Position Description
Photographs, Film and Sound is a dynamic and energetic section consisting of curatorial and technical experts supported by dedicated administrative staff motivated in excellence and the delivery of service. Under general direction, the Assistant Curator, Photographs, Film & Sound (PFS), will assist with the interpretation, management and development of the National Collection.
The work involves setting priorities and working with other curatorial staff to: assess content, interpret and apply the National Collection Development Plan; undertake research and analysis in order to describe and catalogue collection items; handle and store collection material; liaise and negotiate with donors and coordinate with stakeholders; represent the section; respond to public enquiries and assist with project development where necessary. You will be required to provide expertise and recommendations for development and management of the Memorial’s PFS collections, including the research and interpretation of this collection.
You will also be required to work across multiple Memorial systems such as collection management systems (MICA, Piction and MediaBin) and document management systems (SharePoint and Trim) on a daily basis.
This position entails working with potentially distressing and culturally sensitive material.
Core Responsibilities
Under general direction undertake a range of tasks related to the National Collection including:
- Contribute to the development of the AWM’s PFS collection by identifying and assessing potential collection material, and preparing acquisition proposals for review.
- Accession, research and catalogue items with an emphasis on the origins and significance of collection material.
- Contribute to the Memorial’s research, exhibition and publications programs.
- Undertake independent and team-based research and collection based projects.
- Register collection material and activities by documenting them on the Memorial’s collection management systems (MICA and MediaBin).
- Respond to client enquiries related to the PFS collection and provide information relevant to its historical and cultural significance; assist clients to access information on matters related to the Memorial’s collection; use Memorial document systems (SharePoint and Trim) to maintain appropriate documentation of donations, enquiries and other collection related matters.
- Liaise with internal and external stakeholders and represent the Memorial as required.
- Participate in the planning and production of exhibitions and the preparation of exhibition items, and undertake related administrative and project tasks as required.
- Participate in team planning and training processes and contribute to the improvement of processes and procedures.
- Manual handling and movement of a wide range of objects including but not limited to boxes, framed prints, photographic negatives and collection items as required.
- Abide by and further the principles and practices of Work Health and Safety as outlined in the WHS Act, taking reasonable care for their own health and safety and ensuring that their acts or omissions do not adversely affect the health of safety of other persons.
