Museum Security Officers duties and responsibilities

An art museum security officer  helps to provide a safe environment for museum employees and visitors and to safeguard the fine art and equipment by protecting the museum from all types of threats such as theft, fire or any other type of danger.

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Besides protecting the art by walking through the galleries, an art museum security officers engages with visitors by answering their questions, reuniting lost children with their caregivers, and making sure that visitors do not approach, touch or photograph the artwork.

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Even though an art background is not required, museum officers are often asked about the artwork on view, which is why this position is often filled by artists. Several famous artists who have worked as Museum Security Officers include Dan Flavin, Sol LeWitt, Robert Mangold, Robert Ryman, and Fred Wilson.​

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An art museum security officer handles a variety of duties and responsibilities, such as the following:

• Watching over the visitors, staff and museum assets and equipment.

• Continuous tours of the museum premises may include patrolling the outdoors during inclement weather

• Directing and informing visitors, so must be able to interact well with others as it is a consumer-service-oriented position

• Monitoring the surveillance systems such as the CCTV system

• Directing traffic and wayfinding for visitors

• Helping lost children

• Providing crowd control and security for all major museum events

 

A Museum Security Officer must be able to expertly handle emergencies and to report any hazardous conditions or irregularities to the appropriate personnel. Light office computer work such as emailing and writing reports may be required.

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