What this life looks like
You shape how the world encounters art. Curators select, research, interpret, and present art and cultural objects to audiences — through exhibitions, collections, publications, and public programmes. Great curators do not just hang art on walls; they tell stories, build contexts, challenge assumptions, and create experiences that change how people see the world. Africa's growing arts infrastructure needs curators who understand African art on its own terms.
What she actually does
You research artists and artworks, develop exhibition concepts, select works for display, write exhibition texts and catalogue essays, manage loans from other institutions, install exhibitions, develop public programmes, build collections through acquisition, manage relationships with artists, and represent your institution to donors, press, and the public.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| Museums | Zeitz MOCAA (SA), South African National Gallery, National Museum of Nigeria, Ethiopian Museum of Art |
| Commercial Galleries | Stevenson (SA), Rele Gallery (Nigeria), 1957 Gallery (Ghana), Afronova (SA) — all employ curators |
| Art Fairs & Events | Art X Lagos, FNB Art Joburg, Cape Town Art Fair — curatorial roles at Africa's leading art fairs |
| Cultural Institutions | Goethe Institut Africa, Alliance Française, British Council Africa — cultural organisations commissioning exhibitions |
Why it matters in Africa
Africa's museum and gallery sector is growing — the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Cape Town), the Lagos Museum redevelopment, the newly established Contemporary Art Museum (Ethiopia), and galleries across the continent are building world-class collections and exhibition programmes. The global art world is increasingly looking to African curators for perspectives on African and diasporic art.
Your pathway in
- Study Art History, Fine Art, or Cultural Studies with a focus on African art — the University of the Witwatersrand, UCT, and SOAS London offer strong programmes
- Work in galleries and museums in internship or volunteer roles — practical museum experience is essential
- Develop deep expertise in an aspect of African art: contemporary photography, traditional craft, or diaspora art
- Write about art — publishing reviews, essays, and critical texts builds your curatorial profile
- Pursue postgraduate study in curatorial practice or museum studies
Skills you will need
- Art history and research
- Exhibition concept development
- Writing (catalogue essays, labels)
- Collection management
- Relationship management with artists
- Public programming
A woman in this field
Koyo Kouoh
Cameroon
Koyo is the Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) in Cape Town — the most important museum of contemporary African art in the world. Previously founder of RAW Material Company, a leading artistic and curatorial centre in Dakar, she has shaped the discourse around African contemporary art for two decades. She curated the 2021 Venice Biennale African Pavilion and is one of the world's most powerful and respected curators.
Take your first step
- Visit every gallery, museum, and cultural space near you — develop the habit of experiencing art regularly and thinking critically about how it is presented
- Write a 500-word review of an exhibition or artwork you have seen — curator writing is a core skill, and reviewing builds it
- Research Zeitz MOCAA at zeitzmocaa.museum — their exhibition history and curatorial approach show what world-class African museum curatorship looks like
- Follow Koyo Kouoh, Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, and other leading African curators on social media to follow the discourse around African contemporary art
Careers close to this one
- Museum Curator
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- Cultural Heritage Specialist
- Fine Artist
- Gallery Manager