Blog and Newsletter

Position: Curatorial Assistant
Department: Curatorial

Department/Division: Curatorial
Reports To: Curatorial
Posted: June 4, 2012

GENERAL SUMMARY:
Under the general supervision of the Curatorial Coordinator and in collaboration with the Curatorial and Registrar’s staff, provides administrative support for the Curatorial Department to ensure successful execution of curatorial and exhibition programs in support of the Museum’s mission.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Provides effective support for exhibition scheduling and production, including preparing loan and photography requests, corresponding with artists and lenders, creating and distributing checklists, producing exhibition labels, and generating project evaluation forms.
• Assists with the development and coordination of scholarly publications and other exhibition-related research and projects as assigned.
• Fields and responds to inquiries regarding the collection, artists, conservation, appraisals, and exhibitions. Assists with maintenance of the Curatorial files.
• Assists with processing expenditure, personnel, and purchasing documents related to the revenue and expense accounts for the Collections Division.
• Assist with preparation and distribution of minutes for Collection Committee and other meetings as assigned, and with coordination of paperwork related to gifts and purchases of art.
• Effectively carries out administrative duties and provides clerical support as needed.
• Effectively troubleshoots and provides ongoing support to keep Curatorial and Registrar office supplies replenished and equipment in good working order.
• Provides administrative assistance in other areas of the Museum as needed, such as call center support, responding to visitor inquiries, processing reservations and sales transactions, and other routine clerical assignments.
• Performs special projects and other related duties as required, directed, or as the situation dictates.
• Complies with all Portland Museum of Art safety rules and procedures.
• Regular attendance at the workplace is required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:
None.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
Bachelor’s Degree in a related field with one to three years experience in administrative support and/or office management. Experience in arts administration, art history, fine art, or another museum or gallery position preferred.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Excellent office management skills with considerable knowledge of office practices and procedures.
• Excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills with attention to detail.
• Effective interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and cooperatively with coworkers.
• Ability to effectively operate computers and work with databases and assigned software, including Microsoft Office.
• Ability to manage interns and volunteers.
• Ability to pass a criminal background check.

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The majority of work is performed in a museum or gallery setting or in a normal office environment not subject to extremes of noise, temperature, odor, etc. Operates computer, printer, photocopier, scanner, and other office equipment. Work involves extended sitting and computer use.

TERMS:
The Curatorial Assistant position is a full-time, full-benefits, hourly, employment-at-will position.

APPLY:
Please send cover letter, resume’, and completed PMA application (available here or at the front desk) to: business@portlandmuseum.org or mail to: Business Manager, Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Square, Portland, ME 04101. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

The Portland Museum of Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

MAAE Announces Job Search For New Executive Director

"The MAP program is crucial for any organization looking to gain a sense of standing against museum benchmarks and assess its strengths and weaknesses. The self study, site visit and report assisted our staff, volunteers and board in necessary education growth. The report will be an invaluable tool for our museum long into the future." - Leo Landis, Education Director and Curator, Salisbury House and Gardens, Des Moines, IA

The Museum Assessment Program (MAP) is an IMLS funded program available to small and mid-sized museums of all types. During MAP your museum conducts a self-study, consults with a museum professional who will provide a customized site visit and report and gains the tools to become a stronger institution.

• •· The MAP process is customized to your museum.
• •· The application is easy to complete and 98% of museums that apply get accepted.
• •· Choose one of three assessment types: Organizational, Collections Stewardship or Community Engagement.

IMLS -funded MAP grants provide $4,000 of consultative resources and services to participating museums. Become the next museum to take advantage of MAP. The upcoming application deadline is July 1.

Visit www.aam-us.org/map for more information about MAP or contact us at map@aam-us.org or 202.289.9118.

MAP is administered by the American Association of Museums and supported through a cooperative agreement with the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The Washburn-Norlands Living History Center in Livermore seeks a dynamic and creative history educator for the position of Education and Program Coordinator.  Working with the Director of Interpretation and Training and reporting to the Executive Director, the Education Coordinator is primarily responsible for planning, marketing, and implementing a variety of living history educational programming.  Programs includes Journey into History school programs, Meal, Laugh & Learn programs, live-in experiences, first-person living history tours, site tours, educational workshops, and special events.  The Education Coordinator facilitates scheduling of programs and tours,  provides living history and site tours for the general public and delivers school programs, maintains costume inventory and period clothing loans, coordinates the marketing and promotion of all educational services and volunteer opportunities to appropriate audiences, and actively recruits interpreters and program volunteers.  In addition, s/he assists with planning all special events and workshops.

