In this article, we’ll look at the best practices for onboarding your new Museum Curator. We’ll look at the employee onboarding process/steps you can add to your own reusable Museum Curator checklist.
Need help with onboarding new Art team members? See the templates and resources we recommend for successful onboarding experiences.
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Are you looking for help setting up a staff orientation process so that when your new Museum Curator starts their role, they can learn about their responsibilities and your company as quickly as possible? Whether you’re keen to use buddy onboarding, want to automate your Art onboarding experience or just need an onboarding checklist for your new Museum Curator, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together a sample Museum Curator onboarding checklist below and have created onboarding templates & resources to help.
1. Introduction to the company: The new museum curator should be provided with a comprehensive introduction to the company, including its history, mission, and values. This task is typically performed by the HR department or a designated employee responsible for onboarding.
2. Familiarization with the museum’s collection: The curator should be given time to familiarize themselves with the museum’s collection, including its artworks, artifacts, and historical significance. This task can be facilitated by senior curators or the museum’s collections management team.
3. Understanding the museum’s exhibition policies: It is crucial for the new curator to understand the museum’s exhibition policies, including guidelines for acquiring new artworks, loaning pieces, and organizing exhibitions. This task can be explained by the museum’s director or senior curators.
4. Introduction to the museum’s staff: The new curator should be introduced to the museum’s staff members, including other curators, conservators, educators, and administrative personnel. This task can be coordinated by the HR department or a designated employee responsible for onboarding.
5. Familiarization with the museum’s archives and research resources: The curator should be provided with access to the museum’s archives and research resources, including catalogs, databases, and scholarly publications. This task can be facilitated by the museum’s research department or librarians.
6. Training on museum-specific software and systems: The new curator should receive training on any museum-specific software and systems used for cataloging, inventory management, and exhibition planning. This task can be performed by the museum’s IT department or designated trainers.
7. Introduction to the museum’s conservation practices: The curator should be introduced to the museum’s conservation practices, including protocols for handling, storing, and preserving artworks. This task can be conducted by the museum’s conservation department or senior conservators.
8. Understanding the museum’s educational programs: The new curator should be familiarized with the museum’s educational programs, including workshops, lectures, and guided tours. This task can be explained by the museum’s education department or educators.
9. Reviewing the museum’s budget and financial procedures: The curator should review the museum’s budget and financial procedures to understand the financial constraints and processes involved in acquiring new artworks and organizing exhibitions. This task can be performed by the museum’s finance department or designated financial personnel.
10. Introduction to the museum’s marketing and public relations strategies: The new curator should be introduced to the museum’s marketing and public relations strategies, including social media campaigns, press releases, and collaborations with other institutions. This task can be explained by the museum’s marketing or public relations department.
11. Familiarization with the museum’s safety and security protocols: The curator should be familiarized with the museum’s safety and security protocols, including emergency procedures, fire safety, and protection against theft or damage. This task can be conducted by the museum’s security department or designated safety personnel.
12. Understanding the museum’s ethical guidelines: The new curator should be provided with an understanding of the museum’s ethical guidelines, including issues related to provenance, cultural sensitivity, and repatriation. This task can be explained by the museum’s ethics committee or senior curators.
13. Introduction to the museum’s board of directors and stakeholders: The curator should be introduced to the museum’s board of directors and key stakeholders, including donors, sponsors, and community partners. This task can be coordinated by the museum’s director or a designated employee responsible for onboarding.
14. Participation in team meetings and collaborative projects: The new curator should actively participate in team meetings and collaborative projects to foster relationships with colleagues and gain a deeper understanding of the museum’s operations. This task can be facilitated by the museum’s management team or project leaders.
15. Ongoing professional development opportunities: The curator should be informed about ongoing professional development opportunities, such as conferences, workshops, and training programs, to enhance their knowledge and skills in the field. This task can be communicated by the museum’s HR department or senior curators
From reading through the items in the example Museum Curator checklist above, you’ll now have an idea of how you can apply best practices to getting your new Museum Curator up to speed and working well in your Art team. Scroll up to see the link to our onboarding templates & resources or get in touch to discuss getting help setting up your systems and processes in this area.
