Curatorial Assistant

The Olana Partnership

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The Olana Partnership (TOP) seeks a Curatorial Assistant for a full-time role at the Olana State Historic Site, the home, studio and designed landscape of Frederic Church in Hudson, NY. The Curatorial Assistant will be a core member of the small team that oversees special exhibitions, conducts research on, and cares for, Olana’s diverse and internationally significant collections. Curiosity and flexibility will be paramount as the Curatorial Assistant provides essential administrative and logistical support, working closely with educators, scholars, State Parks staff, and the general public. This opportunity will provide valuable experience and mentorship in all aspects of museum work, including the opportunity to grow in the role to curate installations and special exhibitions.

Responsibilities

Manages curatorial correspondence and logistics for permanent collection and exhibition projects in collaboration with the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP).

Works with the Director of Collections & Exhibitions to prepare loan requests for referral to the OPRHP Collections Committee;

In collaboration with the Director of Collections & Exhibitions and OPRHP staff, identifies priorities for conservation treatment and acquisition of museum collections;

Recruits and supervises interns and volunteers for curatorial projects;

Implements seasonal displays and other installation changes in the historic rooms of the main house;

Develops and maintains checklists of works on display and communicates with OPRHP about the location of accessioned objects;

Assists in the development of new projects by handling staff research requests and sharing knowledge and insights about the collections with all staff;

Works with TOP’s Education staff to provide information and access to collections for programs;

Supports the Director of Collections & Exhibitions and guest curators in developing and implementing special exhibitions including assisting with exhibition research, writing, and installation;

Coordinates TOP’s requests for publication and/or use of images of museum collections by assembling information, writing captions/credit lines, and providing other curatorial support as needed;

In coordination with TOP’s Librarian/Archivist, responds to research and image requests, assists on-site researchers, and provides general research support;

Occasionally participates in group and private tours of the house and other interpretive and educational programs;

Contributes curatorial content for website, blog, social media and TOP publications;

Supports Curatorial and Advisory Committees that relate to projects and areas of responsibility;

Manages supplies of conservation materials and reconciles applicable budgets;

Assists on all other tasks as requested by supervisor.

Requirements

BA in art history, history, or related fields. MA preferred;

Minimum of 3 years’ experience working with collections at a museum or historic site;

Experience with conservation and art handling a plus

Strong written and oral communication skills;

Strong organizational and computer skills;

Ability to become passionate about the mission of sharing Olana with the world;

Ability and willingness to work evenings and weekends when needed;

A valid driver’s license;

Ability to lift and carry 40 pounds.

How to Apply

Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume with a list of references by September 20 to Joyce Batterton at jbatterton@olana.org

Contact
Posted on August 12