a new artifact or artwork to a collection.
Collections Management. The oversight of a museum collections physical condition, security, and accessibility.