Director of Collections & Registration

National Museum of Wildlife Art; Sheboygan (WI); On-site; USD 68,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan seeks a Director of Collections and Registration to lead care, documentation, and stewardship of a large contemporary collection. The role involves policy development, registration oversight, and working with artists, curators, and staff to advance access and ambitious program goals.

The incumbent will manage a team, maintain professional standards, and support responsible growth while balancing long-term needs with dynamic exhibitions and public

Qualifications

• A master’s degree in museum studies, arts administration, or related field or equivalent experience.
• At least six years in museum registration or collections management, with supervision experience.
• Experience with fine arts insurance, loans, and registration processes.
• Knowledge of art handling, transport, installation, storage, and conservation basics.
• Proficiency with collections databases and standard office software.
• Strong organizational skills and collaborative approach.

Responsibilities

• Lead the collections and registration department, including staff development and budgeting.
• Maintain hands-on presence in storage, Art Preserve, and galleries for decisions on care and display.
• Oversee registration for exhibitions, including condition reports and loans.
• Develop and implement collections policies, access, and risk management.
• Ensure data integrity in the collections database and compliance with standards.
• Collaborate with curators, artists, and departments on acquisitions and installations.
• Plan for access, research visits, and public engagement with the collection.
• Mentor staff and foster cross-department collaboration.

Skills

Six years experience

Museum loans

Registration processes

Art handling

Transportation

Installation

Storage

Condition reporting

Conservation basics

Databases

Office software

Collaboration

Education

Master’s degree in museum studies or arts administration

Tools

Collections management databases

Job description

John Michael Kohler Arts Center

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Director of Collections and Registration

Opportunity to lead the collections and registration department of an arts center recognized internationally

for its groundbreaking collection and exhibitions

The John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) seeks a Director of Collections and Registration to lead the care, documentation, and stewardship of a collection of nearly 38,000 objects. Known for its commitment to artist-built environments, self-taught and contemporary art, and ambitious artist-driven exhibitions, JMKAC offers a distinctive opportunity for a collections leader who pairs rigorous museum practice with creativity and sound judgment.

In 2026, ARTnews ranked JMKAC No. 6 on its list of the 30 best art museums in the United States, highlighting the Art Preserve, the Arts/Industry residency, and exhibitions that cannot be experienced elsewhere. Across its 133,000-square-foot campus—the 77,000-square-foot Arts Center and the 56,000-square-foot Art Preserve—JMKAC brings together collection care, research, exhibitions, and public access in ways that invite fresh thinking about how art is preserved and shared.

This position has become unexpectedly vacant following the passing of JMKAC's recently appointed Director of Collections and Registration. The Arts Center seeks a new leader to continue the work underway and advance its long-term priorities for the stewardship and accessibility of the collection.

The Position

Reporting to the Chief Curator, the Director of Collections and Registration leads a team of three within a visual arts department of approximately twenty. The Director is responsible for the care, management, and documentation of the permanent collection and for registrarial oversight of a dynamic exhibition program. The role calls for a leader who is attentive to detail and grounded in professional standards, while able to devise thoughtful solutions for unconventional materials, complex installations, and artist-built environments.

The collection encompasses artist-built and artist home-based environments, folk art, works by self-taught and contemporary artists, and art created through the Arts/Industry residency. The Director will help shape collections policy, support responsible growth, and expand access for researchers and the public. Working closely with curators, artists, exhibition colleagues, and other departments, the Director will balance the long-term needs of the collection with ambitious program goals and help implement JMKAC's Collecting Plan and Ten-Year Strategic Priorities.

JMKAC values a collaborative, resourceful approach often expressed as "yes, and how." Candidates need not arrive as specialists in nontraditional or vernacular art. They should bring substantial collections and registration expertise, intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to work directly with objects and colleagues across the institution.

Collections and Exhibitions at JMKAC

JMKAC's collection of nearly 38,000 objects is especially notable for more than three dozen artist-built environments, artist home-based environments, Arts/Industry works, and works by self-taught and contemporary artists. It spans painting, sculpture, photography, new genres, and large-scale installations. An acquisition partnership with the Kohler Foundation has brought more than 6,000 objects into the collection over the past three years.

Opened in 2020, the 56,000-square-foot Art Preserve was designed by Tres Birds of Denver specifically for artist-built environments. It combines visible storage and curated displays with education, library, and researcher access spaces. The facility embodies JMKAC's commitment to both caring for these singular works and making them accessible.

