Part-Time Curator of Exhibitions and Collections
The Curator of Exhibitions and Collections develops exciting and meaningful exhibitions and oversees all aspects of collections management including accessions, loans, and conservation. The Curator of Exhibitions and Collections works part-time 20 hours a week and is a key senior staff member who reports directly to the Executive Director.
The Arkell Museum & Canajoharie Library are one legal organization, and are jointed funded by endowment income, committed foundation support, grants, and development/fundraising efforts. Working in partnership with Museum and Library staff, the Curator of Exhibitions and Collections will embrace our shared mission to promote the arts and learning in our immediate, regional, and international communities, and work as part of a collaborative and supportive team.
The Arkell Museum is noted for an impressive fine art collection that includes work by nineteenth and early twentieth century American artists, and twenty-one works by Winslow Homer alone. The Museum also owns a substantial Beech-Nut Archive and objects/ephemera related to Mohawk Valley history.
Desirable Education and Experience:
• Master’s Degree in Museum Studies or Art History with commensurate museum experience
• Experience working in a professional museum environment
• Ability to curate original exhibitions, source loan exhibitions, and facilitate outgoing loan requests
• Experience handling fine art, regional history, and archival materials (Beech-Nut)
• Excellent research and communication skills
• Ability to adjust and balance multiple projects
• Experience with museum collection databases such as Past Perfect
• Experience with Microsoft applications including but not limited to OneDrive and Outlook
• Understanding of development and marketing practices is a plus
• Collegiality and flexibility
Primary Responsibilities:
• Develop exhibitions through a variety of means; oversee all aspects of exhibition development, production, and installation
• Conduct research on the collection; update records to ensure accuracy and reflect changing scholarship
• Work with the Collections Committee to build and refine the collection through strategic acquisitions and deaccessions; present proposed acquisitions/deaccessions to the Collections Committee; oversee all aspects of acquisition/accession/deaccession
• Present outgoing loan requests to the Collections Committee; oversee all aspects of outgoing loans in partnership with requesting museum
• Oversee image-use requests (rights and reproductions); ensure proper representation of collection pieces in outside press
• Assist the Curator of Education and Public Engagement to develop Museum programs, give/schedule gallery tours, and give/schedule gallery talks
• Assist the Communications Manager to produce/schedule exhibition marketing including but not limited to print, broadcast (NPR), electronic notices, and website pages
• Assist the Executive Director to source new Museum grant opportunities and maintain current funding (NYSCA)
• Oversee search for and supervise paid Summer Collections Intern
• Facilitate partnerships with other museums and like organizations
• Advocate for and represent the Museum/Library independently and with staff
• Assist the Executive Director with fundraising, development, strategic planning, and all other duties as assigned.
Salary is $20.00/hr 20 hours a week.
To apply, send a cover letter, resume with two-three professional references, and three writing samples (the strongest samples will indicate evidence of primary and secondary source research) to: humanresources@arkellmuseum.org.
The Arkell Museum & Canajoharie Library are located at 2 Erie Boulevard, Canajoharie, NY 13317; we are nearly equidistant from Utica and Albany, NY. Visit us on the web at www.arkellmuseum.org and www.canajoharielibrary.org; check out our social media on Instagram
?(@ canajoharielibrary and @arkellmuseum), Facebook (Arkell Museum at Canajoharie and Canajoharie Library), and X (x.com/arkellmuseum)
Arkell Museum and Canajoharie Library
