Cataloguer at The Jewish Museum
Job Title: Cataloguer
Job Status: Full-time
Location: New York, NY
Salary: $48,000 to $52,000
The Jewish Museum:
The Jewish Museum serves people of all religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds through world-class art exhibitions ranging from ancient to contemporary. Founded in 1904 and located on New York City’s Museum Mile, the Jewish Museum aspires to be the global leader at the center of Jewish culture.
The Museum maintains a unique collection of nearly 30,000 works of art, ceremonial objects, and media reflecting the global Jewish experience over more than 4,000 years. The Museum’s thought-provoking, innovative, and intellectually stimulating exhibitions and education programs serve a wide range of audiences, including families, teens, students, educators, and visitors with disabilities. As an identity-based institution, the Museum plays an important role among cultural institutions, challenging all forms of bigotry and discrimination and promoting understanding among wide audiences. The Jewish Museum invites applicants of all backgrounds to consider joining the Museum in its work.
The Jewish Museum is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all and to promoting a positive work culture that celebrates difference, challenges prejudice, and ensures fairness. Integrity, collegiality, and excellence are central to the Museum’s values. These values, along with an institution-wide commitment to Diversity, Equity, Access & Inclusion (DEAI), are embedded in the Museum’s strategic plan and will be the focus of a comprehensive DEAI action plan.
The Position:
The Jewish Museum is seeking a Cataloguer for a 4 day/week, fixed-term, eighteen-month position. Under the supervision of the Assistant Director, Collections, they will examine and research objects in the museum’s collection including works of fine and decorative arts, ceremonial Judaica, archaeological artifacts, and new media in preparation for the reinstallation of the museum’s 3rd and 4th floor collection galleries. Additionally, the position will work on cataloguing objects for a separately funded project to help digitize the museum’s collection. The position requires demonstrated ability to catalogue objects and conduct art historical research, resolute concentration, careful handling of art objects, attention to detail, and accuracy in data entry and proof-reading.
Responsibilities Include:
- Work closely with Collections Manager to catalogue objects in the collection— examine objects by precisely measuring, identifying parts and accessories, recognizing materials, write accurate condition reports, and locate and note signature, inscriptions, markings, and historic labels in preparation of collection reinstall and for digitization.
- As part of the larger reinstallation team that includes Collections and Registration staff, keep track of object movement and assist with object handling as necessary.
- For the digitization project, help maintain digital records for all objects using museum-approved data-entry standard in TMS by adding cataloguing information and new research, tracking locations, updating exhibition history, etc.
- Researching the museum records and other primary and secondary sources to establish accurate acquisition information, artist/maker’s biography, object date and titles, ex-collections/provenance, published references, and exhibition history.
- Correspond with artists/makers, donors, dealers, vendors, auction houses, and galleries to ascertain or verify information about the object.
- Create and update files and documentation for all objects in the collection including archival object files, conservation reports, and historic records.
- Help Collections Manager prepare or proof-read label copy for exhibitions, publications, website, education, and other purposes, as needed.
- Work to identify problematic object records and help resolve numbering discrepancies.
- As part of the Collections Management team, work to keep the storage areas organized and make sure objects are put back in their correct locations as well as assisting with object photo shoots.
Requirements:
- Degree or equivalent experience in a related field such as Art History, Museum Studies, Archaeology, or Conservation preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to catalogue objects and conduct art-historical research
- Strong research skills and familiarity with metadata and cataloguing standards
- Strong computer skills including working knowledge of TMS preferable
- Art handling experience a plus
- Knowledge of foreign language(s) helpful
This is a unionized position with covered employees represented by Local 2110, UAW, AFL-CIO.
To Apply
Send Resume with Cover Letter To:
Director, Human Resources
The Jewish Museum
1109 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10128
Fax: 212.423.3232
Email: jobs@thejm.org