If museums are your second homes and you think the past was a pretty awesome time, even without mobile phones and tablets, Devika Soni recommends a career in museology for you
In a scene in Night at the Museum, American Museum of Natural History’s elderly guard Cecil advises rookie night watchman Larry t read up on history to cope with his job. If you have watched the movie, you would know that the artifacts in the museum come alive at night, creating chaos and conflict as they live out their historical live on the premises. When Larry does brush up on history, he is able to defuse situations as he knows outcomes beforehand.
Visiting a museum may sometimes make you feel like Larry like you are being buried by an onslaught of historical objects from an unfamiliar era. But when you look into the past, they all make sense. If you think about it, a museum is really a time machine, helping you travel to another time. While we marvel at this, let’s send out a little thank you to museologists.
Who are museologist?
Museologists, also known as curators, manage artifacts in museums. Looking after these relics is no easy feat. Museology branches out to provide various options to its pursuers, such as museum director, conservation specialist, educator, archivist and exhibit designer among others. If collecting and looking after antiques is your hobby you now have a chance to pursue it as a career.
The groundwork
In order to be eligible for a master degree in museology, the minimum requirement is a graduation or a post graduation in science, history, arts, fine arts or archaeology. An additional degree in one of the following would add to your credibility: anthropology, zoology, geology, agriculture, environmental science, and marine science. Knowledge of a classical or foreign language such as Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, Greek Latin, German, French or Italian is also invaluable.
What’s the job like?
Shrikant Pathak, a curator with the Nehru Science Centre in Mumbai, says that a museologist juggles several responsibilities for a particular collection, [the role] can often include other activities, such as public relations, marketing, fundraising, and education programmes. There can be an overlap with the museum/gallery exhibitions officer role. Curators are also expected to prepare budgets, manage staff and build relationships with both internal and external partners and stakeholders.”
Joys of the profession
* Opportunity to deal with new subjects and artifacts
* Non-repetitive nature of the job
* Networking with other museums, nationally and internationally
And the challenges
- Not many people are aware of this profession
- Inequality exists; not all curators are paid as per their experience and qualification
Getting a foot in the door
There are several 100 museums in India providing employment to eligible graduates. You may join institutions affiliated with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the major employers in this field. Candidates may get into any constituent body of the ASI through the test and interview conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
What scope does this profession offer?
“The future of this profession is bright as the awareness is increasing. It could become mainstream career opportunity if proper reforms are made in this cadre,” says Pathak.
Go on then, unravel the mysteries. Or even spend a night at the museum; you never know what may come to life!
What does this career entail?
JOB PROFILE:
Museologists plan, design, promote and maintain museum artifacts. Classifying and cataloging of materials, writing grant proposals, directing museum technicians and initiating research projects is also part of their job.
INCOME:
The starting pay package is between Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 30,000.
SKILLS SET:
Management skills, communication skills, visualisation skills, organisational skills, attention to detail, passion for traveling, and a degree!
STUDY:
- National Museum, New Delhi
- Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Baroda
- University of Kolkata, Kolkata
- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
MA VA MASC IN MUSEOLOGY
- Since MA concentrates on arts and humanities, to pursue MA Museology one must have a degree in any subject related to art and humanities.
- M.Sc Museology gives more importance to life sciences, therefore a degree in a subject related to life sciences is needed to pursue this course.
MUSEOLOGY COURSEWORK
A master’s degree typically includes museum administration. The coursework is divided between the theoretical and practical aspects of museum operations.
Subjects that may be studied:
- History of museum
- Collection management
- Documentation
- Presentation and interpretation
- History and archaeology of India History of art
- Folk art and culture of India
- Preservation of natural history specimens
- Conservation of cultural properties
Aspiring museum professionals should train in curation and management of collection in:
- Anthropology
- Arms and armour
- Numismatics
- Epigraphy
- Jewellery
- Art
- Botany
MUSEUMS FOR INTERNSHIPS
- National Museum, New Delhi
- Salarjung Museum, Hyderabad
- Aziz Bhat Museum, Kargil
- Indian Museum, Kolkata
We all as children have found museums intriguing, but if you are still fascinated by its sheer beauty and feel like digging in more, then Museology is definitely the way to a good and fulfilling career.
