Profession archive manager
Archive managers ensure the care and preservation of a cultural institution and the archives within. Archive managers, along with curators, and conservators, play a very important role in the care of the instution and all the collections within.
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Personality Type
- Conventional / Investigative
Knowledge
- Conservation techniques
The procedures, instruments, techniques, materials and chemicals used in conservation and archiving.
- Collection management
The process of resource evaluation, selection and life-cycle planning to create and promote a coherent collection in line with the developing needs of the users or customers. Understanding legal deposit for long-term access to publications.
- Project management
Understand project management and the activities which comprise this area. Know the variables implied in project management such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.
- Art collections
The variety of paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and other works that form collections in a museum and prospective new collections which are of interest for a museum or art gallery.
- Museum databases
The tools and processes involved in working with museum databases.
Skills
- Supervise artefact movement
Supervise any movement of museum artefacts and ensure their security.
- Monitor museum environment
Monitor and document environmental conditions in a museum, in storage as well as exhibition facilities. Make sure an adapted and stable climate is guaranteed.
- Manage staff
Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.
- Document museum collection
Registrars are concerned with documentation and record keeping of museum collections. Documentation includes information about an object's condition, provenance, materials, and all of its movements within the museum or out on loan.
- Create collection conservation plan
Create a comprehensive, high-level overview conservation plan for the collection.
- Cope with challenging demands
Maintain a positive attitude towards new and challenging demands such as interaction with artists and handling of artistic artefacts. Work under pressure such as dealing with last moment changes in time schedules and financial restraints.
- Advise on loans of art work for exhibitions
Working together with curators and museum collection managers, a registrar evaluates the condition of art objects for exhibition or loan purposes. The registrar also decides whether or not an artwork is able to withstand the stresses of travel or exposition.
- Monitor activities
Monitor all the activities of an artistic organisation.
- Manage budgets
Conduct cost estimates and budget planning. Monitor the budget, as well as costs and expenses. Forecast the budget development continuously. Report on the budget.
- Implement risk management for works of art
A registrar determines risk factors to an art collection and mitigates them. Risk factors for artworks include vandalism, theft, pests, emergencies, and natural disasters. It is the responsibility of a registrar to develop and implement strategies to minimise these risks.
- Execute administration
Carry out administrative work and establish public relations.
- Supervise work
Direct and supervise the day-to-day activities of subordinate personnel.
- Establish high standards of collections care
Establish and maintain high quality standards in collection care, from acquisition to conservation and display.
- Respect cultural differences in the field of exhibition
Respect cultural differences when creating artistic concepts and exhibitions. Collaborate with international artists, curators, museums and sponsors.
Optional knowledge and skills
assess object condition make improvements to work activities study a collection coordinate operational activities budgetary principles evaluate art quality manage archive compile detailed collection inventory provide project information on exhibitions art history coach employees manage digital archives collection management software handle art present exhibitionCommon job titles
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