Association of Academic Museums and Galleries

Position Description 

Eastern Illinois University seeks an Exhibitions and Collection Manager for the Tarble Arts Center, the on-campus teaching museum. The Exhibitions and Collections Manager should be an arts professional with experience in museum collection care and organizing exhibitions who maintains up-to-date knowledge on innovations in the field and established professional standards. They should embrace working in a small, collaborative, team-based environment. Excellent interpersonal skills are a must since the position will work with various constituents and stakeholders including artists, curators, scholars, museum patrons, members of the university community, local schoolteachers, administrators, and others. The Exhibitions and Collection Manager reports to the Director and Chief Curator of the Tarble Arts Center. 

Responsibilities 

The Exhibitions and Collection Manager directly manages and oversees logistics for the Tarble Arts Center’s exhibition program and permanent collection; manages permanent collection acquisition and deaccessioning procedures and recommendations, documentation, object care, storage, use, preservation, and maintenance; receives, prepares and catalogs new materials; plans and organizes exhibition-related movement of objects, including packing, shipping, and insurance for collections exhibitions as well as for incoming and outgoing temporary exhibitions of loaned objects; manages the database of collection contents; supervises student workers, scholars, and students working with the collection or loaned objects on view in temporary exhibitions, among other duties. 

30% Collection Care 

• Manage all aspects of collection care, following and implementing accepted museum professional standards and practices, including short and long-term storage solutions for art objects, standards for use and access, environmental monitoring, and appropriate security and safety measures. 
• Provide project budgets for maintenance, establish object conservation priorities, and manage any conservation initiatives or treatments to assure preservation of artwork and museum standards. 
• Manage database development for all collection materials and responsible for all collections records, object files, digitization of images, periodic software upgrades and system migrations, and public permanent collection website. 
• Work with Director & Chief Curator to identify acquisitions of works of art for inclusion in the TAC Permanent Collection in accordance with standards and best practices aligned with accreditation with the American Alliance of Museums 
• Interact with national and international scholarly and museum community, responding to loan, research, and publication requests relating to the collection. Assist Director with proposed gifts. 
  
  30% Exhibitions Coordination 

• Work directly with TAC Director to organize a series of annual art exhibitions, including providing project budget management, preparing checklists and images of objects for exhibitions, and conducting object-related research.  
• Act as registrar: overseeing and coordinating all duties relating to art shipping and transport, coordination of loan agreements, insurance, and condition reporting in adherence to established policies. 
• Act as lead/senior preparator overseeing all exhibition fabrication, preparation, and installation; manage all duties relating to matting, mounting, and framing of artworks. 
• Manage and negotiate copyright permissions for publications, publicity, marketing, and related uses. 

30% Education and Interpretation 

• Manage the onsite Collection Lab, a hub for collection research, collaborative projects, and object-based learning opportunities. Works directly with researchers, scholars, educators, and the campus community to facilitate courses, projects, and programs that allow intimate interaction with artworks in the collection. Supervises all access to artwork for study, exhibition, and research. 
• Represent TAC through public programs, teaching, and guest lectures, workshop presentations and participation in national professional groups. 
• Conduct research on objects in the collection and provide interpretation for publications, labels, newsletters, social media, and related communications. 
• Work directly with Director, Assistant Director, and any guest curators or collaborators to support exhibition-related education and outreach initiatives. 
• Perform archival research on collection materials and/or artifacts for inclusion in records and databases, including provenance. 
• Train and supervise student staff, graduate assistants, and interns performing work related to the collection and/or in galleries. 
  
  

10% 

• Assist public program physical/logistical arrangements and staffing in concert with TAC senior staff. 
• In concert with the Director and Assistant Director, identify supplemental funding to support exhibitions and the collection. 
• Participate in professional development workshops, seminars, conferences, and other activities within and outside of TAC. 

Requirements for this position are: 

1.    Any one or combination totaling three (3) years from the following categories: 

A.     College course work in art history, studio art or a closely related field as measured by the following conversion table or its proportional equivalent: 

• 30 semester hours equals one (1) year 
• Associate’s Degree (60 semester hours) equals eighteen (18) months 
• 90 semester hours equals two (2) years 
• Bachelor’s degree (120 semester hours) equals three (3) years 

B.     Work experience that provided knowledge of art history and the techniques used in the preservation, restoration, and/or exhibition of museum collections. 

2.    One (1) year of work experience in the profession of art curation including the development, storage, security, and exhibition of art objects. 

 

A Master’s degree in studio art, art history, museum studies, arts administration, or a closely related field may be substituted for 1 year of experience. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Advanced degree in studio art, art history, museum studied, arts administration, or closely related field. 
• At least 3 years of experience in an art museum, gallery, or related environment associated with an institution of higher learning. 
• Teaching experience. 
• Enthusiastic support for serving diverse constituencies. 

Application Deadline 

Review of applications will begin on August 22 and will continue until campus interviews are scheduled. 

Application 

A complete application will include: a letter of application; curriculum vitae; and contact information for 3 business references. Apply online at https://www.eiu.edu/~humanres/application/login.php.    Deadline for application is October 10, 2022.  

The Civil Service Examination for this classification is a credentials assessment.  No participation other than submission of applicant materials is required from qualified applicants.   

EIU offers an excellent benefits package, including competitive employee insurance premiums as well as flexible options for medical coverage. Vision insurance is included at no cost and dental insurance is available. Eligible employees participate in the State University Retirement System, which offers medical insurance upon retirement. Tuition waivers are offered for continued educational goals, and a generous paid time off package includes at least 11 paid holidays, earned vacation, and sick time. AA/EEOE 

Department of Human Resources – Employment 

Eastern Illinois University 

600 Lincoln Avenue 

Charleston, IL  61920 

This and other employment vacancies at EIU are located at: 

https://www.eiu.edu/humanres/employment/CSpositions.php

AA/EEOE 

Eastern Illinois University is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer – minority/female/ disability/veteran – committed to achieving a diverse community.