Museum technician and conservator
Also known as
Work environment
- Usually work regular business hours but may work extra hours
- Usually work in museums, galleries and studios and may travel locally, nationally or internationally
- Need to be accurate, creative and communicate well
Salary information
Typical tasks
- Prepare materials for preservation
- Classify and organise artworks and historical objects
- Manage safe storage of historical objects
- Manage exhibit transportation and installation
- Monitor exhibits for damage and issues
- Maintain records
- Repair and restore artwork and historical objects
- Develop maintenance and preservation policies
Outlook
Museums and heritage organisations are increasingly using digital technologies to catalogue, preserve and share collections. In New Zealand, there is ongoing focus on protecting cultural heritage and taonga while improving public access through digitisation. Internationally, advances in conservation science, imaging technologies and digital preservation are changing how collections are managed and cared for, creating new opportunities across the heritage sector.
What employers and industry want in graduates
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy
- Careful handling of valuable objects and materials
- Good observational and problem-solving skills
- Ability to use technical and digital tools
- Strong organisation and record-keeping skills
- Teamwork and communication skills
AUT programmes
- Painting, Printmaking and Drawing major – Bachelor of Visual Arts Te Tohu Paetahi mō Toi Ataata
- Photography, Sculpture and Moving-image Major – Bachelor of Visual Arts Te Tohu Paetahi mō Toi Ataata
The above is a suggestion only and a starting point. You may need to meet other criteria or take additional steps to work in this career.
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This data is sourced from the Tertiary Education Commission through the Tahatū Career Navigator website (www.tahtu.govt.nz) and used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Some of the information has been modified by AUT. TEC has not approved, endorsed or tested these modifications. TEC will not be held accountable for any errors within this data.