Curator

KSBs

Knowledge

K1: The Accreditation standards under the Arts Council England’s Museum Accreditation scheme Back to Duty

K2: The current UK collections management standard, overseen by the Collections Trust Back to Duty

K3: Organisation’s collections management and documentation policies and procedures Back to Duty

K4: Museum Association Code of Ethics, including the theory of ethical curating Back to Duty

K5: Collections care best practice including professional standards for preservation, preventive and remedial conservation Back to Duty

K6: Research methodology/techniques and knowledge management processes, and up-to-date knowledge on the debates affecting the sector eg. sustainable collections, the future of collecting Back to Duty

K7: Content development, interpretation and application strategies across a wide variety of internal/external engagement methods e.g. exhibition and display, collections interpretation, digital curation, online and electronic portals, screenings, tours, events and talks Back to Duty

K8: Business and project planning processes including long, medium and short-term e.g. business continuity, exhibition and display planning and programming Back to Duty

K9: Understand how to identify their key stakeholders and how to most effectively engage with and manage them Back to Duty

K10: Visitor experience processes which may include interpretation/exhibitions/display and audience access Back to Duty

K11: Partnership building to share knowledge/best practice, internally and/or externally Back to Duty

K12: Project management processes including an understanding of brokering, commissioning, managing external consultancies, creative, design and build services. This may include both small and/or large-scale projects and could be internally or externally focused. Back to Duty

K13: Fundraising principles, policies and processes in relation to their organisation Back to Duty

K14: The strategic goals of the organisation and the wider context in which it sits, and where their personal activities support these goals Back to Duty

K15: Theory and practice of presentation, interpretation and programming, including established and emerging digital skillsets Back to Duty

K16: Appropriate financial processes which may include budget preparation and management Back to Duty

K17: People (staff) management policies and procedures Back to Duty

K18: Written and verbal communication techniques to engage, in accordance with brand guidelines, with internal and external colleagues and provide appropriate communication content e.g. in reports, making presentations, attending/speaking at conferences and conveying information to others. Back to Duty

K19: Negotiation strategies to achieve a breadth of successful outcomes for the organisation for example delivering an exhibition; budget savings; signing of legal agreements Back to Duty

K20: Influencing techniques which take in to account others’ views and considerations along with the organisation’s objectives Back to Duty

K21: The significance and importance of your role to the success of the organisation Back to Duty

K22: Engagement and relationship building techniques to enable effective communication including developing and delivering audience-appropriate talks and tours to wide ranging and diverse audiences Back to Duty

K23: Organisation process and procedures, relative to their role e.g. data management, GDPR, health & safety and security Back to Duty

Skills

S1: Lead on the application and/or development of collections management processes including cataloguing whilst ensuring suitable handling,storage provision and audits Back to Duty

S2: Deliver new exhibitions, projects and collections displays as appropriate and with authenticity, e.g. research, development, organisation, administration, installation Back to Duty

S3: Refresh and/or re-present permanent, temporary and online displays/ exhibitions, determining and using appropriate interpretation methodologies Back to Duty

S4: Lead on and/or manage collections development which may include acquisition, disposal and loans, including national/international inter-organisation loans as appropriate. Ability to evaluate the long-term implications of collections development decisions. Back to Duty

S5: Commission, undertake and/or disseminate collections-related research Back to Duty

S6: Interpret and respond to research, intelligence and analysis of audience feedback and preferences Back to Duty

S7: Work with subject experts to develop creative interpretation/story telling approaches and content for exhibitions, displays and digital content Back to Duty

S8: Build subject specialist and sector networks internally and/or externally to keep abreast of emerging trends and developments that may impact medium and long-term plans Back to Duty

S9: Relate collections to a wider historical or contemporary understanding Back to Duty

S10: Recruit and select, as required by their organisation, subject experts, internal/external agencies, contractors and other organisations to work with collaboratively Back to Duty

S11: Work with others to achieve projects from inception to completion meeting agreed outcomes Back to Duty

S12: Develop exhibitions and display through internal/external designers as appropriate for their organisation Back to Duty

S13: Analyse and respond to visitor research when planning exhibitions, displays and digital content Back to Duty

S14: Manage teams, which may include some/all volunteers as required Back to Duty

S15: Set/agree milestones, deadlines and workflow for colleagues (in other departments or members of project/programme teams) to ensure delivery, as required by the organisation. Back to Duty

S16: Contribute/signpost to fundraising/income generation through grant applications, sponsorship and charging activities as appropriate for the role Back to Duty

S17: Interrogate, interpret and evaluate data sets on audience engagement Back to Duty

S18: Negotiate with stakeholders in order to achieve desired outcomes and to align with institutional objectives Back to Duty

S19: Communicate, both in writing and verbally, to a range of stakeholders to achieve shared goals, objectives and solve problems Back to Duty

S20: Write reports, for a range of internal/external audiences, regarding activities Back to Duty

S21: Act as an Ambassador for the organisation to raise its profile and communicate the importance of its work. This may mean representing the organisation including attending and/or presenting at conferences and workshops as well as developing/contributing to publications for the organisation Back to Duty

S22: Share best practice and/or deliver training to internal staff and external organisations e.g. Museum Association regarding accession activities. Back to Duty

S23: Deliver talks/tours/presentations/events to continue to engage existing audiences e.g. members and supporters as well as to broaden the participation base Back to Duty

S24: Contribute to the institution’s on-line and social media presence, and digital content in accordance with the organisation’s objectives Back to Duty

Behaviours

B1: Passion and commitment: acts with purpose by being enthusiastic and enthusing others Back to Duty

B2: Trust: acts with integrity and high ethical standards Back to Duty

B3: Innovation: proactively uses initiative and imagination to develop and identify new ideas where appropriate Back to Duty

B4: Results focus: achieves tasks in a timely manner Back to Duty

B5: Problem solvers: has a can do approach Back to Duty

B6: Expectation management: diplomatically manages the differing expectations of others, both internal and external, regarding what is practically achievable in terms of stipulated requirements e.g. time scales, budgets. Back to Duty

B7: Interpersonal skills: gets along well with others, establishes effective working relationships with co-workers, managers, clients and/or the public. Back to Duty

B8: Team working: by personal example, encourages and facilitates cooperation and collaboration; takes into account inclusion and diversity factors; ensures group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; identifies and works to others’ strengths Back to Duty

B9: Work under pressure: works well in an environment where there will be many tasks and situations to deal with at once. There may be constraints outside their control or unforeseen changes or problems to deal with. Back to Duty

B10: Continuous Professional Development: Proactively keeps industry and best practice knowledge and skills up-to-date, having an eye to the future. Back to Duty