Registrar for Exhibitions

The Registrar for Exhibitions oversees the planning, coordination, and logistical implementation of exhibition loans to the CMA, together with the Senior Exhibitions Registrar.  This role is responsible for the planning and management of art transportation logistics, loan contracts, insurance coverage, art installation schedule and in-gallery implementation. This role is responsible for the art transportation and insurance portions of the exhibition budget and works collaboratively with exhibitions, curatorial, design, facilities, and security department staff persons and maintains productive, collegial relationships.  

 

Requirements and Qualifications   

• Bachelor’s degree, and preferably a Master’s degree, from an accredited college or university in art, art history, museum studies, arts administration, or a closely related field is required. 
• 7-10 years of verifiable art museum registration experience required. 
• A valid driver’s license.  
• Experience managing people and complex projects.  
• Proven proficiency working with collections management systems and Microsoft Office Suite (MS Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel).   
• Excellent communication, judgement and negotiation skills desired. 
• Skilled in the sensitive handling of works of art, including the packing, crating, and transportation of objects. 
• Proficient in best practices in museum registration.
• Familiarity with basic conservation concepts, procedures, and terms. 
• Familiarity with laws pertaining to ownership, custody, transfer, and disposition of art objects; tax laws relating to charitable donations; cultural property laws; customs restrictions; repatriation issues; judicial seizures; copyright laws; insurance laws; and fine arts insurance practices. 
• Creative and flexible mindset for problem-solving.   
• Aptitude for system and workflow creation and implementation.  
• Ability and willingness to be self-directed and work as part of a team.  
• Positive attitude and adaptability with shifting priorities.  
• Proven ability to work effectively and timely on a wide variety of deadline-driven projects concurrently, with concern for the tasks assigned and the goals of the Department. 
• Capacity and organizational ability to excel in a fast-paced, diverse, multi-tasked environment. 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with colleagues, volunteers, and interns and the ability to effectively represent the Museum to outside professionals, lenders, and members of the artistic community. 

 

Responsibilities

• Manages loan contracts for works lent to CMA. Communicates, disseminates, and implements lender requirements internally and with other borrowers. Establishes and maintains collegial relationships with lenders.
• Manages incoming and outgoing loan shipments including internal notifications, scheduling, documentation, preparation of all incoming and outgoing documentation for each loan. Coordinates courier arrangements.
• Manages art installations and deinstallations for exhibitions. Manages the schedule for art installations. Manages the art handlers during exhibition installation and deinstallations. In coordination with curatorial, design, security, and exhibitions departments, creates an efficient and safe working environment.
• Ensures all loans receive the same level of care as CMA collections objects. Coordinates the condition exam of loans in coordination with Conservation staff. Documents the crating, packing, mounts, installation, location and other relevant details for exhibition loans and permanent collection works in exhibitions Oversees loan art movement and maintains accurate records. Supports internal department handoffs prompted by exhibition activities impacting permanent collection galleries.
• Maintains productive relationships with art handling, crating, shipping, and customs providers and knowledge of best practices in each area.
• Maintains knowledge of fine arts insurance and U.S. Indemnity regulations and policies; knowledge of export license, customs regulations, and security; experience with museum-based collections management systems.
• Couriers works of art to and from outside institutions as needed.
• Secures and coordinates insurance for loans and issues certificates of insurance to lenders.
• Secures US Government Indemnity for necessary loans and ensures all regulations are followed. Prepares and submits application to the National Endowment for the Arts, Arts & Artifacts Indemnity Program.
• Secures Immunity from Judicial Seizure as needed for loans entering the United States. Prepares and submits application to the US State Department. Ensures that all regulations are followed.
• Responsible for the art transportation portion of exhibition budgets. Provides cost estimates   for the projection of shipping, crating, courier, insurance, and other loan related costs. Tracks all costs and maintains accurate fiscal records.
• Performs special projects as assigned by Director of Collections Management.

 

 Salary Range: $65,000 - $70,000

Application Material: Please submit a resume, cover letter, and 3 professional references

Full-time Benefits include:   

• Partner level membership to CMA 
• Free, unlimited admission to select Cleveland Museum of Art ticketed exhibitions (two adult member tickets per visit, subject to availability)
• 50% off admission to select ticketed exhibitions for members' guests
• Free admission to select ticketed exhibitions for unlimited children, 17 and younger, when accompanied by a member
• Priority registration and discounts for museum art classes for adults and children
• 20% discount in the museum store
• 25% discount in the museum restaurant and café
• Annual subscription to Cleveland Art members magazine
• Free Garage Parking
• Your employment relationship with the museum qualifies you for free or discounted admissions to other cultural institutions such as the Natural History Museum, Botanical Gardens, The Cleveland Zoo, etc.
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• Voluntary Life
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• HSA
• FSA
• 401(k) with company match
• Accident Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• ID Theft
• Legal Services
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off