The Life of a Fashion Curator (2024)

The Life of a Fashion Curator (1)

What does a fashion curator do? What is the best part of being a curator? Ask A Curator Day, started in 2010 by MuseumNext founder Jim Richardson, allows the public to engage with curators at institutions across the globe using the social media hashtag #AskACurator. On September 16, the @scadfash social audience addressed questions to SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film executive director Alexandra Sachs. Here are five memorable exchanges from Ask A Curator Day.

1. How do curators decide which designers they will invite for an exhibition at SCAD FASH?

Alexandra Sachs: “SCAD FASH curators work collaboratively to identify artists and designers who reflect the diversity of our student body and community, and who align with our mission to celebrate fashion as an artform and conduit of identity. Curators and staff oversee fashion-focused exhibitions, events, and programs that resonate across the university. Our curators also organize exhibitions at the SCAD Museum of Art, plan an annual summer exhibition at SCAD Lacoste, and assist with the SCAD FASHION runway shows.

2. What does your typical day look like?

AS: “Every day is dynamic and ever-changing! Whether I’m collaborating with artists, designers, and galleries on exhibitions and events, scrolling the latest fashion news, media, and art books, or writing texts for catalogs and digital publications, I’m constantly seeking new information and connections to bring the best programming to SCAD.”

3. What are the most challenging moments of your day?

AS: “Working in a creative field requires adaptability and a willingness to change while still working toward your overall vision. When I find something frustrating — a challenging installation perhaps — it’s often a sign that I need to consider different perspectives and reevaluate my approach to realize my goals. “

4. What do you love about your job?

AS: “I am extremely fortunate to work with incredible artists, designers, professors, and colleagues. We’ve presented so many spectacular exhibitions in the past five years, including work by Guo Pei, Pierre Cardin, and the indomitable Ane Crabtree, who designed costumes for “The Handmaid’s Tale.” For me the most memorable part of the job is the people I meet along the way. They make the work gratifying.”

5. What kind of university should someone attend if they’re interested in becoming a curator?

AS: “For a fashion curator, it’s essential to have a solid foundation in fashion history. It also helps to have knowledge of contemporary fine art and art history. SCAD offers a minor in museum studies as part of our art history degree program, enabling students to gain practical experience in our university museums, and interact with museum professionals across different disciplines. If you’re looking for a hands-on, project-based learning experience, SCAD is the place to be!”

SCAD FASH is excited to share what happens before, during, and after an exhibition is on view. We’re expanding the visitor experience by making more behind-the-scenes content, providing a closer look at specific garments on view and in the collection, in a new IGTV series coming this October on @scadfash. Please connect by sending us a DM if you have any questions. We hope to see you at SCAD FASH and for a virtual program soon!

The Life of a Fashion Curator (2)

Plan your next SCAD FASH visit. Museum Hours: Thursday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

The Life of a Fashion Curator (2024)

FAQs

What is the role of a fashion curator? ›

Design and develop fashion lines for the target consumer according to seasons and trends. Continuously evaluate the latest fashion trends, buying patterns, and demographics of the target market. Direct and assist in fashion photo shoots.

What degree do you need to be a fashion curator? ›

Curators typically need a master's degree and there are plenty of options if you choose to pursue this career. Finding internships during your studies will help you succeed in this field as well.

What is fashion curation? ›

Course overview

MA Fashion Curation engages with the study of international fashion exhibition-making and related museological practices, ranging from the detailed investigation of objects to the processes and apparatus of their display in cultural and commercial presentations.

What is a design curator? ›

Curating a design exhibition doesn't just mean showcasing finished products, it also means telling a story, tackling an issue and its needs, exploring our material culture.

What makes a successful curator? ›

You need to be bold, charismatic, fearless and willing to take risks and make mistakes. Great curators will see around corners, embrace and expose unusual and unexpected themes and sources, and make bold predictions about their passions and beliefs.

How hard is it to get a job as a curator? ›

To become a curator at a national museum, a PhD is required, as is about five years of field experience. The market is competitive, and academic standards are very high. Useful graduate degrees include restoration science, curatorship, art history, history, chemistry, and business administration.

Is being a curator stressful? ›

Curators tend not to find their jobs stressful, which likely contributes positively to career satisfaction.

Do curators get paid well? ›

The salaries of Museum Curators in the US range from $14,860 to $396,665 , with a median salary of $71,351 . The middle 57% of Museum Curators makes between $71,354 and $178,951, with the top 86% making $396,665.

What are the 5 curating tools? ›

What are the tools used for curating?
  • Flipboard.
  • Pocket.
  • Elink.
  • Twitter Lists.
  • Newsletters.
  • Scoop.
  • Feedly.
  • Sniply.

How do you curate fashion? ›

10 Proven Rules for a Well-Curated Wardrobe
  1. Discover and cultivate your personal style.
  2. Decide on a year-round color palette.
  3. Choose your favorite fabrics.
  4. Learn to balance or accentuate proportions.
  5. Invest in all-season basics.
  6. Analyze your shopping mistakes.
  7. Enjoy the journey.
  8. Refine your wishlist and shop smart.

What is it like working as a curator? ›

Museum curators play an integral role in how a museum or art gallery is set up and the experience visitors have while at the museum or gallery. These curators often have many responsibilities, including managing collections, developing and planning exhibitions and overseeing educational programs within the museum.

What is a curator in simple terms? ›

ˈkyər- plural curators. : a person who oversees or manages a place (such as a museum or zoo) that offers exhibits. "My passion for animal care and collection management really drove me to become a curator." Scott Newland. also : a person at a museum, zoo, etc.

What qualifications does a curator need? ›

You'll often need a degree in a relevant subject like:
  • fine art or art history.
  • museum or heritage studies.
  • archaeology or ancient history.
  • classics.
  • natural sciences.
  • anthropology.
  • education.