The visual arts team of approximately twenty develops 10 to 16 original exhibitions each year, organized around a major theme that engages current issues in contemporary art. Exhibitions are artist-driven and designed to engage broad audiences.

About the John Michael Kohler Arts Center

Founded in 1967, JMKAC supports contemporary artists through original exhibitions, commissions, residencies, publications, and community programs across the visual and performing arts. Its work gives particular attention to artists and art forms that have been overlooked or underrecognized. The Arts Center and Art Preserve are free and open to the public. Together, the two facilities include eight galleries, visible collections storage, and two performance spaces for dance, theater, film, and music.

JMKAC's longstanding partnership with Kohler Co. includes the Arts/Industry residency, founded in 1974, which provides artists with resources and studio space at the Kohler factory. The partnership brings artists and industry workers together around design, craftsmanship, experimentation, and new forms of making. Click Here for information about the Arts/Industry Program.

JMKAC is rooted in Sheboygan while connecting artists and audiences across the world. Its programs include an on-site arts-based preschool, free classes and events, and Connecting Communities, which pairs artists with local groups to create collaborative works. The institution emphasizes public access, sustained relationships with artists, and the exchange of ideas across artistic practices and communities.

Compensation and Location

The anticipated salary is $80,000, commensurate with experience. Benefits include healthcare, paid sick and vacation time, a retirement plan, and relocation assistance. The role requires a consistent on-site presence in Sheboygan. Applicants must be able to relocate to the region, be eligible to work in the United States, and successfully complete a background check.

Diversity and Inclusion

JMKAC values diversity in all its forms and encourages applications from candidates with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. It does not discriminate against candidates or employees on the basis of race, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or veteran status.

About Sheboygan and the Region

Sheboygan is a community of approximately 50,000 on the western shore of Lake Michigan, about 50 miles north of Milwaukee and 65 miles south of Green Bay. Its lakefront, beaches, parks, and recreation opportunities include sailing and freshwater fishing. The city offers arts and cultural venues, shops and restaurants, and access to the Milwaukee and Chicago metropolitan areas via Interstate 43.

JMKAC organizes the Levitt AMP Sheboygan Music Series, eleven summer concerts at City Green, an outdoor gathering place that connects the Mead Public Library and the Arts Center. Other regional attractions include the Weill Center for the Performing Arts and the Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run golf courses in nearby Kohler. More information on Sheboygan HERE.

Key Responsibilities

The Director of Collections and Registration will:

• Lead the collections and registration department, including staff development, administration, budgeting, and priorities for collection care, conservation, storage, and documentation.
• Maintain a hands-on presence in collections storage, the Art Preserve, and galleries, contributing directly to decisions about condition, handling, housing, and display.
• Oversee registration for rotating, temporary, and traveling exhibitions, including condition reports, packing, shipping, loans, insurance, and coordination with artists and lenders.
• Develop and implement collections policies and sound practices for acquisition, documentation, care, access, risk management, and the movement of works.
• Maintain the collections database in partnership with Digital Collections & Information Systems, supporting consistent standards and data integrity.
• Ensure that collections, loans, and exhibitions are managed in accordance with applicable legal and ethical standards.
• Review collections and registration materials before they are shared publicly or with donors as part of the department’s review process.
• Manage budgets for shipping, crating, conservation, and storage.
• Share leadership of exhibition logistics with the Director of Exhibitions and Curatorial Project Manager, coordinating schedules, resources, and priorities.
• Collaborate with curators, artists, and colleagues on acquisitions, commissions, installations, and exhibition planning; anticipate challenges and develop workable solutions that protect the art and support program goals.
• Serve as a key liaison with artists on commissions and installations, attending to the integrity of their work and the safe use and handling of materials.
• Plan for collections-based access, including research visits, study collections, and public engagement.
• Supervise and mentor staff through regular meetings, annual goals, and individual development plans, while encouraging collaboration across departments.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Skills

• A master’s degree in museum studies, arts administration, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• At least six years of experience in museum registration and or collections management, including at least three years supervising professional staff.
• Experience with fine arts insurance, museum loans, and registration processes.
• Knowledge of professional practices in art handling, transportation, installation, storage, condition reporting, preservation, and basic conservation.
• Proficiency with collections management databases and standard office, email, word processing, and spreadsheet software.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to set priorities, manage several projects, and meet deadlines in a busy environment.
• Careful attention to detail, flexibility in problem solving, and the judgment to adapt professional practice to unusual works and circumstances.
• A collaborative, constructive approach to working with artists, colleagues, and teams across the institution.