Museum Registrar

Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College

ccs.bard.edu

The Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College (CCS Bard) and Hessel Museum of Art seek an experienced Museum Registrar for a full-time position beginning this fall. Located on the campus of Bard College in New York’s Hudson Valley, the Hessel Museum is a contemporary art museum with a dynamic, year-round exhibitions program. It sits within the larger institution of Bard College’s Center for Curatorial Studies, which also includes a leading graduate program in curatorial studies, a comprehensive research library and archive, and a collection of more than 3,000 works from the 1960s to the present. The Museum Registrar is a core member of the team that oversees the physical and intellectual stewardship of the collection, as well as an ambitious exhibition program that supports and aligns with the CCS Bard graduate program.

The Museum Registrar reports to the Head of Collections and Registration and supports the maintenance and care of the collection, which includes the foundational Marieluise Hessel Collection and complementary CCS Bard Collection. Under the supervision of the Head of Collections and Registration, and in coordination with the Director of Exhibitions and Operations, the Museum Registrar also oversees the organization of exhibition logistics, temporary loans to the museum, as well as the documentation of all transactions, movement, and maintenance of objects according to professional museum standards.

This is a full-time role on site at CCS Bard in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY, working a Monday-Friday schedule. Occasional evenings, weekends, and holidays may be required for exhibition installations or special projects.

Responsibilities

In coordination with the Director of Exhibitions and Operations, and under the supervision of the Head of Collections and Registration, communicates directly with lenders, partners, and artists regarding loans and new commissions for exhibitions, including the preparation and review of loan agreements, reviewing and communicating installation instructions and requirements, and issuing certificates of insurance and other legal documents as required
Contributes to the development and management of exhibition budgets and timelines with the Head of Collections and Registration and the Director of Exhibitions and Operations, as well as exhibition curators
Works directly with CCS Bard graduate students on their thesis exhibitions (including shipping estimates and logistics, negotiating loans and contracts, and communicating and coordinating with lenders and artists), as well as teaches workshops for graduate students on the role of the registrar as it pertains to exhibitions, loans, and museum policies and procedures
Organizes logistics related to the shipment of incoming acquisitions and outgoing works from the collection, as well as temporary loans to exhibitions, including the preparation of condition reports and courier arrangements, as required
Collaborates with the Head of Collections and Registration on the maintenance of the collection, including preservation, conservation, information and legal documentation management, rights and reproductions, environmental and risk management, and all matters related to the safeguarding of the collection and works on loan
Assists Head of Collections and Registration on large projects including the processing of donations and acquisitions, conservation and rehousing projects, inventory checks and audits, and art storage maintenance
In coordination with the Head Preparator, sets job assignments and directs daily activity of art installation staff to meet installation deadlines and priorities
Collaborates directly with the Security and Facility Manager on the maintenance and implementation of proper conditions for storage and exhibition spaces according to professional museum standards and lender requirements
Creates, maintains, and ensures the accuracy of records in the collection database (TMS) and the online collection software (eMuseum)
Acts as courier for outgoing loans from the collection, as required, to ensure proper handling and installation
Co-manages a team of student employees with the Head of Collections and Registration
Occasional assistance with packing, handling, and installation of works from the collection and temporary loans

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in art, art history, museum studies, arts administration or related field (completion of graduate program in museum studies strongly preferred)
Three years of professional museum registration experience (art museum experience preferred), or a combination of education and experience
Experience managing domestic and international fine art shipping arrangements
Thorough understanding of art museum standards and protocols
Thorough knowledge of current registration practices and principles, including preventative maintenance of the collection and experience working with contemporary art and new media
Excellent working knowledge of software such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel), Google Workspace, and museum collection databases (TMS and eMuseum experience preferred)
Ability to handle delicate works of art with extreme care
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with museum staff, vendors, visitors, artists, donors, and representatives of borrowing or lending institutions
Ability to work well under pressure and with conflicting demands; must be extremely accurate, detail-oriented, and able to manage several projects simultaneously
Ability to take initiative, anticipate actions needed, and exercise independent judgment while working collaboratively as part of a small team
Strong interpersonal, planning, and organizational skills; excellent written and oral communication skills; effective problem-solving skills

How to Apply

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and list of three professional references via Interfolio at https://apply.interfolio.com/152296.

Applications are strongly encouraged by September 6, 2024.

Apply