Overview
Registrars, restorers, interpreters and workers in other occupations related to museums and art galleries classify and catalogue museum artifacts and gallery works of art, 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. They are employed in museums and galleries. Picture framers and taxidermists may also be employed in retail settings or may be self-employed. This unit group also includes museum and other interpreters who conduct guided tours. They are employed by art galleries, museums, parks, aquariums, zoos, interpretive centres, botanical gardens, cultural centres, nature sanctuaries, historic and heritage sites, and other locations.
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Conservation and restoration technicians
Assist in the restoration and conservation of artifacts under the direction of a conservator.
Preparators and picture framers
Construct displays and dioramas, build models, install artifacts in displays and prepare artifacts for storage and shipping
Fabricate custom frames, measure and cut mats, mat enhancements and glass, and mount paintings, photographs and other art work.
Museum interpreters
Conduct tours of museums, gallery exhibitions and historical, heritage and other sites, answer inquiries and provide information concerning exhibits or sites.
Curatorial assistants, museum extension officers, museology technicians and museum registrars and cataloguers
Assist in the research, handling and storage of artifacts
Assist with the planning and development of travelling exhibitions and special events
Protect and care for cultural artifacts and collections during exhibitions, while in transit and in storage
Classify and assign registration numbers to artifacts and supervise inventory control.
Taxidermists
Prepare, stuff and mount skins of animals for preservation, scientific or display purposes.
Employment prospects
Annual salary
$37,541
$50,054
$68,825
Job openings
Use this interactive map to explore job openings in different regions across B.C.
British Columbia
143expected job openings (5-year forecast)
Education and training
Employment requirements
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 completion of other technical or on-the-job training programs related to the work are required.
Additional information
Museum interpreters may require specific scientific or academic credentials for employment by some museums, nature centres or other sites.
Technical museum and gallery workers may specialize in a specific type of collection.
Certification requirements
Post-secondary programs in B.C.
Explore programs related to this career offered at post-secondary institutions in B.C.