Arts Administrator - Temp-perm - Prestigious historical organisation - £25k-£27k - Immediate start

An extremely prestigious artistic and historical organisation requires a first class administrator to work in the Collections Department, which specialises in antique precious metals, jewellery and art metals.

The Collections Assistant will support the Curator and the Collections Team in the management, use, display and research of the Company’s Collection, so as to ensure that the highest standards are maintained.

The role requires an immediate start on a temporary basis with a view to going permanent soon after.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The responsibilities of the post include:

• To assist the Curator and the Collections Team with day to day administration, ensuring that the Department systems run efficiently. Tasks include: departmental diary management; arranging visits and dealing with enquiries, documentation and management of departmental files; overseeing visitors to the Collection and other tasks as required.

• To provide administrative support to ensure the effective running of the Collections and Contemporary Craft Committees: helping with preparation of agendas, supplying material and objects for meetings.
• To work with the Curator in creating object files; helping to maintain and edit records (paper and digital) in preparation for future scholarly Collection catalogues; record keeping, filing and archiving for the Collection.
• To provide assistance and support to the Curator in the scoping, selection and implementation of a new Collections Management System (CMS) and Digital Asset Management System (DAMS) as these relate to the collections; co-ordinating a smooth transition from current database to future CMS.

• To co-ordinate photography of new acquisitions and the existing collection for research, publication, digitising and cataloguing; supply of images for displays, talks, exhibitions and outside enquirers.

• To assist the Curator in implementing and maintaining best practice in collections care and documentation; assist on developing an Emergency Plan; administration of the annual Plate Check; co-ordinating specialists in providing insurance values and market values for pieces in the Collection.

• To administer commissioning agreements for new acquisitions and help with managing commissions.

• To assist with exhibition administration, including preparation of loan agreements, couriering schedules, design briefs, conservation requirements; shared responsibility for couriering objects.

• To help raise the profile of the Department internally within the Company and externally with the silver and jewellery communities and the wider public, working with the Marketing and Communications department to increase the Collection’s web and social media presence.

• To provide support and other duties as required by the Curator.

SKILLS AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• A conscientious and motivated administrator who will support the Curator and the team.
• Flexible, responsible, resilient and reliable; a well-organised self-starter capable of managing and prioritising a varied workload.
• A team player with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• IT literate with experience of using Word, Excel, Powerpoint; some direct experience of use of collections management systems.
• A commitment to helping to document and record the Collection to a high standard.
• Able to support the Curator in maintaining excellence in the development of the Collection and its public understanding.
• The role holder will ideally have some experience or a background in museums or the visual arts, together with a genuine interest in the decorative arts and their history.