Because the museum director may be responsible for acquiring a large, privately held collection, which may mean de-accessioning objects already in the museum's collection to help fund the purchase Price, both knowledge of the art field and sound financial management are necessary to maintain the integrity of the museum's collections. Opportunities for experience and exploration Because of the broad diversity of museums, no single academic discipline in the high school curriculum is more important than another, and students should simply concentrate on doing well in their chosen subjects. Museum directorships are highly competitive and reward high academic achievement. Outside of the classroom, participation in clubs that involve some fund-raising is a good introduction to this important part of a museum director's job. Participation in activities such as scouting or travel groups will help the student develop leadership skills in guiding a group of individuals toward a common goal.
Museums offer public programs for people of all ages.
College-age students may work at museums as volunteers or perhaps as interns for course credit. Depending on the museum's needs, volunteers and interns may be placed anywhere in the museum, including administration, archives, and other areas where a student may observe staff functions first-hand. Previous association with a museum is very helpful if a student later decides to seek employment in the museum field. Methods of entering Museology, or the study of museums, is offered as an undergraduate major by some colleges in the United States, but most museum workers at all levels enter museum work by virtue of possessing specific skills and a body of knowledge useful to a particular museum. For a museum director this translates into content knowledge, managerial and administrative skills, fund-raising ability, leadership ability, and excellent communication skills for effective interaction with the media and the board of trustees.