(TIM KROCHAK / Staff) Art Gallery of Nova Scotia registrar Shannon Parker moves a packing crate in a collection storage room at the gallery.

WHEN PEOPLE IN British Columbia donated works by noted Canadian artist Alan Wood to the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, registrar Shannon Parker handled the logistics.

Among other things, it is her job to make sure the art arrives safely and is properly maintained for future generations.

"If there is a problem, you have to be very good about being persistent about finding a solution," she said of her work at the gallery.

Ms. Parker manages the in-house collection and also deals with donations from across Canada and the United States.

There are countless shipping and insurance issues and a host of miscellaneous duties relating to the gallery's permanent collection.

Donations can come from collectors or sometimes from the artists themselves. In either case, the process of bringing a piece of art to the province and ensuring it is properly stored and displayed can present unexpected complications.

"You have to be very good at multi-tasking," Ms. Parker said.

"There is never just one job that you are going to do."

The field seems to demand constant training. Ms. Parker completed a postgraduate degree through a distance learning program in the United Kingdom and also interned with the Canadian Conservation Institute and other operations like the School of American Research in Santa Fe, N.M.

Despite Ms. Parker.s international credentials, she said the best way to break into the field is through small local museums, most of which are understaffed and hungry for volunteers.

"It's a great way to get your foot in the door," she said.

"You will get a feel for the kinds of issues you will deal with, regardless of the size of the museum."

NATURE OF THE WORK
Museum registrars and cataloguers classify and assign registration numbers to artwork, artifacts and specimens, work with electronic databases and supervise inventory control. They perform a variety of functions such as designing, building and installing exhibits and displays; preserving, maintaining and storing museum/gallery collections; framing artwork or preserving animals and birds through taxidermy.

Museum technicians may also specialize in specific types of collections. Conservation technicians specialize in restoring and preserving artifacts, photographs and documents.

Curatorial assistants help research, handle and store museum artifacts. Museum interpreters conduct tours of museums, galleries, exhibitions and historical and heritage sites. They answer questions and provide information to visitors. Historical interpreters may also dress in period costume and perform activities to illustrate a particular time in history.

SKILLS
You should be patient and organized and have good research skills. Both oral and written communication skills are essential. You must be able to work unsupervised with museum users and co-operate with co-workers. Good computer skills and knowledge of audiovisual equipment are strongly recommended.

EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
Registrars and cataloguers may be required to have a university degree in a field related to museum and gallery work.

For those who want to work in other technical occupations related to museums and galleries, completion of a university program in museum studies or conservation technology, or other technical or on-the-job training program related to the work, is required.

WORK PROSPECTS
Most workers in this occupation are historical interpreters and employees of small museums who work seasonally. Although retirements will create some job openings in the coming years, the number will be minimal due to the small number of jobs in this field in Nova Scotia. Recent cutbacks to funding for small museums may hurt employment.

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