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| Job
Description: |
The Harris Museum and Art Gallery is an important regional museum and member of the North West Hub, with a reputation for innovative work with a wide range of audiences and a lively exhibitions and education programme.
You will be responsible for the care of the history collections and development of related exhibitions and will work closely with the curatorial team on collection management issues and with education and access staff on the interpretation of the collections.
Applicants should have a degree in a relevant subject and preferably hold a postgraduate qualification in museum studies. Previous museum experience is essential. The maternity cover is due to commence in mid- December and is expected to be for a period of six months
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| Required Skills: |
Qualification:
E Degree in History or related subject
D Post-graduate qualification in museum studies
D Diploma of Museums Association
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
E Knowledge of British history and social history
E Good written and verbal communication skills
E Good research skills
E Knowledge of all aspects of collection management including collections care
E Awareness of current good practice in history curatorship
E Able to work as part of a team
E Ability to implement a programme of exhibitions
HD Able to interpret history collections to a wide audience
D Ability to monitor an exhibition budget
D Awareness of current good practice in archaeology curatorship
D Able and motivated to develop links with local communities
D Knowledge of the potential use of museums for educations purposes in schools and beyond
D Knowledge of British archaeology
A Able to carry out supervisory role when required
A Knowledge of the application of the National Curriculum in museum education work
A Knowledge of museum and arts marketing practice
Experience:
E Experience of documenting museum collections
E Experience of working with related collections
HD Exhibiting work
D Experience of working with a museum database, especially MODES
Special Requirement:
E Positive attitude to own professional development
E Positive attitude to equal opportunities in service delivery
E Postholder must abide by the Museum Association Code of Ethics
NB E Essential
HD Highly Desirable
D Desirable
A Advantageous Date Produced: 12/09/06
Purpose of Job: To provide maternity leave cover for the history collections at the Harris Museum and Art Gallery, including dealing with research enquiries for the collections. To contribute to the programme of temporary exhibitions, particularly the joint summer 2007 exhibition on the theme of Animals and research and development of an exhibition related to the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade. To work with the museum’s Education, Access and Inclusion and Volunteer Co-ordinator staff on ways to further interpret the exhibitions and collections for visitors and schools. To assist with the on-going collections care and documentation programme for the history collections, including the supervision of volunteers working on the collection.
N.B. The history collections consist of approximately 45,000 items and include the local photography collection, coins and medals, archaeology, ethnography and ancient cultures, greetings cards and general social history objects and ephemera.
Main Duties/Responsibilities:
Collections Access
• To conduct research into the history collections and make this available to the public through exhibitions, publications, web-sites and other formats as appropriate.
• To answer enquiries relating to the history collections.
• To facilitate and supervise study visits and other access to history collections including reserve collections in store.
Collections Management
• To work with the Collections Care Officer and Assistant to manage all aspects of the care of the history collections including documentation, organisation of stores and on conservation requirements of the collection.
• Working with other Keepers and Collections Care staff on a corporate approach to collections management.
• To develop partnerships with individuals and organisations to further utilisation of and research into the museum and its history collections.
• To identify suitable acquisitions for the history collections through purchase or gift.
• To assess, approve and manage loans-out from the history collections.
Exhibitions, Interpretation and Learning
• To develop, research and manage a temporary exhibition programme related to history collections and local history in conjunction with Project Development Team programme and in accordance with Exhibitions Policy.
• To manage the touring of history collection based exhibition projects initiated by the museum.
• To work with the Education, Access and Inclusion and Volunteer Co-ordinator staff to develop the interpretation and educational use of the exhibitions and collections.
• To work with relevant staff on the marketing and promotion of history exhibitions.
• To give talks, guided tours and hold workshops related to history collections at the museum and as outreach.
Financial Management
• Identify sources of funding for history projects and contribute to the application process in collaboration with the Development Manager.
• To draw up and manage history exhibition and project budgets (with assistance of Administrative Assistant).
• To fundraise for and oversee the purchase of acquisitions for the history collections if applicable.
Staff Supervision and Training
• To supervise the Collections Care Assistant and Curatorial Trainee whilst working on projects relating specifically to the history collections.
• To supervise the work of technical staff on exhibitions and other projects relating to the history collection.
• To supervise the work of volunteers and students on placement as required.
• To contribute to organisational learning through staff training and development activities related to history collections.
• To assess Health and Safety issues relating to the collections, displays and the galleries housing them, and to draw up appropriate risk assessments. (training available)
Other
• Contribute to inter-museum projects and initiatives e.g Hub, joint exhibitions.
• To collect performance indicators and other data relating to the post as required.
• To undertake training and development activities as required.
• To attend and contribute at staff and project meetings.
• To represent the museum at external meetings and events as necessary.
NB: The Council is an equal opportunities employer and provider of services. The Council has a
statutory duty to promote race equality and all employees must be aware of that duty and
work to the Council’s equality standards.
In addition, other duties at the same level of responsibility may be allocated at any time
Date Produced: Sept 2006
Position in Departmental Structure:-
The Keeper of History is part of the curatorial team which reports to the Head of Arts and Heritage Services. |
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| Application Instructions: |
Further details and application forms are available either by writing to the Assistant Director (Human Resources), Town Hall, Preston, PR1 2RL or by telephoning the 24 hour recruitment line on 01772 906914, quoting the vacancy reference number. Vacancy details also appear on-line at www.preston.gov.uk
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