Acting Curator of International Slavery Museum

Acting Curator of International Slavery Museum

Salary: £25,180
Deadline: 13/10/2016 12:00
Hours: 37.00
Job Type: Fixed Term [F] Temporary
Please upload covering letter and CV as one document

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Purpose and Objectives

• To research stories and develop collections related to Liverpool’s role in the transatlantic slave trade and its legacies including racism and discrimination.
• To explore and expand our modern-day slavery and enslavement collections.
• To curate, manage and develop the ISM collections for public benefit.
• To explore and develop opportunities for curating current Black social movements.
• To communicate Liverpool’s diverse history to a wide audience and to assist National Museums Liverpool in developing audiences (local, regional, national and international)
• To deliver and support the divisional programme of temporary exhibitions, permanent displays and venue maintenance/improvements/development.
• To develop personal expertise within the areas of responsibility.

Main Activities

Reporting to the Head of International Slavery Museum/Deputy Director of Waterfront Museums you will:

• Provide curatorial care, including the documentation, cataloguing, display, digitisation, handling, storage and monitoring of conservation requirements for items within the specialist area of responsibility. Principal responsibilities are for ISM collections as well as developing a good knowledge of related collections held across NML and by external organisations.
• Identify and undertake opportunities to collect contemporary material, relating to the postholder’s collection responsibilities, to support specific projects and the Museum’s collecting plan.
• Lead on the planning and implementation of ISM’s 10th anniversary programming.
• Identify opportunities to research, collect and display photographic material related to Museum’s collecting plan.
• Working closely with the curator of maritime and slavery archives and curator of photographic collections to ensure an effective link between archives, including photographs, and artefacts and to develop on-line access to slavery related archives.
• Work with external partners, organisations, groups, families and individuals to develop a strong understanding of human rights, campaigning and of Liverpool’s history in relation to the transatlantic slave trade and its legacies with a special emphasis on personal stories.
• Develop ideas for exhibitions and displays using the collections for the Museum’s programme and for other NML museums as well as for touring exhibitions; which could be a source of income generation.
• Undertake the preparation and organisation of special exhibitions and permanent gallery displays often as project curator, including liaison with colleagues in other departments.
• Be responsible for the maintenance of the public offer in ISM and any ISM-related exhibition with the support of the assistant curator of ISM and maritime archives and colleagues from across NML.
• Work with colleagues from across NML and external organisations, groups and businesses to develop and deliver a range of exhibitions, displays, research projects and public programmes which attract and engage audiences.
• Work with colleagues to develop ISM, and when required on project teams across the division/NML.
• Develop popular, accessible interpretation in relation to the transatlantic slave trade, slavery and enslavements, human rights history and contemporary campaigning to develop ISM, as resources allow.
• Work with a strong public output. This means with a focus on audience development, issues and campaigns, enabling multiple voices, working in partnership and ensuring visibility of under-represented people and their histories. Particular emphasis is placed on further developing, maintaining and creating partnerships and dialogues with the BAME community.
• Represent ISM at press calls and through other media activity with the guidance and support of MAC, the Head of ISM and the Director of MoL and MMM.
• Assist with sponsorship and fundraising initiatives and work flexibly to ensure that we maximise income opportunities.
• Contribute to the collection development plan, actively collecting and making recommendations to the Head of ISM and Director of Museum of Liverpool & Merseyside
• Maritime Museum for acquisition and purchase, as resources allow. Monitor potential sources of acquisitions, contacts and awareness of sources of material.
• You will work with the Head of ISM to develop new ISM collection strands such as international human rights campaigns, modern slavery and enslavement, community collecting, Black social history and Black social movements. Within NML you will work closely with curators in MoL and MMM when the subjects are relevant. The development of ISM as a campaigning museum may take the collection in new directions.
• Undertake responsibility for display maintenance and storage management of the ISM collections in conjunction with departmental colleagues and in close liaison with colleagues across NML.
• Ensure the accessioning of new objects, and all other collection management activities, are promptly carried out in collaboration with the registrars and in accordance with NML policy and procedures. Work on retrospective documentation tasks as prioritised in the collection development plan.
• Assess and make recommendations on all applications for the loan of artefacts within the specialist area. Undertake the curatorial work relating to loans into and out of the collection in conjunction with the registrars and other colleagues in accordance with NML loan policies and procedures.
• Undertake research within the specialist area of the collections and preparing exhibitions, displays, collaborative projects, catalogues, books, papers, web content and articles according to the agreed departmental research programme.
• Answer written and oral enquiries relating to the collections and providing guidance to junior staff on the answering of routine enquiries.
• Represent ISM, the department or division at professional meetings and conferences to obtain views, give advice and present papers as appropriate.
• Assist in the educational work of the division by supporting specialist colleagues, lecturing and advising on the preparation of education and interpretative material.
• Working closely with the curator of maritime and slavery archives and curator of photographic collections to ensure an effective link between archives and artefacts and to develop on-line access to slavery archives.
• Line manage the assistant curator of International Slavery Museum & Maritime Archives and project staff, as and when required.
• Line manage the HLF Collecting Cultures Project Curator.
• Manage and supervise the work of junior staff, work placements and volunteers (with support from HR).
• Place purchase orders for goods and services within agreed processes and in line with NML Financial Guidance.
• Develop NML’s commitment to Equality and Diversity and promote non-discriminatory practices in all aspects of work undertaken.
• Adhere to National Museums Liverpool’s Health and Safety Policies and Procedures, National Museums Liverpool’s access policy as well as other appropriate practices and guidelines.
• Undertake additional duties, as required, from time to time, as noted by the Head of ISM.
• Undertake training and development courses and programmes, as required.
• Show the highest integrity and confidentiality in the pursuance of these duties