Assistant Registrar

Assistant Registrar

The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Founded by philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges is a public non-profit charitable organization.

Crystal Bridges is a museum of American art located in Bentonville, Arkansas. We explore the unfolding story of America by actively collecting, exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving outstanding works that illuminate the American heritage and artistic possibilities. Founded by Alice Walton in 2005, the museum opened in 2011 and is a public, non-profit charitable organization with free admission.

The Momentary is a contemporary art space that opened to the public on February 22, 2020, in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. The Momentary is a venue for the music, art, and food of our time, and a catalyst for creativity and economic vitality. An extension to Crystal Bridges, the Momentary is a 'living room' where community gathers to be inspired, connected, and joyful. You belong here: make the most of this moment.

Position Summary:

Under general supervision of the Head Registrar, the Assistant Registrar is responsible for registration functions related to collection activation, exhibitions, incoming/outgoing loans, campus art and other initiatives of Crystal Bridges and the Momentary ("CBMO").

The Assistant Registrar will help coordinate logistics for artwork activations and initiatives (including loan paperwork, packing, transit, storage, insurance, and installation/deinstallation arrangements) in conjunction with Art Management, and other internal and external stakeholders.

Principal Responsibilities:

• In collaboration with the Head Registrar, Registrar of Collections, Registrar of Exhibitions, Curatorial staff, and the Art Preparation and Collections Care team, ensure proper care, preservation and display of objects in the collection and on loan.
• Assist with securing incoming loans from institutional and private lenders (in conjunction with Curatorial staff) and organizing outgoing loans from the collection. Coordinate loans agreements, packing, transit, courier and insurance arrangements, and prepare condition reports.
• Provide support for campus art as well as exhibitions, art activations, and initiatives at satellite spaces.
• Provide support to collection registrars with recordkeeping, unpacking/packing, condition reporting, intake and photography.
• Provide support to exhibition registrars with recordkeeping, unpacking/packing, condition reporting, and exhibition installation and deinstallation oversight.
• Assist Director of Art Management, Head Registrar and Exhibition Project Managers to develop budgets and timelines for art activations, initiatives, and exhibitions.
• Assist with monitoring and reporting out on environmental conditions (temperature, relative humidity and light) in art spaces.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Support Crystal Bridges collections management activities including data entry, inventory, cataloguing, and care and maintenance of the collection.
• Provide reports and statistics as requested and on a regular basis for Executive Leadership and Board of Trustees.
• Act as courier, as assigned, to accompany exhibitions and loans worldwide.
• May serve as a supervisor to interns and volunteers.
• Keep apprised of current registration standards, basic conservation guidelines for the care and handling of artworks, and field developments using collections data.
• Provide general support to the collections and exhibitions teams, as well as the department at large.
• Complete all other duties as assigned within the scope of responsibility and skill required for the job.

Qualifications and Skills:

Education, Training, and Traits

• Bachelor's degree required, with course work in art, art history, museum studies or related field Knowledge of American art, and a familiarity of artist's materials
• Knowledge of art handling standards
• Familiarity with museum object cataloguing standards
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 suite
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, writing, proofreading and analytical skills, with meticulous attention to detail and the ability to multi-task
• Flexible, adaptable, and resourceful
• Ability to take initiative and anticipate actions needed
• Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment
• Ability to understand and maintain the highest levels of confidentiality

Work Experience

• Minimum two (2) years of experience in museum registration, collections or exhibitions management or related field.
• Proficiency with using a relational collections database required, The Museum System (TMS) experience preferred
• Work experience with a digital asset management system (DAMS) preferred

Licenses and Certifications

• Valid driver's license with clean driving record required
• Ability to obtain valid passport

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• Physical demands: Position requires verbal and written conversation with others, sitting, standing, walking, bending, reaching and climbing. Position requires utilizing a computer for prolonged periods of time and good eye/hand coordination. Vision abilities required by the job include close vision and color perception. Position requires use of hands to safely handle and move collection objects according to current museum standards. Position periodically requires standing for prolonged periods of time.
• Work Environment: Work will be performed in an office environment, galleries and art storage as well as being outside for extended periods during installation of outdoor art. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate. Strong communication skills and ability to interact politely and effectively with a wide range of staff, database support providers, and external parties seeking information about the collection or digital assets will be required. An employee in this position must be able to effectively utilize museum communications systems. Ability to travel periodically as a courier to accompany exhibitions and loans worldwide required. Occasional weekend, evening and night work hours also required.

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States.

Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.