Why is the role of the curator so important? ›

Museums and galleries typically employ numbers of curators whose role it is to acquire, care for and develop a collection. They will also arrange displays of collection and loaned works and interpret the collection in order to inform, educate and inspire the public.

What are two best practices for curating the best content? ›

Best practices for curating content
  • Save time by creating a list of content sources and resources.
  • Stay focused by choosing content that is in line with your brand and interesting to your audience.
  • Provide value to your audience by choosing quality over quantity.
Aug 19, 2022

Is becoming a curator worth it? ›

If you enjoy art or history and find the idea of working with the public exciting, then a career as a curator may be right for you. With a strong earning potential and responsibilities that vary from day-to-day, a career as a curator can be extremely fulfilling.

Where do curators make the most money? ›

The highest paying companies for museum curators are Smithsonian Institution and Stanford University according to our most recent salary estimates.

How do curators get noticed? ›

Catching the Eye of a Curator
  1. Showcase your work professionally. Invest in high-quality images of your work. ...
  2. Take and seek out press opportunities. Nothing draws attention like press coverage. ...
  3. Show off your following. ...
  4. Build and foster personal connection.

How many hours do curators work? ›

The curator is typically employed full-time, and some may work more than 40 hours per week to meet deadlines or coordinate with other museum staff members. A researcher may also travel to conduct research or attend professional meetings, conferences, and workshops.

What benefits do curators get? ›

As salaried employees, curators typically receive employee benefits such as health, dental and life insurance, pension plans and paid leave. But arguably, the biggest benefit of curator jobs is the opportunity to work with rare and fascinating collections dating back to antiquity.

Can I call myself a curator? ›

According to Merriam-Webster, you can't call yourself a “curator” just because you recently organized an art exhibition. In fact, the dictionary is more apt to permit you this title if you feed zebras than if you mount paintings and sculpture at the Museum of Modern Art.

Is working for curated worth it? ›

This is a great company to work for!

When working for Curated, you get to work from home, and you can make your own hours! The flexibility is great! This is a sales role, but there is content work as well. I work in the conventional fishing category, which is relatively new.

Can you become a curator without a degree? ›

Just like there are many paths to becoming an artist, nowadays, there are many ways to become an art curator beyond earning an art history degree. This is partly because the job of curator can have many definitions.

Where do most curators work? ›

A curator oversees collections, such as artwork and historical items, and may conduct public service activities for an institution. Most work in museums, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, or historical sites.

How do you make a good curation? ›

5 Content curation best practices
  1. Know your audience. Okay, this is true of any marketing strategy, so do I really need to say it? ...
  2. Credit your sources. Always give credit where credit is due. ...
  3. Add your own thoughts. You don't have to do this for every single piece you share. ...
  4. Schedule curated content in advance.

What is another word for curating? ›

synonyms for curate

On this page you'll find 13 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to curate, such as: assistant, clergyman, cleric, dominie, minister, and pastor.

What is a curation strategy? ›

Content curation is the practice of searching and identifying meaningful content that is generated by third parties and sharing it with your target audience. Given the benefits it provides, curation has become an integral part of a great content marketing strategy.

What are the steps to curate content? ›

  1. Start with setting your objectives. ...
  2. Select what you can share. ...
  3. Up next, pick your sources. ...
  4. Filter the content. ...
  5. Add value to the content you're aiming to share. ...
  6. Decide the channel the curated piece will be shared on. ...
  7. Add to the aesthetics. ...
  8. Analyze your content to optimize it.
Oct 25, 2022

What are the 4 steps of content strategy? ›

The content marketing process consists of four steps: strategy, content creation, distribution and conversion.

What are the four rules for creating quality content? ›

These are the four rules I swear by for creating quality content.
  • Rule #1: Establish Authority. If you want to stand out with your content and create a competitive advantage, you should create content you're uniquely qualified to make. ...
  • Rule #2: Be Accurate. ...
  • Rule #3: Make it Relevant. ...
  • Rule #4: Help them Take Action.

What are the five stages of fashion? ›

A fashion trend's life cycle can be divided into five stages, generally speaking: introduction, rise, peak, decline, and obsolescence. The life cycles of fashion trends today have changed; technology and social media have rendered them much shorter and less predictable than in the past.

What are the five most important points when planning a fashion show? ›

5 Key Tips for Planning a Fashion Show
  • Utilise technology as much as possible. It's important for anyone planning a fashion show to embrace technology. ...
  • Choose the right models. ...
  • Make sure the atmosphere is right. ...
  • Schedule in practice runs. ...
  • Make guests feel special.
Jan 16, 2020

What are the 4 key responsibilities of a fashion marketer? ›

Here are the job duties a fashion marketer may be responsible for: Develop brand image. Identify and research target audience of a brand. Analyze market reports.

Do curators make a lot of money? ›

The salaries of Museum Curators in the US range from $14,860 to $396,665 , with a median salary of $71,351 . The middle 57% of Museum Curators makes between $71,354 and $178,951, with the top 86% making $396,665.

What is the highest position in a fashion company? ›

Creative Directors—the highest creative position in a fashion house—establish the designs that will be created and know what appeals to the target market.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Pres. Carey Rath

Last Updated:

Views: 6477

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Pres. Carey Rath

Birthday: 1997-03-06

Address: 14955 Ledner Trail, East Rodrickfort, NE 85127-8369

Phone: +18682428114917

Job: National Technology Representative

Hobby: Sand art, Drama, Web surfing, Cycling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Leather crafting, Creative writing

Introduction: My name is Pres. Carey Rath, I am a faithful, funny, vast, joyous, lively, brave, glamorous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.