Manager, Exhibitions and Collections

Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity; Banff; Hybrid; CAD 59,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading arts organization seeks a Manager for Exhibitions and Collections to oversee all aspects of collections management. This role involves organizing exhibitions, liaising with institutions, and ensuring compliance with protocols. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in museum management and excellent communication skills.

Benefits

Paid vacation days

Extended medical and dental benefits

Employer-matched pension plan

Transitional staff housing options

Professional development

Employee Assistance Program

Health care spending account

Onsite fitness facility discounts

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years experience in gallery or museum collections management.
• Good working knowledge of collections database software.

Responsibilities

• Oversee collections management and administration for artworks.
• Coordinate touring exhibitions and public art commissions.
• Monitor budgets relating to Gallery programming.

Skills

Art handling

Excellent oral and written communication

Planning and organization

Attention to detail

Multi-tasking

Education

Post-secondary degree in museum management

Tools

Past Perfect

Job description

Manager, Exhibitions and Collections

Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity aims to inspire everyone who attends our campus – artists, leaders, and thinkers – to unleash their creative potential.

We acknowledge, with deep respect and gratitude, our home on the side of Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain. In the spirit of respect and truth, we honour and acknowledge the Banff area, known as “Minhrpa” (translated in Stoney Nakoda as “the waterfalls”) and the Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Îyârhe Nakoda (Stoney Nakoda) – comprised of the Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Goodstoney Nations – as well as the Tsuut’ina First Nation and the Blackfoot Confederacy comprised of the Siksika, Piikani, Kainai. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Shuswap Nations, Ktunaxa Nations, and Metis Nation of Alberta, Rockyview District 4. We acknowledge all Nations who live, work, and play, help us steward this land, and honour and celebrate this place.

The Opportunity

Walter Phillips Gallery (WPG) is exclusively committed to the production, presentation, collection and analysis of contemporary art and curatorial practice. WPG programs include the production of exhibitions, research, performances, screenings, publications, special events, related interpretation, collection programs, outdoor commissioning projects, activities of the Banff International Curatorial Institute, training for WPG related practicums, community engagement, and building external partnerships.

The Manager, Exhibitions and Collections oversees all aspects of collections management and administration for the artworks and exhibitions of WPG’s collection and for artworks on loan.

The Manager is responsible for the administrative duties associated with the production of exhibitions at WPG or in satellite spaces on campus; WPG exhibitions touring to other venues; and for public art commissions and projects at Banff Centre.

The incumbent of the position works closely with the Director managing the exhibitions and collections by developing and implementing plans, policies, and procedures for the inventory, inspection, and conservation of all works.

Roles and Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director, Walter Phillips Gallery and Collections, below are some key accountabilities:

