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Contract Historical Curator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Kenmore Heritage Association

Curator of Art

Goldendale, WA · On-site

$70 - $90/hr

Within the historic building and 2012 addition, the museum has 35,000 square feet of space with ... contract curators or other allied professionals (photographers, designers, etc.) * Work with staff ...

Benrey

IDGC Museum Curator

Appling, GA · On-site

$20/hr

IDGC Museum Curator (Short-term contract position) Responsible to: IDGC Manager Background: The ... The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, creative, and will have a passion for the history of ...

Artinfoland

$150 - $210/hr

Regular Full-Time * Contract Type: Regular Full-Time (permanent) * Reports To: Director & CEO * ... Oversee the work of the Senior Curator of Art, Senior Curator of History, Curator of Natural ...

ACCESS

Curator of Public Programming

Dearborn, MI · On-site

... history and culture. Responsible for leadership, strategy and direction related to seminars ... signing of contracts for speakers and artists Work with various ethnic communities and ...

ACCESS

Curator of Public Programming

Dearborn, MI · On-site

... history and culture. Responsible for leadership, strategy and direction related to seminars ... signing of contracts for speakers and artists Work with various ethnic communities and ...

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All Jobsfreelance JobsContract Historical Curator Jobs

Contract Historical Curator information

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$25.5K

$72.6K

$119.5K

How much do contract historical curator jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract historical curator in the United States is $72,627.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $50,000.00 and $94,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a contract historical curator?

Contract historical curators are professionals who are hired on a temporary or project-specific basis to manage, research, and interpret historical collections or exhibits for museums, archives, or other cultural institutions. Their duties often include cataloging artifacts, designing exhibits, preparing educational materials, and ensuring the proper preservation of historical items. Unlike full-time staff curators, contract historical curators typically work on short-term assignments, providing specialized expertise for particular projects or timeframes. This role requires a background in history, museum studies, or a related field, along with strong research and organizational skills.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract historical curator?

To thrive as a Contract Historical Curator, you need a solid background in history or museum studies, experience with artifact management, and often an advanced degree in a related field. Familiarity with collection management systems, digital archiving tools, and relevant certifications such as Registered Member (RPA) or Certified Archivist are commonly required. Strong research skills, attention to detail, and effective communication and project management abilities set outstanding curators apart. These skills are essential for accurately preserving and interpreting historical materials, ensuring compliance with standards, and successfully managing projects on a contract basis.

What are some typical challenges faced by contract historical curators when working with diverse collections and stakeholders?

Contract historical curators often encounter the challenge of quickly acclimating to an institution's unique collection, documentation systems, and curatorial standards. They must efficiently build relationships with permanent staff and community stakeholders, balancing the need to preserve historical integrity with project deadlines and budgets. Adapting to varying institutional cultures and managing multiple short-term projects simultaneously can also require strong organizational and communication skills. This dynamic role offers valuable experience across different collections and can open doors to permanent curatorial positions.

What is the difference between Contract Historical Curator vs Contract Archivist?

AspectContract Historical CuratorContract Archivist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in History, Museum Studies, or related field; often requires experience in curationBachelor's or Master's in Library Science, Archival Studies, or related field; experience in records management
Work EnvironmentMuseums, historical societies, cultural institutionsArchives, libraries, government agencies
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by cultural and historical organizations to manage collectionsUsed by institutions managing records and historical documents

The Contract Historical Curator focuses on managing and interpreting historical collections in museums or cultural institutions, while the Contract Archivist specializes in preserving and organizing records and documents. Both roles require related credentials and work in similar environments, but their primary focus differs—collections vs. records management.

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Contract Historical Curator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract Historical Curator job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $72,627 per year, or $34.9 per hour.

Associate Curator

Museum of African American History

Detroit, MI • On-site

$75K - $80K/yr

Full-time

Posted 27 days ago

Job description

Description:

General Summary of Duties

A vital member of The Wright Staff, the Associate Curator is the driving force behind the identity of the museum’s curatorial programming, as well as the overall identity of The Wright at large. The Associate Curator significantly contributes to The Wright’s vision and ongoing growth.

This dynamic position includes speaking engagements acting as a representative of the institution, supervision of exhibition realization, ongoing collaboration with development and education teams, and multifaceted interaction with the community.


Essential Duties of the Position:

Exhibitions

  • Develop and manage exhibitions and installations in the galleries as well as satellite projects outside the building/in the community.
  • Curate exhibitions and produce supporting content for publications.
  • Foster ongoing collaborative relationships with artists for existing and future exhibitions
    Alongside the VP of Exhibitions & Collections, approve final schedule of forthcoming exhibitions.
  • Oversee installation and de-installation of exhibitions, including staff responsible for arranging crating, shipping, insurance, contracts, travel policies, and artwork loan agreements.
    Formulate and maintain budgets for exhibitions.
  • Work with a variety of vendors and companies during the production process of exhibitions (fabricators, custom framers, painters, etc.)
  • Collaborate with VP of Learning & Engagement to coordinate complementary materials including wall text, brochure content, and artist talks.

Directorial Duties/Community Outreach

  • Help shape The Wright’s creative vision through innovative programming and operational ideas.
  • Make key decisions regarding planning and budget.
  • Serve as a spokesperson for The Wright in the community and beyond.
  • Moderate and facilitate artist panels and discussions.
  • Initiate new forms of artist and museum engagement with the public.

External Affairs/PR/Development

  • Provide interviews to local, national, and international media contacts.
  • Collaborate with development team for grant and sponsorship proposals.
  • Cultivate relationships with museum sponsors.
  • Contribute to press releases on exhibitions.
Requirements:

Required Education and Experience:

  • Master’s degree in Art History, Fine Arts, History, arts administration, or related field required.
  • Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in a museum or commercial gallery environment.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

  • Natural command for approaching exhibition-making in a critical, innovative capacity.
    Highly motivated, ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and to work independently as well as in a team environment.
  • Maintains highest standards of integrity, including confidentiality of privileged information
    Excellent writing and public speaking abilities.
  • Knowledge of museum management, collections/exhibitions management, curatorial principles and practices.
  • High level of attention to detail, accuracy, and ability to set and meet deadlines.
  • Personable demeanor.