Job: Collections Officer at Ipswich Museum

 Ipsiwch Museum are looking for a 9-month maternity cover for their Collections Information Officer.

 

They are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced person to take on the role of Collections Information Officer in their Collections & Learning Team at Ipswich, to help update and manage data about their varied and extensive collections and bring them to life for a wide range of audiences.

Application closing date: 24/05/2021

Salary: £23,874 to £30,459

Contract type: 9-month fixed term post (maternity cover)

 

Read more and apply here.

Survey: Developing Ethnographic Collections in Museums

 This survey is part of a research project carried out under the supervision of the Archaeology Department and the Oriental Museum, Durham University. The survey will be asking questions regarding how you or your museum approach the development of ethnographic collections and the process of acquiring ethnographic material. The responses of the survey will be beneficial for museums planning to further develop their ethnographic collection in the future, as it will provide insights into how different museums approach the practical and ethical issues relating to the process. It will take approximately 10 minutes. 

The results of the survey are not for redistribution purposes and will not be published without consent, but please feel free to contact wzgq56@durham.ac.uk for a copy of the survey outcome. A link to the survey:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/J5P72Y5  Thank you very much for your time.

Buxton Museum and Art Gallery: Objects looking for new homes.

 Buxton Museum and Art Gallery are looking to rehome by free transfer, a number of items from the World Cultures collection that formed part of the former Derbyshire School Library Service. The project is funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, and seeks to find sustainable outcomes for the collection within accredited museums for the continued use of the collection in the public realm for exhibitions, engagement projects and research. The project is guided by the Museums Association Code of Ethics.

The Museum currently has 17 Japanese prints and paintings dating from the 19^th to 20^th century, and 308 miscellaneous ethnographic objects from around the world and ranging in date from the 19^th to 20^th century.

 

If you would like more information about the project and the items and would like to apply for them via an Expression of Interest form, please contact the project lead, Bret Gaunt at: Bret.Gaunt@derbyshire.gov.uk

 

Closing dates for the applications are:

 

Japanese prints and paintings: 5pm Friday 25 September.

 

Miscellaneous ethnography: 5pm Friday 16 October

Request for help: cultural group names

MEG have received the following request for help from Meghan Backhouse at the Pitt Rivers Museum.  Meghan writes:

As part of a wider project to change collections management systems, the Pitt Rivers Museum is working to update its Cultural Group Names information. The current list is woefully out of date, and based either on Donor or Collector’s information, or on Ethnologue language group attributions. As a result, it often contains dated, incorrect, derogatory, and/or racist terms. Not only are we hoping to create a primary list of appropriate terms, including as many autonyms as possible, but we are hoping to create a number of thesauri which can be attached to this list. This would enable searching by synonyms and alternate spellings. We would also like to be able to link smaller cultural groups to larger confederations.

As the Museum’s collections span the globe, the number of cultural groups currently stands in the thousands, and as the Museum would like to increase the list to include groups not currently, knowingly represented, I am hoping that this group might be able to help.

If you or your institution has any specialised cultural group listings for any parts of the world or countries, especially outside of North America, Australia or the Philippines, that you would be happy to share, or any advice on the best place to locate such information, that would be most welcome.

We are also hoping to make the information easy to find by the widest number of groups possible, so if you have insight or advice on how legislation (similar to NAGPRA) or local custom influences database searching, that would be much appreciated, as well.

If you are able to help or would like more information please contact Meghan directly.

meghan.obrienbackhouse@prm.ox.ac.uk

Collections Trust launches new data cleaning service

Collections Trust has launched a new service to help museums clean their messy collections data. Aimed at any museum planning to put its objects online or switch to a new collections management system, the new service draws on expertise gained from years of hard-won experience on large-scale projects.

“Messy data is a common problem even in the best-run museums,” says Kevin Gosling, Collections Trust Chief Executive. “If you want to migrate or share your collections records – or, frankly, just find information when you need it – you need consistency. Now Collections Trust can help wrangle your records into shape.”  

Collections Trust also offers bespoke advice and training to help museums maintain their data once it has been cleaned. Where data protection or copyright are an issue, Collections Trust can also work with rights experts Naomi Korn Associates to offer a comprehensive, one-stop service.

Further information about the data cleaning service can be found online on the Collections Trust website.

Collections 2030, Have Your Say.

The Museums Association (MA) has launched Collections 2030, a major new research project that seeks to understand the current state of museum collections in the UK, and – in collaboration with the sector – identify how to make the most of museum collections over the course of the next decade.

