Registrars, restorers, interpreters and other occupations related to museum and art galleries
Career Overview
People in this occupation:
- Classify and catalogue museum and gallery artifacts
- 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
- Work in museums and galleries
Picture framers and taxidermists may also be employed in retail settings or may be self-employed.
This group also includes museum and other interpreters who conduct guided tours. They work at: art galleries and museums, parks, aquariums and zoos, interpretive centres and botanical gardens, cultural centres and nature sanctuaries and historic and heritage sites and other locations.
Job Titles
Duties
Conservation and restoration technicians:
- Help with the restoration and conservation of artifacts under the direction of a conservator
Curatorial assistants:
- Help with the research, handling and storage of artifacts
Museum interpreters:
- Give tours of museums, gallery exhibitions and historical, heritage and other sites
- Answer inquiries and provide information concerning exhibits or sites
Museum extension officers:
- Help with the planning and development of travelling exhibitions and special events
Museology technicians:
- Protect and care for cultural artifacts and collections during exhibitions, while in transit and in storage
Museum registrars and cataloguers:
- Classify and assign registration numbers to artifacts and supervise inventory control
Preparators:
- Build displays and dioramas (small-scale replica of a scene)
- Build models
- Install artifacts in displays and prepare artifacts for storage and shipping
Picture framers:
- Make custom frames
- Measure and cut mattes
- Matte enhancements and glass
- Mount paintings, photographs and other art work
Taxidermists:
- Prepare and mount skins of birds or animals for preservation, scientific or display purposes
Special duties
Technical museum and gallery workers may specialize in a specific type of collection.
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
645% Employed Full Time
31%Key aspects of the work in this occupation:
- Work usually takes place in an indoor museum or workshop setting
- Workers may be exposed to dust, strong odours or toxic substances
- Working with machinery, instruments or power tools may be a source of injury
Career Pathways
Museum interpreters may require specific scientific or academic credentials to work for some museums, nature centres or other sites.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- Registrars, cataloguers and interpreters may require a university degree in a field related to museum and gallery work
- For other occupations in this unit group, completion of a college program in museum technology or conservation technology
or
Other technical or on-the-job training programs related to the work are required
Education programs in B.C.
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
645Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 25 | 3.8% |
| Kootenay | 25 | 3.8% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 390 | 60.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 30 | 4.6% |
| Northeast | 10 | 1.5% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 45 | 6.9% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 125 | 19.2% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
270Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | 0.6% |
| Kootenay | 10 | 1.3% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 170 | 1.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 10 | 1.5% |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 20 | 2.1% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 40 | 1.2% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 190 |
| Public Administration | 30 |
| Retail Trade | 20 |
| Business, Building and Other Support Services | 10 |
| Construction | 10 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.