The candidate will have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in education, history, or similar field with five years progressive responsibilities with museum education/interpretation.  Skilled in general educational programs for all ages, the ideal candidate is familiar with living history education and interpretation methods and with Maine history and rural life in America.

 Demonstrated success with recruiting, motivating and working effectively with volunteers and managing diverse groups of all ages, a plus.

This is a part-time position, 20 hours per week, 48 weeks per year, with a flexible schedule based on program needs. Tuesdays and Thursdays required throughout the summer.  Some weekends and evenings. Applicants should send a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for three references to Education Coordinator Search, Washburn-Norlands Living History Center,

290 Norlands Road, Livermore, ME 04253 or email PDF documents to norlands@norlands.org.  Preference given to applications received by June 1.

The Small Museum Administrators Committee/Professional Network of AAM wants to make sure that there will be plenty of sessions for you and your colleagues from small museums at the 2013 AAM Annual Meeting in Baltimore. To do that we need your help.

The 2013 theme, The Power of Story, provides a wide range of opportunities for us to share our ideas, successes and challenges. The attached theme description from AAM gives some examples and we know there are lots of stories ready to be told by the small museum community. But don’t let that limit your thinking. Session proposals are welcome on any topic.

If you have ideas for sessions or speakers, send me an e-mail. Let me know, also, if you are interested in working on some of these ideas that have already been suggested:

Kids in Historic Houses

Using Volunteers in the Collections

Museum Ghosts and How to Live With Them

Preparing Museum Studies Graduates to Work in Small Museums

Using Kickstarter and Other Micro-Giving Methods

Building Projects for Small Museums

Museums Without Buildings

Advocacy Outside the Capitol/Statehouse

Teaching Your Board to Ask for Money

Breaking With Museum Traditions (like holiday decorating or local art shows)

I look forward to hearing from you.

Janice

Janice Klein

SMAC/Small Museum Professional Network

Program Chair

EightSixSix Consulting

jkhm@mindspring.com

6/26/2012 NTEN 501TechClub: Telling Your Nonprofit’s Story Through Video http://www.nonprofitmaine.org/skillbuilder_detail.asp?event=1067 (FREE!)

6/28/2012 It’s Your Website: How to Get the Most Out of Your Web Project Experience http://www.nonprofitmaine.org/skillbuilder_detail.asp?event=1086

7/18/2012 PowerPoint 2010: Intermediate Topics http://www.nonprofitmaine.org/skillbuilder_detail.asp?event=1091

8/15/2012 Taking Charge of Google Analytics http://www.nonprofitmaine.org/skillbuilder_detail.asp?event=1075

8/22/2012 Microsoft Excel 2010: The Basics http://www.nonprofitmaine.org/skillbuilder_detail.asp?event=1088

8/30/2012 WordPress Demystified http://www.nonprofitmaine.org/skillbuilder_detail.asp?event=1085

*Check out VTEC Training’s website for additional technology trainings: http://www.vtec.org/

(MANP members get a 15-25% discount on public offerings!)

Education Coordinator Position Open

The Washburn-Norlands Living History Center in Livermore seeks a dynamic and creative history educator for the position of Education Coordinator.  Working with the Director of Interpretation and Training and reporting to the Executive Director, the Education Coordinator is primarily responsible for planning, marketing, and implementing a variety of living history educational programming.  Programs includes Journey into History school programs, Meal, Laugh & Learn programs, live-in experiences, first-person living history tours, site tours, educational workshops, and special events.  The Education Coordinator facilitates scheduling of programs and tours,  provides living history and site tours for the general public and delivers school programs, maintains costume inventory and period clothing loans, coordinates the marketing and promotion of all educational services and volunteer opportunities to appropriate audiences, and actively recruits interpreters and program volunteers.  In addition, s/he assists with planning all special events and workshops.  

The candidate will have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in education, history, or similar field with five years progressive responsibilities with museum education/interpretation.  Skilled in general educational programs for all ages, the ideal candidate is familiar with living history education and interpretation methods and with Maine history and rural life in America.  Demonstrated success with recruiting, motivating and working effectively with volunteers and managing diverse groups of all ages, a plus.

This is a part-time position, 20 hours per week, 48 weeks per year, with a flexible schedule based on program needs. Tuesdays and Thursdays required throughout the summer.  Some weekends and evenings. Applicants should send a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for three references to Education Coordinator Search, Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, 290 Norlands Road, Livermore, ME 04253 or email PDF documents to norlands@norlands.org.  Preference given to applications received by June 1.