The MA has published a discussion paper and a series of research questions and is looking for responses from across the sector.

Following this consultation, a final paper with recommendations will be published.

Click here for more information and to take part in the research

Collections Trust conference 2018: Spectrum in action

Join Collections Trust for their conference on 13 September at Bristol's SS Great Britain. A great line-up of speakers will explore how Spectrum 5.0 has been put into action, along with the launch of the new Banish the backlog practical guide, and the announcement of the winner of the 2018 CT Award.

Photo: David Norton, courtesy of SS Great Britain Trust.

Outline programme
Here are the speakers and sessions confirmed so far. There will also be an optional Q&A panel session on choosing collections software, the launch of our Banish the backlog book, and the results of the 2018 Collections Trust Award. We will add further programme details over the coming weeks.

Keynote – Laura Pye: What next for collections?
 The recent Museums Association taskforce report argued that ‘museums need to decide what their priorities are and review the impact of collections development policy and practice over the last decade to make collections more sustainable.’ In the conference keynote, Laura Pye considers the gap between collections management theory and practice and sets out the challenges as she sees them. Laura Pye, Director of National Museums Liverpool, was until recently Head of Culture for Bristol City Council, and chaired the taskforce convened by the MA in 2016.

Research update – Sharon Heal: Collections 2030
The Museums Association is conducting groundbreaking new research into the future use and management of our collections. Sharon Heal, the MA’s Director, will outline the key themes emerging from this wide-ranging study including radical new approaches to dynamic collections management and use. Sharon Heal has been the Director of the Museums Association since 2014, having previously edited the Museums Journal.

Scott Furlong: the revised Museum Accreditation Scheme
Later this year Arts Council England will launch the revised Museum Accreditation Scheme. Scott Furlong, ACE’s Director of Collections and Cultural Property, will explain how the Scheme is being refreshed and how it will dovetail with Spectrum 5.0.

Case study – Kate Diston: Duplicating dodos – implementing reproduction standards at Oxford University Museum of Natural History

Kate Diston is Head of Print and Digital Collections at Oxford’s Museum of Natural History.
Case studies on how museums are using other new and revised Spectrum procedures

• Documentation planning: Jo Moore, Curator and Collections Coordinator, Wheal Martyn
• Inventory: Meg McKavanagh, Easton Pearson Archive Coordinator, Museum of Brisbane
• Collections review:  Kathleen Lawther, Collections Curator, Hastings Museum and Art Gallery

Kevin Gosling: What’s the use of Use of collections?
It seems few readers have made it to the revised Use of collections procedure nestling towards the end of Spectrum 5.0. Yet, as museums almost everywhere struggle to capture and manage knowledge about their collections from a wide range of sources, Kevin Gosling argues that the innovations in this revised procedure might prove the most useful in the long run. Kevin Gosling has been Chief Executive of Collections Trust since 2015, and co-edited Spectrum 5.0 together with Gordon McKenna.

Collections Trust Award 2018 open for entries

Image Credit: Jess Watters and Collections Trust

Collections Trust are inviting museums to tell them about the difference Spectrum 5.0 has made to collections management in their museum, by describing a recent collections management activity or project.
  The winning museum will receive £1,000 to spend on an agreed collections management activity, along with a free place at our 2018 conference to receive the award in person. To enter, simply use their online form, and submit your answers before noon on Monday 30 July 2018.

Job Vacancy: Project Manager

Project Manager
Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Parks Road, Oxford
Grade 7: £31,604 - £38,833 p.a.
An experienced Project Manager is required to take overall responsibility for coordinating the preparation and movement of reserve museum collections from their current location into two other locations, and for working with University Estates to complete the suitable storage facility. The Project Manager (PM) will work with staff of the four University Museums to plan and deliver the removal of a range of museum collections from the Old Power Station (OPS), within budget and within a defined timescale. The largest collections in the OPS are cared for by the Pitt Rivers Museum and the Museum of the History of Science but some material cared for by the Ashmolean and the OU Museum of Natural History were also held there. Each collection has distinct requirements and the PM will need to work with museum staff (who will prepare and pack artefacts) to be sensitive to the needs of the collections for movement and re-storage and, if necessary, to manage expectations as to what the project can deliver. This is a complex project requiring the PM to liaise closely with museum staff to facilitate and support the preparation of artefacts for the move, planning logistics required for the process, and also to represent museum requirements to University Estate Services. The PM will be first point of contact for the Museums for Estates Services which includes Security, Repairs and Maintenance, minor and capital works. He/she will be responsible for ensuring that the budgeted plan is delivered. The PM will also be responsible for health and safety and security for all the spaces involved in the project. This is a full- time post (part- time hours will be considered), fixed-term for 12 months. You will be required to upload a full CV and supporting statement as part of your online application. Only applications received before 12.00 midday on 9 November 2017 can be considered. Please note that the University of Oxford's retirement policy has changed. With effect from 1 October 2017. Apply here
Contact Person :	Dr Laura Van Broekhoven	Vacancy ID :	131625
Contact Phone :	01865 613013	Closing Date :	09-Nov-2017
Contact Email :	laura.vanbroekhoven@prm.ox.ac.uk

