Assistant Registrar of Collections

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. 

Job Description:

Position Title: Assistant Registrar of Collections

Position Type: Full-Time 

FLSA Classification: Exempt 

Division: Curatorial and Art Management 

Department: Art Management  

Reports to: Registrar of Collections

About Crystal Bridges & The Momentary:

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 new contemporary art space that opened to the public on February 22, 2020, in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. A satellite to Crystal Bridges, the Momentary presents visual, performing, and culinary arts. The mission of the Momentary is to champion contemporary art’s role in everyday life and explore the unfolding story of contemporary American arts in an international context by actively commissioning and exhibiting outstanding works that explore new ideas and inspire action.

Position Summary:

Under general supervision of the Registrar of Collections, the Assistant Registrar of Collections will facilitate access to the Museum’s permanent collection by contributing to the display, care, safe handling, and recordkeeping of collection objects.  The Assistant Registrar of Collections (part of a collections-focused Registration team) will support activation of the collection by assisting with condition reporting, intake, organizing unpacking/packing and transit arrangements, and will be responsible for the documentation of information in the Museum’s collections management database, The Museum System (TMS).  This position requires a high level of collaboration with internal and external colleagues and the ability manage a wide range of projects in a fast paced environment.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Enable access to the collection by collaborating with the Head Registrar, Registrar of Collections, Art Preparation and Collections Care, Curatorial staff and contract conservators to ensure proper display, care, storage, and preservation of objects in the collection.
•  Assist with the intake and cataloguing of new acquisitions and documentation, condition reporting, storage, and inventory of the collection.
• Enter and proof data in TMS ensuring a high level of accuracy.
• Maintain permanent collection object records in print and digital form.  Work with Curatorial to update and expand object information in files and TMS.  Facilitate access to object files for viewing by educators, curators, and visiting scholars.
• Support artwork rotations in the permanent collection galleries by attending art movement meetings, flagging rotation needs, preparing art movement request forms, and proofing object labels.
• Track conservation exam and treatment needs for the permanent collection and coordinate visits by contract conservators, including preparation of contract agreements and making travel arrangements.  Process reports received from conservators.
• Coordinate regular condition checks of artworks on view in the permanent collection galleries
• Support the museum’s integrated pest management program by routinely monitoring pest traps and identifying insects found in art spaces.
• Assist with monitoring environmental conditions in art spaces by managing the museum’s data loggers (including placement and removal of data loggers during gallery transitions and facilitating their routine calibration) and capturing environmental data records.
• Prepare reports on collections information and statistics as requested and on a regular basis for Executive Leadership and Board of Trustees.
• Secure non-exclusive copyright licenses for artworks in the permanent collection.  Track copyright status, permissions and crediting requirements in TMS and the DAMS.
• Field internal and external reproduction requests and coordinate image licensing agreements with external parties, such as museums, publishers, and scholars.  Communicate license terms to stakeholders and proofread materials to ensure terms are met.  

Additional Responsibilities:

• Upload documentary images of collection artworks to the museum’s digital asset managem