西方语境下博物馆curator的岗位职责及角色定位

The Job Responsibility and Role of Curator in the Context of Western Museums

"Curator"在中国博物馆领域通常被译为"策展人",指提出展览构想并主要负责展览策划、实施的人。这将curator的工作与展览直接关联在一起;但事实上,西方博物馆的curator有明确的工作职责和角色定位,主要工作集中在藏品、展览和管理三个方面。Curator因对藏品有深入系统研究而参与展览工作,有些curator资历、经验丰富,承担一定的管理职责,但并不因此决定其在展览中的权威地位。随着时代的发展,除博物馆和艺术馆之外,"curator"一词有了新的应用领域,其意义也逐步扩展,甚至出现了以"curator"为名的新兴职业。

In Chinese museums, the English term "curator" is usually translated into "策展人(ce zhan ren)", a Chinese word that literally means "exhibition planner" who mainly plans, develops and implements exhibitions. Such a translation links a curator’s work to exhibitions. In western museums, however, the term "curator" refers to museum professionals whose work mainly focuses on collections, exhibitions and management. Curators are involved in exhibition work by virtue of their great expertise. Some very experienced curators assume certain management responsibilities, but that does not guarantee their authority in the exhibition work. Nowadays, the term "curator" are used in other fields besides museums and art galleries. Its meaning has gradually expanded as the world changes, and even new professions titled "curator" have emerged.