Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
education
CuratorialAssistant,CostumeandTextiles
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optimal for Mid+ candidates.
“Curatorial Assistant, Costume and Textiles at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Skills: Collections care, Object-based classes, Teaching, Research, Writing, Verbal presentation. Care of an important departmental collection. Leading object-based classes”
What You'll Achieve.
Make visitors feel more welcome coming to and engaging with the museum; Actively contributes to the museum’s efforts to redress its colonial foundations
Industry & Context.
What They're Looking For.
Must Have
Bachelor’s degree in relevant field including but not limited to Art History, Anthropology, American Studies, or Material Culture Studies., Demonstrated interest in the study of textiles and clothing., Excellent research and writing skills., Excellent verbal presentation skills., Collaborative, teamwork approach and flexibility., interpersonal skills., organizational skills., Must recognize diversity and inclusion as central to excellence.
Nice to Have
Master’s degree in relevant field preferred.
What You'll Do.
Care of an important departmental collection
Leading object-based classes
Forging links with faculty across a broad range of disciplines
Support the Curator’s initiatives
Develop connections related to teaching and learning from the collection
Perform collections care activities in concert with the Conservation Assistant
with a focus on storage
and student assistant mentorship
Communicate and collaborate with other departments across the museum
Work in close collaboration with members of the Costume and Textiles department
as well as with curators across museum disciplines
and installation staff
Attend to the care of the C&T collection
Supply cataloging information to the registrar’s department pertaining to objects in the complete media conduct inventories of objects in the conduct and record and/or publish research on objects in the collection
Assist in making responsive modifications as necessary for proper housing
and presentation of the collection
Assist with the proper storage of all objects to ensure safety and accessibility in accordance with established process and procedure
Assist Curator in maintaining inclusive relations with the academic community by promoting the relevance of the collection within the scholarly activity of relevant disciplines and making visitors feel more welcome coming to and engaging with the museum
Maintain and build systems for scheduling
and teaching object-based class visits of RISD and other university courses
Develop into the role of leading classes at most twice per week throughout the academic year
as well as facilitating open hours in the Angelo Donghia Costume and Textiles Study Center
Collaborate with Conservation/Collections Care Assistant on pulling collection objects from storage for class and open hours visits
as well as putting objects back into storage after the visits
Interpret the collection through an inclusive lens that actively contributes to the museum’s efforts to redress its colonial foundations
including curating permanent collection gallery rotations and small exhibitions
and participating in educational programs
Prepare and manage objects for museum photography sessions
Schedule photography and mount/dress objects for the track new photography
Provide day-to-day oversight
and instruction to interns and work study students as needed and oversee them in collections care tasks and in handling of the collection
Develop the collection of costume and textiles and collaborate with curators on acquisitions that fill gaps in the collection and foster diverse and inclusive installations
Performs other related duties as assigned
Participate in the larger field and the museum profession through such activities as lectures
written contributions
and attendance at symposia
professional workshops and meetings and local/regional arts events.
How You'll Work.
Team & Collaboration
Communicate and collaborate with other departments across the museum; Work in close collaboration with members of the Costume and Textiles department, as well as with curators across museum disciplines, registrars, and installation staff; Collaborate with Conservation/Collections Care Assistant on pulling collection objects from storage for class and open hours visits, as well as putting objects back into storage after the visits; Collaborate with curators on acquisitions that fill gaps in the collection and foster diverse and inclusive installations.; Collaborative, teamwork approach
Communication Scope
Excellent verbal presentation skills.
Full Job Description
**_Job Summary_** Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) seeks a Curatorial Assistant, Costume and Textiles to join the RISD Museum. The Curatorial Assistant, Costume and Textiles is an integral member of the department, with duties concentrated on the care of an important departmental collection, as well as leading object-based classes and forging links with faculty across a broad range of disciplines. The Curatorial Assistant will support the Curator’s initiatives and develop connections related to teaching and learning from the collection. They will also perform collections care activities in concert with the Conservation Assistant, with a focus on storage, object movement, and student assistant mentorship. The Curatorial Assistant will be expected to communicate and collaborate with other departments across the museum and will work in close collaboration with members of the Costume and Textiles department, as well as with curators across museum disciplines, registrars, and installation staff. The successful candidate will recognize and value diversity as central to excellence. The successful candidate will thrive in a campus environment that is committed to advancing the principles of social equity and inclusion, environmental and climate justice, and equal access to resources and opportunities. ** _Essential Functions:_** * Work with the Costume and Textiles department curator(s) and conservator(s), as well as RISD Museum registrars, preparators, and other staff, to attend to the care of the C&T collection. * Documentation: supply cataloging information to the registrar’s department pertaining to objects in the collection; complete media descriptions; conduct inventories of objects in the collection; conduct and record and/or publish research on objects in the collection. * Preservation: Assist in making responsive modifications as necessary for proper housing, storage, and presentation of the collection. Assist with the proper storage of all objects to ensure sa
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