Job Vacancy: team leader Pitt Rivers Museum reserve collection move

Team Leader - Pitt Rivers Museum Reserve Collections Move
Pitt Rivers Museum, South Parks Road, Oxford
Grade 5: £24,983 - £29,799 p.a.
We are seeking an experienced Team Leader for a fixed period to lead a project team and coordinate the final stages of packing and relocating a significant reserve collection currently housed in a large split-level off-site warehouse facility. This role is fixed-term until 30 June 2018 The Team Leader will be required to manage the project team and oversee the documentation, packing, transport and storage of objects in a safe manner, to standard and within the project deadline. The post will be based in a warehouse environment and requires standing, regularly using stairs, and lifting objects and packed boxes. Full details of the post are available in the job description. The essential requirements include experience of working in a museum or equivalent heritage site; understanding, knowledge and experience of handling and packing complex and delicate organic artefacts and familiarity with the principles of museum security, museum storage of objects, museum conservation and handling of museum objects; experience of supervising, managing and motivating staff and a proven ability to work effectively and constructively as part of a team. The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on 16 November 2017 Apply here
Contact Person :	Marina de Alarcon	Vacancy ID :	131675
Contact Phone :	01865 613002	Closing Date :	16-Nov-2017
Contact Email :	marina.dealarcon@prm.ox.ac.uk

Ethnographic collection disposal

Canterbury Museums and Galleries have a large and varied ethnographic collection, much of which is currently on display in The Beaney. We have recently undertaken a review of this collection and consequently identified that 37 objects do not fit our Collections Development Policy. These items have therefore been earmarked for disposal, and are now in need of good homes. We ask that collectors arrange for the collection and transportation of objects.

For more information, please email coralie.clover@canterbury.gov.uk or craig.bowen@canterbury.gov.uk

Job Vacancy Part-time Collections Database Officer Pitt Rivers Museum

Grade 6: £27,629 - £32,958 p.a. (pro rata)

The Pitt Rivers Museum is looking for part-time Collections Database Officer. The postholder will be responsible for the maintenance of the Museum’s collections databases, that provide internal and external access to the Museum’s world-famous collections. She or he will need to have a good understanding of how best to help others use databases, the ability to create accounts and change layouts, and the ability to ensure that robust systems checks are completed and backup data is available. Working closely with PRM staff, colleagues in the Museums and Gardens IT group, and the system suppliers to ensure that all the Museum’s systems work together in an integrated manner This is an important role in a busy museum requiring excellent organisation, time management, attention to detail, and communication skills. This post is part-time for 22 hours per week. Full details of essential requirements are available in the job description. The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Friday 31 March 2017. Interviews are likely to take place in April 2017. For further details and to apply https://www.recruit.ox.ac.uk/pls/hrisliverecruit/erq_jobspec_version_4.display_form

SPECTRUM 5.0 Consultation- Take Part Now!

Help improve SPECTRUM: the UK Collection Management Standard.

What’s happening?

The Collections Trust are consulting widely to check that SPECTRUM still meets the needs of museums large and small. This will inform the next revision, SPECTRUM 5.0, to be published in 2017.
They want to know whether SPECTRUM reflects current practice in your kind of museum, so please take a moment to complete the short online survey. You can also sign up to get more deeply involved in the revision process.
SPECTRUM aims to be relevant and useful to museums of all types and sizes, and to everyone who works with collections in any way, so the whole museum community will benefit.

1.    Review your use and understanding of the SPECTRUM Standard

2.    Answer an online survey

3.    Take part in the discussion on social media and follow #SPECTRUM5