Museum & Art Gallery Technicians
Learn about this occupation – including typical duties, education required, salary and job outlook information, job boards and more.
Workers in technical occupations related to museums and art galleries classify and catalogue museum artifacts and gallery works of art, construct and install exhibits and displays, restore, maintain and store museum and gallery collections, frame artwork, and perform other functions in support of curatorial and conservation activities. They are employed in museums and galleries. Picture framers and taxidermists may also be employed in retail settings or may be self-employed. This unit group also includes museum and other interpreters who conduct guided tours. They are employed by art galleries, museums, parks, aquariums, zoos, interpretive centres, botanical gardens, cultural centres, nature sanctuaries, historic and heritage sites, and other locations. (National Occupational Classification)
Occupational profile
Find detailed information about the occupation, including typical duties and working conditions, in the links below:
- National Occupational Classification (NOC) - Canadian occupational descriptions
- O*NET Online - U.S. occupational information
- OCCinfo by alis - Alberta-based occupational information
- Career info and requirements: Museum Technician - Study.com (U.S)
- What does a Museum Technician do? - Zippia the career expert (U.S)
- The museum technician who found her place among the ancient faces - University of Cambridge (U.K)
Education
Completion of a college program in museum technology or conservation technology or completion of other technical or on-the-job training programs related to the work are required. (NOC)
Employers generally prefer to hire applicants who have a related bachelor’s degree, or a diploma or certificate in museum studies. Computer skills and related volunteer or paid experience are definite assets. This experience could include the care and handling of collections, records management, research and exhibit development. Depending on the type of museum, skills in related fields also may be assets. (alis)
UM Academic Calendar
The Academic Calendar and Catalogue outlines program admission and course requirements. Use the left menu to navigate to a specific faculty and program. To determine which degree path suits your unique occupational goals, speak with a Career Consultant. For support with course registration and academic issues, speak with an Academic Advisor.
Faculty and department homepages
Visit UM's faculty and department homepages to learn about program application deadlines and processes, as well as additional in-house resources and opportunities. The following faculties offer courses relevant for this profession.
Exploring other education options
- Museum Studies Programs in Canada – Canadian Museums Association
- Search Directories
Information for foreign-trained Museum Technicians - Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials
Labour market information
Labour market information informs users of supply and demand for specific occupations and sectors. It includes such things as salary and job outlook information. These resources support informed career decision making and job search efforts.
Resources
- Trend Analysis: Job Market Report (Winnipeg region) - Gov. of Canada Job Bank
- Occupational Outlook Handbook - Job outlook for the U.S.
- Labour Market Information Study of the Cultural Labour Force 2019 - Cultural Human Resources
Professional associations
Professional associations may organize events and provide directories, job postings, career and labour market information. Student membership opportunities may also be available: engage, learn and network!
- Canadian Museums Association
- American Alliance of Museums
- International Institute for Conversation of Historic and Artistic Works
- Association of Academic Museums and Galleries
- Museum Association (U.K)
Directories, industry associations, and sector councils
These resources provide industry news, labour market information and a list of potential employers. Remember, there are usually multiple industries worth exploring.
- Museums List - Association of Manitoba Museums
- Canadian Museum Directory - Canadian Museums association
- Partners - Provincial and Territorial museum associations - Canadian Museums Association
- Creative Manitoba
- Association of Children's Museums
- International Council of Museums
- Contemporary Art Galleries Association - Listing
- Directory of Canadian Museums and Related Institutions
Job boards
Search occupations of interest in the industry-specific job boards below to learn about skill requirements, employers, job duties and available jobs. You may also wish to search more general online job boards.
- Job Opportunities - Association of Manitoba Museums
- Job Bank - Government of Canada
- Jobs in Heritage - Canadian Museums Associations
- Jobs - Creative Manitoba
- Find a Job (requires registration) - Museum Association
- Jobs - American Alliance of Museums
Other links
These external resources may provide you with additional information about the occupation and opportunities to build experience:
- RBC Indigenous Internship Program - Canadian Museum of History
- Canadian Council for the Arts
- Entering the Sector Career Guide - Museum Association (U.K)
- Canadian Heritage Information Network - Government of Canada
- Cultural Human Resources Council