Project Archivist at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA)

Job Title: Project Archivist 

Job Status: Contract

Location: Boston, MA

Salary: $37.00 per hour


Founded in 1936, the ICA/Boston is the oldest contemporary art museum in the country, and its long history is recorded in many years of accumulated ephemera and documents. The ICA is undertaking a long-term effort to preserve and share this history with the public. To begin this effort, the ICA seeks a contract Project Archivist who will review, process, and rehouse the ICA’s approximately 400 linear feet of archival material and create a catalogue that will be used to assess future projects necessary to develop the ICA’s archives as a publicly accessible resource. This is a one-year grant funded temporary contract position partnering with the ICA’s Curatorial department.

Scope of Work:

  • Develop and complete an inventory, needs assessment, and processing plan for the archives project
  • Develop and maintain project workflows, timelines, and statistics
  • Conduct historical research on the organization or people to gather background information on the records’ creators, including one oral history with the museum’s director
  • Survey archival collections to determine arrangement and description procedures, preservation requirements, and potential restrictions
  • Arrange and describe materials according to processing plans
  • Perform basic preservation work
  • Identify, access, describe, and make duplication plans for at-risk material, including audio visual
  • Identify records that are candidates for digitization, teaching, social media, and outreach
  • Write box level inventory for each collection, describing the creator of the records as well as the subject content of the materials, and including detailed folder inventories
  • Present and share updates about work with curatorial staff, donors, and wider museum staff

Qualified Candidates Must Possess:

  • Master’s degree in Library and Information Science or allied field from an accredited institution, or equivalent experience
  • Ability to work independently and utilize knowledge gained from previous experiences to inform decisions and tasks regarding the Archives and its materials
  • Hands on experience at an organization preserving, arranging, and describing archival collections
  • Ability to synthesize and summarize information in clear and concise language for use in collection description
  • Demonstrated knowledge and proficiency in the use and application of current national data standards related to the archival control of collection materials such as DACS, EAD, LCSH, and MODS
  • Knowledge of best practices in handling and preservation of archival material
  • Ability to collaborate,  communicate, and present in a group environment
  • Interest in or knowledge of contemporary art and museums
  • Commitment to maintaining knowledge of best practices in regards to current discussions around archives, cultural heritage, and public history

Physical Requirements:

  • Ability to routinely lift 40 lbs. boxes, pushing and pulling, keyboarding and gripping
  • Possess mobility to move about throughout the museum spaces, and travel offsite to different locations
  • Very frequent sitting, standing and walking for extended periods

Performance Period and Availability

The Project Archivist (Contractor) should plan to be available October 2024 – December 2025 for up to 30 hours per week.

Rate of Pay: $37.00 per hour

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should send a resume and letter of interest no later than September 6 to jobs@icaboston.org. When applying, please include “Contract Project Archivist” in the subject line.

The ICA is located at 25 Harbor Shore Drive, Boston, and is accessible by public transportation (Red and Silver Line).

 

Other Locations:

Seaport Studio
100 Pier 4 Blvd,
Boston, MA 02210

ICA Watershed
256 Marginal Street
Boston, MA 02128

The ICA is dedicated to building a culturally diverse and pluralistic workforce committed to working in a multicultural environment. Qualified candidates from groups historically underrepresented in the museum professions are strongly encouraged to apply.

The ICA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are an EOE/AA employer dedicated to fair and inclusive employment practices for all individuals. The ICA is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact HR-EOE@icaboston.org or 617-478-3171.