Career Transitions for Museum Curators in Japan: A Case Study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the actual conditions and factors of career transitions in the career development of Japanese museum curators. Questionnaires (135 respondents) and semi-structured interviews (52 respondents) were conducted with experienced curators, and SCAT analysis was used to examine the structure of career transitions. The interviews revealed that many of the narratives were based on self-efficacy, «don’t give up», and showed autonomous career restructuring due to professional identity and psychological capital, even under institutional constraints. On the other hand, the ‘lack of room’ symbolised by ‘lack of time, manpower and budget’ constrains curators’ competence building and training opportunities. Curatorial career stability is essential for maintaining the quality of museum activities, suggesting the need for redesigning institutional support and ongoing research.