Will AI Replace Museum Technicians and Conservators?

Install, arrange, assemble, and prepare artifacts for exhibition, ensuring the artifacts' safety, reporting their status and condition, and identifying and correcting any problems with the set up.

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

Repair, restore, and reassemble artifacts, designing and fabricating missing or broken parts, to restore them to their original appearance and prevent deterioration.

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

Clean objects, such as paper, textiles, wood, metal, glass, rock, pottery, and furniture, using cleansers, solvents, soap solutions, and polishes.

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

Photograph objects for documentation.

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

Determine whether objects need repair and choose the safest and most effective method of repair.

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

Prepare artifacts for storage and shipping.

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

Enter information about museum collections into computer databases.

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

Recommend preservation procedures, such as control of temperature and humidity, to curatorial and building staff.

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

Notify superior when restoration of artifacts requires outside experts.

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

Supervise and work with volunteers.

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

Perform on-site field work which may involve interviewing people, inspecting and identifying artifacts, note-taking, viewing sites and collections, and repainting exhibition spaces.

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

Lead tours and teach educational courses to students and the general public.

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

Classify and assign registration numbers to artifacts and supervise inventory control.

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

Study object documentation or conduct standard chemical and physical tests to ascertain the object's age, composition, original appearance, need for treatment or restoration, and appropriate preservation method.

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

Prepare reports on the operation of conservation laboratories, documenting the condition of artifacts, treatment options, and the methods of preservation and repair used.

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

Specialize in particular materials or types of object, such as documents and books, paintings, decorative arts, textiles, metals, or architectural materials.

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

Perform tests and examinations to establish storage and conservation requirements, policies, and procedures.

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

Direct and supervise curatorial, technical, and student staff in the handling, mounting, care, and storage of art objects.

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

Coordinate exhibit installations, assisting with design, constructing displays, dioramas, display cases, and models, and ensuring the availability of necessary materials.

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

Preserve or direct preservation of objects, using plaster, resin, sealants, hardeners, and shellac.

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

Plan and conduct research to develop and improve methods of restoring and preserving specimens.

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

Deliver artwork on courier trips.

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

Build, repair, and install wooden steps, scaffolds, and walkways to gain access to or permit improved view of exhibited equipment.

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

Estimate cost of restoration work.

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