What Type of Skills Does an Art Curator Need?

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By Susan Kendzulak

Updated February 20, 2017

Art curators need an 'eye' for art, plus they need a passion for art, as most successful curators are passionate about art and the art they exhibit. Curators need to be knowledgeable in art and culture, so they may have an educational background in art history and philosophy.

Additionally, today's art curators need to multi-task, so being skilled in business, marketing, public relations, and fundraising is absolutely necessary.

Art curators also need to be skilled communicators as they are often the mediators between the museum, artist and public.

Art curators also need good writing skills as they write the exhibition catalog essays, promotional materials and grant applications.

More about Art Curators and the Business of Art Curating:

Fine Art provides clear definitions, such as: What is an art curator?

What Do Art Curators Do? A fundamental question about curating is answered.

Where do art curators work? Do they need to be part of an art museum staff or can they work as freelancers? What Is the Difference between an Art Museum Curator and an Independent Curator? Is having institutional support of the lack of the only difference between an in-house curator and a freelance curator?

Are all curatorial jobs equal? What Is the Difference between an Assistant Curator and a Chief Curator?

How to Get Started as an Art Curator:

Have you thought about organizing an art exhibition, but you're not sure what tasks are involved?

Here are 10 Easy Steps to Curate an Art Exhibition. In this facile tutorial, Fine Art takes you step by step to help guide you through the many details and factors involved to make your art exhibition a success.

A short tutorial on how to apply for arts grants and art funding.

Further Resources

Compelling discussion with two curators on the topic of curating.

Jessica Morgan, Director of the 2014 Gwangju Biennale and Curator of Contemporary Art, Tate Modern, London spoke with Jens Hoffmann, Deputy Director of the Jewish Museum, New York at Art Basel on June 13, 2013.