Assistant Registrar, Loans and Exhibitions at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Arrt

ABOUT THE LUCAS MUSEUM OF NARRATIVE ART

As the first museum to focus exclusively on storytelling through images, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art believes that visual storytelling can connect us and help shape a more just society. With a growing collection that encompasses artworks from across cultures, places, times, and mediums, including paintings, sculptures, murals, photography, comic art, book and magazine illustrations, and the arts of filmmaking, the Lucas Museum will explore narrative art’s potential to prompt questions, invite opinions, inspire community, and move people to think about the impact of images on our world.

 

Co-founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson and led by director and CEO Sandra Jackson-Dumont, the Lucas Museum was designed by renowned architect Ma Yansong of MAD Architects with Stantec as executive architect and is under construction in Los Angeles’s Exposition Park. An 11-acre campus with extensive new green space designed by Studio-MLA will embrace the museum’s 300,000-square-foot building, which will feature expansive galleries, two state-of-the-art theaters, and dedicated spaces for learning and engagement, dining, retail, and events. www.lucasmuseum.org.

 

POSITION SUMMARY

 

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art seeks an Assistant Registrar, Loans & Exhibitions to support the Registration department in the coordinating and implementing of all registration aspects for objects on display in permanent and temporary exhibition spaces, as well as incoming and outgoing loans. Reporting to the Associate Registrar, Loans & Exhibitions, the position holder will actively collaborate with key stakeholders in Curatorial, Collections Management, Information Technology, Finance and Learning and Engagement departments as well as various types of contractors, on-call staff, organizational partners and living artists to implement museum best practices for care of collections and loans.   

 

The position holder will partner with the Associate Registrar, Loans & Exhibitions in all parts of the museum’s loans and exhibitions programs – from drafting loan agreements, documenting the condition of incoming and outgoing loans, and the general maintenance of accurate loans and exhibition files to providing status updates to other museum staff on loan requests, ordering relevant materials and supplies, and managing the release, receival, and documentation of loans at the museum’s off-site fine arts storage facility. The position holder will be an integral team member in the planning and execution of gallery installations leading up to the museum’s public opening. Once the museum site is open, the Assistant Registrar, Loans & Exhibitions, will aid in the maintenance and monitoring of exhibition spaces (in collaboration with colleagues in Collections Management) as well as with the annual inventory as related to loans and exhibitions statistics. 

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supports registration loan and exhibition processes for incoming and outgoing loans for gallery collection rotations, in-house, and traveling exhibitions, including but not limited to receiving/releasing shipments, object condition reporting, drafting loan agreements and receipts, coordinating staff and lender courier travel and coordinating packing and shipping logistics for loans.  

• Partner with and support the Associate Registrar, Loans & Exhibitions through the following loans and exhibitions responsibilities, including but not limited to: 
  • Assist in the processing and preparation of collection objects for inclusion in the museum’s inaugural exhibition;  
  • Create detailed and accurate physical and digital loan and exhibition files and work to ensure that these files are preserved in accordance with the museum retention policy.These records include but are not limited to legal documents such as loan agreements, certificates of insurance, customs documentation, conservation treatment reports and object condition reports;  
  • Track locations of objects for purpose of object preparation, installation, loan, or temporary display;  
  • Track exhibition and loan history in database for museum objects; 
  • Collaborate with project-based contract art preparators and registrars; 
  • Works closely with staff such as curators, art handlers, collections managers and outside personnel (such as airline and cargo handlers) in the coordination, scheduling and monitoring of the safe movements of objects, both on and offsite; 
  • Prepare object loan prep review documents; 
  • Coordinate meetings throughout all stages of assigned exhibition and loan projects; 
  • Monitor and ensure assigned project budgets are met;
  • Assist with monitoring of assigned project budgets, coordination of lender correspondence, drafting indemnity applications; 
  • Propose packing and crating solutions for outgoing loans, in close collaboration with Collections Management colleagues;  
  • Act as museum courier for outgoing loans; 
  • Participate and lead during gallery installations/deinstallations, and rotations of permanent collection artworks in the museum galleries, in collaboration with Collections Management colleagues;  
  • Work with the registration team to assist in regular collaborations with other museum staff to coordinate photography of collection objects for archival and promotional/publication purposes; 
  • Aid in creating, revising, and executing of registration loans and exhibitions policies and procedures;
  • Assist with maintaining external partnerships with fine art shippers, agents, colleagues from other institutions, auction houses and galleries, artists, contract conservators, mount makers, art handlers or other vendors; 
  • Assist with maintaining strong partnerships with the museum’s insurance and customs brokers and with processing liability and damage claims; 
  • Promote compliance with Federal, State, and local laws relating to art collections management; 
  • Perform administrative duties required to maintain effectiveness and efficiency for loans and exhibitions registrar workflow including streamlining procedures, processing invoices, ordering supplies, and organizing and archiving files. 
• Special projects and other duties as designated by the Head Registrar. 

