Work Environment
This occupation is typically found in the following Career Sector(s):
Videos on the Web
- Museum Educator- from: Youtube Search
Most commonly reported Work Activities
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
- Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Working Life
Museum educators are involved in finding ways to use the collections to inspire people.
They explain, interpret and convey information on the collections by means of events such as tours.
They may give lectures, seminars, workshops, publications like activity sheets, and handling collections, that can offer intense, lasting experiences.
As well as providing advice on site, they engage in education outreach to bring the collections to wider audiences countrywide.
Most commonly reported Work Tasks
- 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.
- Repair, restore, and reassemble artifacts, designing and fabricating missing or broken parts, to restore them to their original appearance and prevent deterioration.
- Clean objects, such as paper, textiles, wood, metal, glass, rock, pottery, and furniture, using cleansers, solvents, soap solutions, and polishes.
- Photograph objects for documentation.
- Determine whether objects need repair and choose the safest and most effective method of repair.
- Prepare artifacts for storage and shipping.
- Enter information about museum collections into computer databases.
- Recommend preservation procedures, such as control of temperature and humidity, to curatorial and building staff.
- Notify superior when restoration of artifacts requires outside experts.
- Supervise and work with volunteers.
Qualities - Museum Educator
Enthusiasm, motivation and the ability to communicate with a wide range of people and age groups is essential in this role.
Research skills, to interpret and identify priorities for education programmes.
Good administrative skills for organising and delivering campaigns and events effectively.
Interests - Museum Educator
This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Linguistic
The Linguistic's interests are usually focused on ideas and information exchange. They tend to like reading a lot, and enjoy discussion about what has been said. Some will want to write about their own ideas and may follow a path towards journalism, story writing or editing. Others will develop skills in other languages, perhaps finding work as a translator or interpreter. Most Linguistic types will enjoy the opportunity to teach or instruct people in a topic they are interested in.
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
Creative
Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.
Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.
Entry / Progression - Museum Educator
Degree areas that relate to museum collections are a good starting points from which to build a museum career.
Subjects such as history, art history, archaeology, natural sciences and anthropology are typical of many employees working in museums. Universities and higher education colleges countrywide offer numerous courses and some provide distance-learning.
Sample Education and Training Pathways
A number of courses are available throughout the country that focus on learning and skills that may be useful for this career. The examples and links below may guide you in your research.
Further Education (FET)
Further Education & Training (FET) Courses are delivered by local ETBs, ranging in duration from several weeks up to 20 months. Courses are designed to meet the labour market needs and often include a large element of work experience.
Example search terms include: tourism, retail, business, office admin.
Search for FET Courses
PLC Courses (FET)
PLC courses are full-time courses, one or two years duration, with awards at Level 5 and 6 on the NFQ. They are offered nationally in Schools and Colleges of Further Education.
Example search terms include: tourism, culture, heritage studies, access, pre-university arts, cultural and heritage studies, hospitality and tourism industry studies, management, marketing in tourism, tourism, cultural events management, tourism with business.
Search for PLC Courses
Placements, Internships, Volunteering
Check the IMA Irish Museums Association and search for 'training' for a full list of opportunities.
Some schools and colleges make arrangements with museums, galleries and other venues, for undergraduate/graduate students to go on placements and gain work experience. This is an invaluable way to find out the type of work that takes place in museums and whether you might like a job in this area.
Qualified school leavers can find work in museums as Gallery attendants or shop staff. But for any type of specialist work, it is necessary to have a degree, or a museum/heritage diploma, and potentially, post-graduate qualifications.
Higher Education CAO (Undergraduate)
Higher Education courses at Levels 6 to 8 on the NFQ, delivered in Universities and Technological Universities & Institutes. Courses run from 2 – 5 years and places are allocated on a points-based system, processed by the Central Application Office.
Example search terms include: heritage studies, history, modern language, tourism management.
Search for CAO Courses
Graduate opportunities
The museum sector is becoming increasingly professionalised and there are graduate and post graduate programmes available both in Ireland and abroad, combining both campus based and distance learning options.
Some museums and galleries in Ireland and overseas offer graduate internship programmes of between three months and a year. Most of these training programmes are unpaid and cover many different roles within the museum. In general, interested applicants must make an application in writing to the museum, usually followed by an interview. Individual museum websites carry details of their internships and application procedures.
Volunteering: an excellent way to gain experience in the museum environment (and support your local museum!) is to volunteer your time. Some institutions have formal programmes through which you may volunteer as a museum docent, visitor services assistant, or other roles. Others accept informal enquiries regarding volunteering opportunities.
Higher Education (Postgraduate)
Postgraduate courses are courses at Levels 9 and 10 on the NFQ and usually last 1 – 2 years full time, or longer if a PhD or part time. Entrants typically require an undergraduate award (Level 8).
Example search terms include: cultural policy, arts management, arts and heritage management.
Search for Postgraduate Courses
Pay & Salary - Museum Educator
Salary Range (thousands per year)* €35k - €68k
Assistant Education Officer (Assistant Keeper Grade II) Education Department.
Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.
Data Source(s):
PAS- Gov.ie/ Payscale/ IMMA
Last Updated: July, 2024
Labour Market Updates - Museum Educator
Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Librarians Archivists; curators; Journalists; newspaper and periodical editors; Public relations professionals; Advertising account managers; and creative directors.
This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).
Employment levels in this occupation has seen little change in recent years, with numbers employed in 2022 slightly lower than five years ago, resulting in a negative employment growth rate. The CSO Census data indicates that increases in employment related to public relations professionals and librarians.
The numbers employed in the individual occupations are too small for any further analysis.
Useful Contacts - Museum Educator
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Irish Museums Association
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National Museum of Ireland
- Kildare Street, Dublin 2
- (01) 677 7444
- Click Here
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National Gallery of Ireland
