Aspirations of museum curator

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Smithsonian curators have solid salaries, $170Kish or so, but it will take credentials and time to get to that point.

And a whole lotta luck if you don't have a connected in or other hook.

Museum curators are scholars. They need excellent academic and professional credentials, to gain museum experience, and to build connections in their field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Smithsonian curators have solid salaries, $170Kish or so, but it will take credentials and time to get to that point.

And a whole lotta luck if you don't have a connected in or other hook.

Museum curators are scholars. They need excellent academic and professional credentials, to gain museum experience, and to build connections in their field.

In the art world, the most successful ones are better schmoozers than scholars. One donor event after another.

[Anonymous]

He has to go to an Ivy League or similar school to even have a chance. Museum boards are full of rich AF people who use their power to get jobs for their own kids or nieces and nephews.

It’s really hard for unconnected people to get a foot in the door. That’s why you need a double degree from HYPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is really not your choice.
There are many career fields that people pursue because they are passionate about them or want to help people.

The most you can do is suggest your son have informational interviews with people in the field, so he goes in with eyes wide open.

But it will be his life. You can't "curate" it for him.

Why don't people ever post on here that their kid is going into some high paying field and they are afraid they will be miserable in it (like many lawyers, for example). There really is more to life than $.

OP here. I am not pushing IB or top tier consulting here. My kid is aware that grad school payments are on him and is looking for advice from his parents on sound financial decisions so he can live independently. I do not consider this curating his future- more common sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Smithsonian curators have solid salaries, $170Kish or so, but it will take credentials and time to get to that point.

And a whole lotta luck if you don't have a connected in or other hook.

Museum curators are scholars. They need excellent academic and professional credentials, to gain museum experience, and to build connections in their field.

Sure--I'm not contesting that. But credentials are a necessary but not sufficient condition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Smithsonian curators have solid salaries, $170Kish or so, but it will take credentials and time to get to that point.

And a whole lotta luck if you don't have a connected in or other hook.

Museum curators are scholars. They need excellent academic and professional credentials, to gain museum experience, and to build connections in their field.

In the art world, the most successful ones are better schmoozers than scholars. One donor event after another.

I was going to say that...would assume you need to be a professional fundraiser. Wonder if a curator job could come after working in the lobbying (with a substantial pay cut) or association worlds??

[Anonymous]

You say that your husband is in big law but you can't pay for grad school?

Museum curator positions are very competitive. The most successful (and well-paid) people will be doing a decent amount of fundraising. I'd let your kid pursue his dream. He will figure out in undergrad and grad school if this is something he really wants to do. I would NOT do a BA in museum studies (if this exists). Encourage him to double major in history and something else possibly more "useful".

[Anonymous]

These jobs are like academia. People stay in them forever. There are still boomers solidly in leadership roles in these places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is really not your choice.
There are many career fields that people pursue because they are passionate about them or want to help people.

The most you can do is suggest your son have informational interviews with people in the field, so he goes in with eyes wide open.

But it will be his life. You can't "curate" it for him.

Why don't people ever post on here that their kid is going into some high paying field and they are afraid they will be miserable in it (like many lawyers, for example). There really is more to life than $.

Maybe because 'passion' doesn't pay rent nor buy food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is really not your choice.
There are many career fields that people pursue because they are passionate about them or want to help people.

The most you can do is suggest your son have informational interviews with people in the field, so he goes in with eyes wide open.

But it will be his life. You can't "curate" it for him.

Why don't people ever post on here that their kid is going into some high paying field and they are afraid they will be miserable in it (like many lawyers, for example). There really is more to life than $.

Maybe because 'passion' doesn't pay rent nor buy food.

So dramatic. Salaries are not so low that you can not pay rent or buy food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Smithsonian curators have solid salaries, $170Kish or so, but it will take credentials and time to get to that point.

And a whole lotta luck if you don't have a connected in or other hook.

Museum curators are scholars. They need excellent academic and professional credentials, to gain museum experience, and to build connections in their field.

In the art world, the most successful ones are better schmoozers than scholars. One donor event after another.

I was going to say that...would assume you need to be a professional fundraiser. Wonder if a curator job could come after working in the lobbying (with a substantial pay cut) or association worlds??

No, definitely not. You need to have the academic credentials first and foremost, but if you can sweet talk super wealthy people, it helps immensely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is really not your choice.
There are many career fields that people pursue because they are passionate about them or want to help people.

The most you can do is suggest your son have informational interviews with people in the field, so he goes in with eyes wide open.

But it will be his life. You can't "curate" it for him.

Why don't people ever post on here that their kid is going into some high paying field and they are afraid they will be miserable in it (like many lawyers, for example). There really is more to life than $.

Maybe because 'passion' doesn't pay rent nor buy food.

So dramatic. Salaries are not so low that you can not pay rent or buy food.

No but low enough that you might not be able to buy property down the road and eat if you are paying grad school loans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You say that your husband is in big law but you can't pay for grad school?

Museum curator positions are very competitive. The most successful (and well-paid) people will be doing a decent amount of fundraising. I'd let your kid pursue his dream. He will figure out in undergrad and grad school if this is something he really wants to do. I would NOT do a BA in museum studies (if this exists). Encourage him to double major in history and something else possibly more "useful".

She said husband “did” big law—probably paid down loans and got out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is really not your choice.
There are many career fields that people pursue because they are passionate about them or want to help people.

The most you can do is suggest your son have informational interviews with people in the field, so he goes in with eyes wide open.

But it will be his life. You can't "curate" it for him.

Why don't people ever post on here that their kid is going into some high paying field and they are afraid they will be miserable in it (like many lawyers, for example). There really is more to life than $.

Maybe because 'passion' doesn't pay rent nor buy food.

So dramatic. Salaries are not so low that you can not pay rent or buy food.

No but low enough that you might not be able to buy property down the road and eat if you are paying grad school loans.

These jobs are for people with trust funds not loan debt

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is really not your choice.
There are many career fields that people pursue because they are passionate about them or want to help people.

The most you can do is suggest your son have informational interviews with people in the field, so he goes in with eyes wide open.

But it will be his life. You can't "curate" it for him.

Why don't people ever post on here that their kid is going into some high paying field and they are afraid they will be miserable in it (like many lawyers, for example). There really is more to life than $.

Maybe because 'passion' doesn't pay rent nor buy food.

So dramatic. Salaries are not so low that you can not pay rent or buy food.

It's not that the salaries are low, it's that it's also extremely hard to get the job. 18 year olds don't really get that--they know things like they like museums. It's adults job to help them get information on the outlook on those careers--what are the credentials required, what are the likely salaries, number of jobs available and labor outlook. A kid who likes the idea of being a curator might like the idea of a lot of other more realistic jobs.