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Planning & Organizing-Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; must be extremely detail oriented and able to work under minimal supervision; sets clearly defined objectives; plans activities and projects well in advance and takes account of possible changing circumstances; manages time effectively; identifies and organizes resources needed to accomplish tasks; monitors performance against deadlines and milestones; proficiency working in Microsoft Office 365 suite and collections management systems, preferably The Museum System (TMS). 
• Adapting &Responding to change– Good hand-eye coordination, manual dexterity, and spatial reasoning; adapts to changing circumstances; accepts new ideas and change initiatives; adapts interpersonal style to suit different people or situations; shows respect and sensitivity towards differences; deals with ambiguity by making positive use of the opportunities it presents; ability to manage multiple work processes and projects simultaneously and be receptive to changing priorities; ability to assess risk and communicate options; ability to discreetly recognize and handle sensitive, confidential information; ability to exercise tact and diplomacy at all times.
• Adhering to Principles & Values– Upholds ethics and values; demonstrates integrity; promotes and defends equal opportunities; encourages organizational and individual responsibility; ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with colleagues, volunteers, and interns and the ability to professionally represent the Museum to outside colleagues, lenders, donors, and members of the artistic community.
• Presenting & Communicating Information– Speaks clearly and fluently; provides accurate information and key points of an argument clearly; proven ability to build relationships, engage with and work effectively and positively with a diverse group of museum colleagues; responds quickly to the needs of an audience and to their reactions and feedback; excellent creative problem solver; ability to exercise sound judgement and thrive in an entrepreneurial, collaborative and nimble work environment; ability to manage multiple work processes and projects simultaneously and be receptive to changing priorities. 
• Writing & Reporting-Writes clearly, succinctly, and correctly; writes convincingly in an engaging and expressive manner; avoids the unnecessary use of jargon or complicated language; writes in a well-structured and logical way; structures information to meet the needs and understanding of the intended audience.
• Knowledge of the Field – Knowledge of best practices in museum registration methods and techniques, especially in the areas of loans and exhibitions; knowledge of proper art handling and basic conservation concepts, procedures, and terms; possess a strong desire to improve upon their understanding of professional museum standards, collection care principles and museum registration practices.

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in art, art history, museum studies, arts administration, or a closely related field is required; 
• Minimum of three (3) years of verifiable art museum registration experience required, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

The statements in this description represent typical elements, criteria, and general work performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the job. 

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EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND OUR COMMITMENT TO DEAIB

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents and supports a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. The Lucas Museum fosters a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment, whether based on race, national origin, gender, gender expression, religion, ethnic background, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other criterion prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diversity and inclusion among our team is critical to our success, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain talented people from a diverse candidate pool. Applications from traditionally underrepresented communities are encouraged.

 

 

MISSION AND VISION

We are a museum dedicated to the art of storytelling. Through visual storytelling the Lucas Museum expands the role of art and museums for society. The Museum inspires thought provoking ideas and conversations that are relevant within and beyond geographic boundaries. Our work radiates to catalyze more connected and empathetic spaces. The art of storytelling connects us to shape a more just society.

 

VALUES

Our internal and external practice is shaped by the following beliefs and behaviors.

 

PEOPLE FIRST
We meet people wherever they are (physically, intellectually, emotionally). Our inclusive practice connects who people are and what people find meaningful, to works of art and the work of our organization.

 

INSPIRED
We believe that art can move you to feel, think, reflect, and act.

 

COLLABORATIVE
We believe that nimble thinking and working together yields exponential results.

 

BRAVE
We approach our work and learning with courage, creativity, curiosity, and a sense of adventure.

 

 

4 STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

 

ART
Amplify the social impact of Narrative Art through an approach that bridges the academic and the popular.

 

COMMUNITY
Connect to a broad and diverse public by create an institution rooted in impactful, respectful, sustainable relationships.

 

INCLUSION
Practice diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging in all operational and programmatic aspects of our work.

 

OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
Create a healthy and durable institution equipped to fulfill its vision and public mandate.

 

 

All staff at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art lead through a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, both within the Museum and with the communities that we serve.

 

Salary and titles will be assigned commensurate to the successful candidates’ education and experience. An attractive compensation package will be offered to the successful candidate(s).

 

Pursuant to the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art’s COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy, the museum requires all new hires to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment absent an approved medical and/or religious exemption. Upon hire, all new hires will receive detailed instructions on complying with this policy.  Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.