Capabilities supporting curatorial decision-making

Designed for How Curators Investigate and Interpret Collections

  • Search and Explore Collections with Depth
    Use robust search tools to locate objects by artist, medium, provenance, exhibition history, geography, period, or other key criteria relevant to curatorial research.
  • Access Richer Object Histories
    View acquisitions, provenance, loans, conservation activity, and exhibition records in one place to better understand each object’s context and significance.
  • Support Exhibition Planning with Connected Data
    Identify candidate works, review availability, and collaborate with registrars and collections staff using shared records that support exhibition development.
  • Contribute Scholarly and Interpretive Knowledge
    Add curatorial insights, research findings, interpretive notes, and cataloguing enhancements directly to object records without relying on technical workarounds.
  • Collaborate Across Departments and Institutions
    Work more effectively with registrars, collections managers, conservators, exhibitions teams, and external scholars using centralized, authoritative collections data.
Where curatorial work connects with conservation, collections, and marketing

Eliminate Silos Across Departments and Streamline Curatorial Workflows

Curators often lose time navigating disconnected systems, tracking down conservation updates, confirming object locations, or coordinating images with marketing. The TMS Suite brings these workflows together, connecting conservation data, location tracking, and digital assets in one place. With shared, up-to-date information across departments, curators can spend less time chasing details and more time focusing on research, interpretation, and exhibition development.
museum curator planning an exhibition in her office.
One connected ecosystem for collection management

Connected Tools Supporting Research, Interpretation, and Exhibitions

The TMS Suite provides museums with connected applications for collections management, digital assets, conservation documentation, and online publishing.
Together, these tools help curators research collections, develop exhibitions, and share knowledge with both internal teams and public audiences.
TMS Collections on a computer in a museum

TMS Collections

Core collections management software to document objects, track provenance and exhibition history, and support curatorial research, acquisitions, and planning.
corporate collection managers working on project.

TMS Media Studio

Digital asset management tools for organizing and linking images, video, and media to object records, supporting research, interpretation, and publication workflows.
mockup of emuseum on a computer in a museum office

eMuseum

Online collections publishing platform that allows museums to share curated object records, exhibitions, and interpretive content with global audiences.
archivist repairing an artwork in the back office of a museum.

TMS Conservation Studio

Tools for documenting treatments, condition reports, and technical analysis, allowing conservators to manage their own data and ensure clarity around object condition.
museum curator checking her work list for an exhibiton.
Supporting Smarter Collection Management

Articles, Insights & Case Studies

Why Galleries Can No Longer Wait to Modernize Their Gallery Management Software

The Art World’s Technology Reckoning Only 19% of galleries call themselves technology leaders, yet 43% plan to invest more in online sales this year, according to Artsy’s Art Market…

Collective Conversations with Chad Petrovay

Professional Services Specialist, Gallery Systems With a museum career spanning multiple institutions and over a decade partnering with Gallery Systems clients, Chad brings a rare combination of…

One Record for Every Team: Why Integration is the Future of Collections Management

The Hidden Cost of Disconnected Collection Management Software Many institutions manage their collections, exhibitions, conservation records, rights and reproductions, and digital assets across a…

Questions About Collection Management Software?

Find answers to common questions about the collection management software for curators.

What is collections management software for museum curators?

Collections management software for curators helps museums research objects, review provenance and exhibition history, support acquisitions, and contribute interpretive knowledge within a centralized system.

Why do museum curators need collections management software?

Curators rely on accurate, searchable collections data to support exhibitions, scholarship, publications, acquisitions, and institutional decision-making. Collections management software makes that information easier to access and use.

What information can curators access in a collections management system?

Curators can access object records, provenance, exhibition history, acquisition details, conservation documentation, loan activity, cataloguing information, and interpretive notes.

Can collections management software support exhibition planning?

Yes. Curators can use collections management software to identify candidate works, review availability, coordinate with registrars and collections staff, and support interpretive planning for exhibitions.

Can curators contribute research and interpretation directly to records?

Yes. Many systems allow curators to add scholarly research, interpretive notes, and cataloguing updates directly to collections records, helping preserve institutional knowledge over time.

Can collections management software help curators collaborate with other museum teams?

Yes. Shared collections data helps curators work more effectively with registrars, collections managers, conservators, exhibitions teams, and external collaborators.

How long does it take to implement collections management software?

Implementation timelines vary depending on collection size, existing data quality, and institutional requirements. Many museums begin using the system within several months. For a tailored timeline, please contact the team.

TMS Conservation Studio annotations editor displaying condition mapping and media record data overlaid on a collection object image