• Organize exhibition-related transport including updating shipping lists, obtaining estimates of costs, customs documentation, and liaising with shippers.
• Liaise with external institutions requesting to loan artworks from the permanent collection: draft contracts and loan agreements; provide outgoing condition reports; coordinate shipping in conversation with lending institution and Director; oversee proper and complete documentation; as well as ensure that conditions of loan and protocols are properly adhered to by lending institution where applicable.
• In consultation with the Director, responsible for implementing all aspects of registration, insurance, customs, conservation, maintenance, packing, shipping, storage, inspection and condition reporting, and acquisitions of loaned artworks and Permanent Collection works in accordance with WPG protocol.
• Provide organizational and administrative support to the Director, artists and guest curators and coordinate WPG programs, including the preparation of agreements for artists, contract staff, publications, touring and in-house exhibitions.
• Monitor budgets relating to Gallery programming and provide regular updates as to the status of those budgets to the Director as required.
• Oversee processing necessary payments and invoices for WPG with support from Gallery Assistant
• Coordinate touring exhibitions (prepare contracts, books and coordinates shipping; prepare information binder as well as packing and shipping instructions for venues, organizes storage) and publications.
• Assist in drafting Letters of Invitation and Letters of Agreement for WPG participating artists in consultation with Director and other teams as required.
• Oversee the administration of all general inquiries and public requests into works in the Permanent Collection; image requests; collections research requests; and all other general inquiries are completed in an accurate manner and with proper contracting and permissions.
• Assist the Director in providing administrative support relating to commissions of artwork for Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, including public art.
• Take and distribute minutes for the Acquisitions Committee and organize meetings.
• Provide support in data collection for grant preparation, final reporting and other fundraising efforts.
• Liaise with Marketing on WPG/BICI needs and provide administrative support WPG for Marketing content and social media channels
• Initiate and steward the collections management process for each piece of art work in the Permanent Collection, including, but not limited to, acquisition forms, registration and object identification, condition reports, location assignment, tracking and database entry in Past Perfect
• Ensure appraisal records and location information for all artworks on campus, including works on temporary loan for exhibition; in offsite storage, and on long term loan is accurate at all times in order to meet insurance requirements, with data entry support from Gallery Assistant
• Update, develop and implement relevant collections policies including security systems, procedures and emergency plans, in consultation with Director.
• Contribute to the care of the collection by ensuring proper storage, pest management and conservation techniques in consultation with Lead Preparator and Director, including responsibility for weekly pest monitoring and identification.
• Schedule and undertake cross-campus collections inventory as part of ongoing duties.
• Ensure insurance compliance for works of art and compile insurance claims for Director and Financial departments in the event of loss or damage.
• Work with external contractors for routine appraisals of value of permanent collection, as well as organizing appraisals of incoming donations which require this documentation for tax receipt.

Qualifications and Educational Requirements

• Post-secondary degree in discipline appropriate to galleries, e.g., museum management, curatorial, collections management, archival studies and conservation or a combination of related training and experience
• Minimum 5 year’s experience in gallery or museum collections management care, documentation and preventative conservation practices and standards
• Good working knowledge of collections database software, preferably Past Perfect
• Excellent computer skills and capacity to master new software tools as needed
• Understanding of and respect for operational protocols of a public art gallery
• Art handling skills
• Must be capable of lifting/moving heavy objects (up to 50 lbs)
• Knowledge of legislated health & safety practices
• Knowledge of related reporting practices
• Knowledge of related digital practices
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent planning and organization, with a keen attention to detail
• Ability to multi-task and to prioritize workflow.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement in working both independently with minimal supervision and collaboratively with staff, community, and practicums. Respects diversity and promotes equity and inclusion in the workplace.
• Experience developing priorities and timelines for major tasks associate with the position.
• Ability to make daily decisions concerning the maintenance of collection records.
• Self directed and exercises initiative in the management, assessment and care of exhibitions and collections
• Familiar with Canadian Museum Standards for collections documentation and management, intellectual property rights including digital licensing and rights management, and museum preservation standards for various objects including digital content.
• Current technical knowledge pertaining to public collecting, exhibition rights, Copyright, intellectual property, and other related contractual arrangements

Employment Terms and Benefits

• In accordance with the terms of employment governing Management/PSP employees, this is a salaried, fulltime position, subject to a 6-month probationary period.
• The salary range for this position is $59,495 to $88,346, based on experience.
• The successful candidate will enjoy twenty paid vacation days and four personal days annually, extended medical and dental benefits, and participation in an employer-matched pension plan.
• Benefits of working at Banff Centre are:
  • Transitional staff housing options (based on availability)
  • Professional development
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Hybrid work environment (3 days in the office, 2 days remote)
  • Health care spending account
  • Staff cafeteria and restaurant discounts
  • Onsite fitness facility at a discounted rate – first month free for new staff!

Application Process

• We are accepting applications for the Manager, Exhibitions and Collections position until 11:59pm MDT on Tuesday, May 27.
• Candidates offered a position with Banff Centre, in this capacity, will be required to obtain a criminal record check verifying a clear record before a final job offer can be finalized.
• Visa Requirements: Candidates must be legally eligible to work in Canada. Banff Centre is unable to assist candidates in obtaining Canadian work authorization.