Employment of conservators and museum technicians is projected to grow 11 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. It says that "public interest in museums and other cultural centers is expected to increase the demand for curators, museum technicians, and conservators." Employment growth will vary by specialty. Competition for these desirable positions will be very strong.
The public's developing interest in cultural material of all forms will contribute to art conservation and preservation as a growing field. New specialties have emerged in response to the interest in collections maintenance and preventive care. Conservation, curatorial, and registration responsibilities are intermingling and creating hybrid conservation professional titles, such as collections care, environmental monitoring, and exhibits specialists.
Despite these developments, however, any decreases in federal funding often affect employment and educational opportunities. For example, in any given year, if Congress limits government assistance to the National Endowment for the Arts, less funds are available to assist students through unpaid internships. As museums experience a tightening of federal or state funds, many may choose to decrease the number of paid conservators on staff and instead may rely on a small staff augmented by private conservation companies that can be contracted on a short-term basis as necessary. Private industry and for-profit companies may then continue to grow, while federally funded nonprofit museums may experience a reduction of staff.
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