Curator

The Strong owns and cares for the world’s most comprehensive collection of toys, dolls, board games, video games, books, documents, and other historical materials related to play. The curator is responsible for the research, acquisition, care, display, and storage of tabletop games, puzzles, paper ephemera, art, and clothing . As a member of the curatorial team, this includes developing and implementing all related policies and procedures and creating, updating, and meeting a comprehensive set of collecting goals based on the museum’s mission and Long Range Plan.

This position requires an energetic, strategic, and dynamic individual with experience building a collection and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to nurture partnerships that support collecting and exhibition efforts.

Essential Duties:

• Perform work in accordance with best practices and standards, particularly AAM’s Code of Ethics for Museums.
• Together with other curators, implement the collection development and collection management strategies. Present and interpret the world’s most comprehensive collection of toys, dolls, board games, books, documents, and other historical materials related to play.
• Consider the needs of the museum and its objectives and propose objects for acquisition where appropriate. Locate, identify, and procure objects for acquisition through gift and purchase within budgetary allowances.
• Recommend objects for deaccession and produce documentation required for that process.
• Research collections and keep abreast of current developments in the museum field and specific subject areas.
• Sustain an innovative, engaging curatorial program that contributes to the educational experiences of guests and visiting scholars.
• Catalog incoming acquisitions in the collection management database and relocate objects for storage.
• Oversee assigned collections in storage, on exhibition, and on loan.
• Together with the conservator, examine objects to determine conservation needs, establish priorities, and arrange for necessary conservation work.
• In collaboration with team members, prepare, assemble, install, and arrange artifacts for exhibition, ensuring the artifacts’ safety, with consideration of the visual appeal and intellectual elements of the overall exhibit design. Identify and correct any problems with the set up.
• Collaborate with the exhibits team to display collections that support museum objectives. Adhere to timetables as dictated by exhibit schedules and other project deadlines. Participate on exhibit development teams as assigned.
• In cooperation with the conservation team, ensure the preservation of all loaned objects, including, documenting the condition of incoming and outgoing artifacts, reviewing all artifacts considered for outgoing loans, and establishing standards for packing, shipping, and display.
• Together with the conservation team and collections manager, organize existing collections storage and establish plans for future storage needs. Ensure that storage spaces are safe from physical and environmental hazards.
• Cultivate relationships with prospective donors and manage existing ones, consistent with the collection development strategy. Assist the institutional advancement team with planning membership events and fundraising activities.
• Serve as a vocal spokesperson and advocate for The Strong’s overall educational mission. Promote the institution through media appearances, public speaking appointments, consultations, professional memberships, and connection with national and international associations.
• Fulfill public and professional requests for information and assistance. Respond to media requests in conjunction with public relations staff.
• Develop, organize, and conduct tours or educational sessions for donors, guests, visiting scholars, and museum staff.
• Procure museum artifacts for visiting scholars and Strong Fellowship recipients. Work with these visitors as need and time allows.
• Write regularly for the museum’s blog.
• Together with the conservation and facilities teams, develop and execute preservation procedures, such as control of temperature, humidity and lighting, regular inspections of artifacts on display and in storage, and working toward improved conditions as necessary.
Contribute to the museum disaster plan and preparations.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in history, museum studies, humanities, or related field.
• Strong knowledge of playthings and the history of play.
• Demonstrated commitment to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in exhibitions, staff, and guest experiences.
• Experience in artifact cataloging and collection management.
• Ability to maintain subject matter expertise on playthings as the museum’s collections grow.
• Creative ability to recommend and implement new ideas for exhibits and displays for the curatorial function.
• Careful attention to detail in inspecting objects to assess their condition, evaluate their characteristics, and determine strategies to display or store them.
• Knowledge of fundraising principles and practices in museums or similar institutions. Social perceptiveness to assist in executing successful interactions with prospective donors.
• Strong interest in and experience with collections development.
• Excellent listening skills, a high degree of diplomacy and maturity, and the ability to balance empathy and objectivity.
• Ability to use a multidisciplinary approach to identify and interpret artifacts in a way that tells a story.
• Adept in active listening, collaboration, facilitation, and receiving feedback.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in making decisions.
• Self-motivated, well-organized, and flexible with a strong ability to multi-task and work with competing deadlines and varying priorities without compromising attention to detail or quality of work.
• A high degree of comfort and proficiency with computer technology and software, especially Microsoft Office and collection management programs.

These qualifications are considered a plus:

• Professional experience at a museum of similar size.
• Public speaking skills and comfort engaging with the media.
Membership and involvement in related professional organization(s).

The final candidate must consent to and pass a drug screen and background check as conditions of employment.