Career As A Museologist: Museum Professionals Preserve Past for Future Generations

What's It About?

Museology is about museum theory and practice. As an academic discipline in India it is not new but it has been about a decade or so since museums have accepted museology as a stream of study. Museologists are primarily involved in documentation of artefacts and collection management. They also conceptualise exhibitions and workshops. Sometime ago, NMI held exhibitions for blind children. Museologists work in museums, galleries as well as non-government organisations. Museology professionals can work as education specialists, who spread knowledge through objects.

The Payoff

Assistant curator: Rs 25,000 a month in an Indian museum

Skills

• A grounding in history (science if you intend to work in a science museum)
• Management skills
• Ability to communicate a topic through visual aids
• Strong team spirit
• Research skills - understand the material and be able to re-write or translate it for your audience
• Knowledge of an additional language (such as Sanskrit, Prakrit, Persian, or French)

How Do I Get There?

Graduates in a variety of disciplines can enroll for a masters in museology. Universities accept candidates with a bachelors or masters in subjects such as history, ancient history, archaeology, anthropology, Sanskrit, fine arts, physics, chemistry, botany, zoology, geology, earth science, agriculture, environmental science, and marine science. Check the individual institution's requirements.

Institutes & URLs

• MA in museology, National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation and Museology, New Delhi, www.nmi.gov.in
• MA (fine) museology, MS University of Baroda, Vadodara, www.msubaroda.ac.in
• MA/MSc in museology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata www.caluniv.ac.in
• MA in museology, BHU, www.bhu.ac.in

Pros & Cons

• You handle confidential details about artefacts
• Tour with travelling exhibitions
• Work with interesting personalities such as former royals interested in getting their collections managed
• Low paying job in India
• Work has its boring moments

Author: Rahat Bano (HT Horizons)

Date: 31st December, 2010

---

For further details about related courses and colleges please click below:

Related courses and colleges