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Collections Officer

Cheltenham

To support the Culture team in building The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum’s position as a leading regional museum with high quality programming and excellent standards in collections care.

The Wilson’s Collections are richly diverse from Old Masters to world cultures to a social history collection which tells the story of Cheltenham and the surrounding Cotswolds area from the Bronze Age. A dedicated gallery houses the Arts and Crafts Movement Collection, a Designated Collection of national importance. The Art Collection includes painting and sculpture spanning four centuries, costume and textiles, decorative and applied art.

Our galleries house permanent and temporary display programmes and include one dedicated co-curated space led by a Creative Communities panel to present and develop projects with our local communities in Cheltenham and Gloucestershire. In addition, the Wilson is home to a major catalyst programme for early career artists including 9 studios and a facilitated fellowship programme, innovative learning and events activities based in our Foyle Learning Studio, an Open Archive and Study space and a café which features our art collections, and which is led by our sustainability values, with furniture, materials, makers and craftspeople being drawn from our local area.

The Collections Officer will have knowledge and experience in art galleries and museums. They will be familiar with the latest industry standards and will be confident in delivering collections care including preventive conservation monitoring, reporting and planning, documentation procedures, loans management and contributing to the public programme.

The Wilson is committed to building an organisation of mutual respect and dignity, promoting a welcoming, diverse and inclusive working and learning environment. We recognise that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to be recognised, respected, and valued. We aim to provide a place where everyone can thrive, supporting all staff to achieve their full potential. We aspire to remove economic, social and cultural barriers that may otherwise prevent people from succeeding.

The role will include working flexibly to provide support across the Culture team where needed.

Key duties and responsibilities:

Collections Care and Management

• In line with the Care and Conservation policy, and in liaison with the curatorial team, work to the Collections Care and Conservation Plan for improvement of the condition of the Collection.
• Support the collections-focused delivery of multiple concurrent projects, including collections moves, scheduling contractors, preventive conservation requirements etc.
• Liaising with the curatorial team make recommendations for revisions to Care and Conservation plan to support work needed for future programme. Including recruitment and day to day liaison with associate volunteers to support the delivery of the plan.
• Contribute to developing, maintaining, and reviewing the Collections Care policies and procedures.
• Research and recommend creative solutions for conservation issues and ways to enable greater public access to collections through collections displays, working with the Curators to adapt content according.
• Undertake the environmental monitoring and pest management procedures, maintaining a log of recordings and other aspects of preventative conservation methods. Highlight and propose how to manage any issues that arise.
• Delivery of the Documentation Plan in liaison with the Curators and supporting the curators in other documentation projects including updating and improving of object records on the collections management database.
• Lead on delivery of Trust-wide programme of retrospective and ongoing collection documentation.
• Oversee the management of The Wilson’s inward and outward object loans, with a focus on maintaining and reviewing the loans.
• Support the work of the Curatorial team to ensure The Wilson retains museum accreditation and that collections are developed, managed and documented to appropriate SPECTRUM standards.
• Support financial administration including raising of Purchase Orders and liaison with suppliers.
• Research into environmentally sustainable solutions for collections management, particularly in relation to conservation.
• Take personal responsibility for following the Cheltenham Trust environmental sustainability policy.

Collections Access

• Provide access to the collection through assisting students, researchers and members of the public with enquiries about the Museum’s collections and elsewhere. As well as managing the provision of images of objects from collections for publication in conjunction with arrangements with external provider.
• Working closely with public programme team and marketing team and provide content needed and /or deliver or contribute to digital interpretation, talks, enquiries, seminars and events.
• Work with the colleagues across the Wilson to ensure the security and safety of visitors, collections and exhibitions in public areas, remaining vigilant for risks at all times and contributing to the supervision and invigilation of displays when necessary.
• Work with the public programme team in developing new and innovative ways to interpret the collections and deepen the experience and engagement of digital audiences online.
• Working collaboratively with the curatorial team and the public programme team to support participatory practice and community projects.
• Provide content / contribute as needed for applications to Trusts and Foundations for additional funding in liaison with the Senior Curator: Collections and Heritage.
• Support the curatorial team in the production of collections projects including increasing digital access to collections through photography and creation of digital records.
• Support the evaluation and adaption of curatorial content according to visitor feedback and broader Audience development strategies.
• Be an effective advocate for The Cheltenham Trust, and the collections at a local and national level, to special interest groups, and supporting the development and maintenance of effective partnerships.
• Produce regular reports and updates as required for meetings, committees, and funding requirements.
• Managing collections volunteers, including identifying projects, assigning tasks and delivering appropriate training.
• Networking in the field of conservation and collections management to keep up to date with industry innovations. Keep abreast of Museum industry developments and trends.

This job description sets out the key outcomes required. It does not specify in detail all the activities required to achieve these outcomes.

Essential requirements - qualifications, skills, abilities and experience:

• A relevant degree, post graduate qualification or equivalent experience.
• Professional knowledge of the Museum/Gallery sector.
• Experience of Museum or Archive documentation and cataloguing including all aspects of object entry.
• Experience of working with and handling Museum objects and archives.
• Understanding of collections care issues including storage, environmental conditions and preventive conservation.
• Understanding of documentation and digitisation issues and accreditation standards.
• A natural storyteller, able to communicate complex ideas using clear and accessible language.
• Experience of digital engagement with collections and an understanding of the potential of digital to enhance collections access.
• Awareness of project management processes and experience of delivering successful projects.
• Experience of project management.
• Excellent organisation and planning skills managing self and others effectively to focus on priorities.
• Commitment to equality and diversity and an understanding of how this commitment applies to this role.
• There may be a requirement to work at other Cheltenham Trust sites and stores.
• Ability to work flexibly to support the delivery of special events, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Expected to work collaboratively with colleagues from across the Cheltenham Trust.
• Your contractual location will be the Wilson Art Gallery and Museum. Flexible working hours can be discussed with your line manager to strike the right balance for you and Trust.

Please click on Apply Now to submit your application.

Salary: £26149

Hours Per Week: 40

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