8.Frequently Asked Questions: Responsible for the Scientific Activities of a Museum in France
On this page, you will find some answers to questions about the conditions to be met in order to be able to exercise the responsibilities of scientific activities in a French Museum.
I did not pass the competitions allowing me to exercise scientific responsibilities in a museum in France. How to remedy this?
It is up to you to request recognition of the qualifications required to exercise responsibility for the scientific activities of a museum in France (EQRS) according to articles L. 442.8 and R. 442-5 to R. 442-9 of the Heritage Code.
I am responsible for collections within a "Musée de France" managed by a curator or a conservation attaché. Can I benefit from an EQRS?
The EQRS only concerns museums in France that are not under the scientific responsibility of an attaché or curator of the heritage.
When should I apply for an EQRS?
Recognition of the candidate’s abilities should be sought before the candidate takes up his or her duties as head of the scientific activities of the Musée de France, and not once he or she is in office.
I did not know this approach before applying, what to do to regularize my situation if I am recruited?
Adjustments to the situation may be made but they must be exceptional and justified: regularization a posteriori is in fact contrary to the spirit of the Heritage Code since this means that the person in scientific responsibility does not necessarily, at the time of his taking up the position, have the qualifications required to manage the collections of a «Museum of France». Training may be requested by the State to remedy this.
What are the documents to be transmitted?
You must first contact the DRAC museum advisor whose museum you are applying to.
Your application must include the following:
- the standard form;
- a CV. The qualifications (name and nature of each diploma, institution, date) must be specified;
- the job form, the subject of the request, which provides a description of the duties you will be required to perform in the position for which you are requesting the SDR (exercise museum, position and title of the position, nature of the collections, size of the team and position in the organization chart, status and qualifications of the predecessor in the position and context of its replacement, status of the scientific and cultural project, scientific missions of the position, missions and activities of the post towards the public, specific issues of the post, etc.);
- a detailed description of the functions previously or currently performed under the responsibility of the scientific activities of a museum in France (working museum, date of taking up office, status and title of the post, scientific activities, exhibitions, activities directed towards the public, publications, communications in the context of meetings and symposia) and, where appropriate, other activities carried out;
- evidence of knowledge of the professional environment, the regulatory framework and the profession (training courses, internships, conferences/organization, title, dates, duration, etc.);
Please note:
- “scientific” training is not enough: the concepts of inventory, proofing, conservation, restoration, dissemination and exploitation must also be mastered;
- on the other hand, the scientific management of collections without mastery of university research is also not sufficient;
- for museums belonging to legal persons governed by private law, prerequisites are defined by the Heritage Code (Article R. 442-6).
How is the investigation of the file?
The Museum Advisor acknowledges receipt of the file to the candidate.
He examines the file and drafts a detailed opinion which will be sent to the SMF, for instruction and drafting of a second opinion.
Before the abolition of the National Evaluation Commission, candidates had a hearing. Since then, the DRAC and the SMF have assessed the only file submitted, which must therefore be as complete as possible.
On the basis of these two opinions, the file is arbitrated and the candidate receives a notification of the opinion by post as well as the owner of the collections.
What is the National Assessment Board (NEC)?
That was the national assessment commission, whose members were not renewed in 2016 and were eliminated in 2018. It is replaced by the lighter EQRS procedure.
What does EQRS entitle me to?
The EQRS allowing to exercise the scientific responsibility of a museum of France:
- does not give the title “Conservative”;
- does not, in itself, create any particular obligation on the part of the community as regards the recruitment or career of the person concerned;
- applies only to the scientific responsibility of the museum for which the person concerned has submitted his file: in the event of a change of post, the person concerned should submit a new file;
- is only valid as long as the person concerned assumes his duties and becomes obsolete, in fact, if the person concerned’s duties evolve.
Read more
Museum professions (on culture.gouv.fr)
Frequently asked questions for museum professionals in France (on culture.gouv.fr)
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