About this apprenticeship
What it involves
The Curator apprenticeship is a master's-level programme that trains you to develop, interpret, and care for collections held in museums, galleries, archives, and heritage organisations. You will lead research, develop exhibitions and programmes, acquire new items for collections, and represent the organisation to scholars, donors, and the public. This Level 7 qualification is the highest professional standard for museum curatorship and leads to senior curatorial and leadership roles.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Curatorial theory, practice, and collections development policy
Research methods in history, art history, archaeology, or other relevant disciplines
Exhibition development from concept through to evaluation
Collections access, rights management, and legal frameworks for cultural property
Acquisition, deaccessioning, and the ethics of collecting
Community engagement and participatory approaches in contemporary curatorship
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Research collection items and produce interpretive text, labels, and catalogue records
Develop and project-manage exhibitions from initial concept to opening
Assess proposed acquisitions and write acquisition papers for committee approval
Engage academic researchers, schools, and communities with the collection
Respond to public and scholarly enquiries about the collection
Represent the collection at conferences, media events, and donor meetings
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 7 (Degree (Master’s)) - roughly Master’s-degree level. Usually needs a relevant degree or Level 6 qualification, or significant experience.
What’s next: Leads into senior and chartered professional roles.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
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What it’s really like
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