Multidisciplinary

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures furthers the understanding, celebration, and preservation of cinema through inclusive and accessible exhibitions, screenings, programs, initiatives, and collections. Welcoming visitors from Los Angeles and around the world, the Museum works in active partnership with motion picture artists and specialists, scholars, staff, and diverse communities to contextualize and challenge dominant narratives around cinema, inspiring discourse, connection, joy, and discovery.

Reporting to the Vice President of Curatorial Affairs, and working in collaboration with the Department of Registration, Collection Management and Preservation, the Collections Curator will be responsible for the stewardship and further development of the museum collection responding to the Academy Museum’s mission. In collaboration with the Collection Management team, the incumbent assesses digitization strategies and policies of accessibility. Additional duties include the conceptualization and realization of museum programs including exhibitions as well as advising and participating in interpretive initiatives that relate to the collection. You will also engage the public and disseminate knowledge on the Academy Collection through exhibitions, digital initiatives, publications, lectures, gallery talks, and other public programs.

You Will:

• Be responsible for the development of the Academy Museum’s collection and long-term collection strategies.
• Be responsible for conducting research relevant to the understanding, use, loan, display, and care of works of art and material culture in the collection.
• Assure proper identification or authentication, documentation, conservation, and interpretation of works in the collection.
• Collaborate with Collection Management in developing access policy to the collection.
• Initiate and maintain contacts with filmmakers, collectors, auction houses, scholars, curators, critics, authors, and other colleagues in the field.
• Support curators in finding lenders, oversee, and manage loan offers database.
• Identify objects for potential acquisition in auctions and from private and institutional sources.
• Research provenance of objects or oversee consultant on provenance research.
• Recommend new acquisitions to the Museum director and the senior curatorial team and participate in Academy wide acquisition and Museum collection meetings.
• Administer and lead the decision-making process for purchases and donations to the Museum collection.
• Prepare materials related to potential acquisitions.
• Work with Registration and Collections Management to prepare lists of objects to be accessioned for presentation to the Collections & Exhibitions Committee and Museum Board of Trustees.
• Participate in the deaccessioning process.
• Manage acquisition budget.
• Propose and curate exhibitions on different scales inspired by the collection.
• Collaborate on the selection, presentation, and installation of exhibitions and projects.
• Select collections objects for photography and digitization and develops long-term digital and digitization projects in relation to the Museum’s collection.
• Seek collaborations with other major national and international collections.
• Work on public programs related to the collection to create lecture series, symposia, conferences, collaborations, and other innovative interpretive programs geared for a wide range of audiences.
• Collaborate with Development staff to cultivate individuals, corporations, and foundations that may donate funds and/or goods and services in support of the Museum’s programs.
• Collaborate with Retail staff to develop products drawing on the collection.
• Manage junior curatorial staff and freelance staff.
    

You Have:

• A master’s degree in film studies, museum studies, or related subject; Ph.D. preferred.
• 8+ years of experience at a museum or another comparable institution with a collection.
• Substantial knowledge of film history and preferably also contacts in the film industry.
• Demonstrated experience in managing staff.
• Demonstrated experience working with a museum or a private collection.
• Demonstrated experience in curating exhibitions.
• Knowledge and experience with digital projects and databases.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational, prioritization, and time management skills.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced, high-volume work environment while maintaining a high level of organization and attention to detail with excellent follow-through.
• Great ability for collaborative and collegiate working methods.
• Proficiency in MS Office including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Photoshop, and a collection management database.
• A commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion.
   

Other Requirements:

• Full vaccination against COVID-19 is required, including any booster vaccinations as applicable.
   

Our Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision.
• PTO and Sick Time
• 401(k)
   

The expected base salary range for this role is $85,000 to $95,000. The actual base pay offered will be determined by factors such as experience, skills, training, location, certifications, education, and other factors permitted by law. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

 

The Academy is committed to equal opportunity in employment and to creating and valuing diversity in its workforce. Maintaining a diverse workforce is important to the Academy. The Academy enforces a strict policy that prohibits discrimination in hiring, training, compensation, promotion, transfer, or termination, whether on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation or genetic information. This includes a workplace that is free of all forms of harassment. Also, to help foster diversity, the Academy uses programs that ensure fairness of opportunity, pay, and growth to all applicants and employees. Every employee of the Academy is required to follow this policy and to preserve the Academy’s commitment to diversity.