Will AI Replace Curators?

Plan and organize the acquisition, storage, and exhibition of collections and related materials, including the selection of exhibition themes and designs, and develop or install exhibit materials.

Complex problem-solving, strategic leadership, or high-empathy task requiring human judgment.

Develop and maintain an institution's registration, cataloging, and basic record-keeping systems, using computer databases.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Plan and conduct special research projects in area of interest or expertise.

Complex problem-solving, strategic leadership, or high-empathy task requiring human judgment.

Provide information from the institution's holdings to other curators and to the public.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Negotiate and authorize purchase, sale, exchange, or loan of collections.

Complex problem-solving, strategic leadership, or high-empathy task requiring human judgment.

Study, examine, and test acquisitions to authenticate their origin, composition, history, and to assess their current value.

Semi-structured cognitive task involving analysis, inspection, or monitoring.

Inspect premises to assess the need for repairs and to ensure that climate and pest control issues are addressed.

Semi-structured cognitive task involving analysis, inspection, or monitoring.

Write and review grant proposals, journal articles, institutional reports, and publicity materials.

Semi-structured cognitive task involving analysis, inspection, or monitoring.

Design, organize, or conduct tours, workshops, and instructional or educational sessions to acquaint individuals with an institution's facilities and materials.

Complex problem-solving, strategic leadership, or high-empathy task requiring human judgment.

Attend meetings, conventions, and civic events to promote use of institution's services, to seek financing, and to maintain community alliances.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Train and supervise curatorial, fiscal, technical, research, and clerical staff, as well as volunteers or interns.

Complex problem-solving, strategic leadership, or high-empathy task requiring human judgment.

Confer with the board of directors to formulate and interpret policies, to determine budget requirements, and to plan overall operations.

Complex problem-solving, strategic leadership, or high-empathy task requiring human judgment.

Arrange insurance coverage for objects on loan or for special exhibits and recommend changes in coverage for the entire collection.

Complex problem-solving, strategic leadership, or high-empathy task requiring human judgment.

Schedule events and organize details, including refreshment, entertainment, decorations, and the collection of any fees.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Establish specifications for reproductions and oversee their manufacture or select items from commercially available replica sources.

Complex problem-solving, strategic leadership, or high-empathy task requiring human judgment.