John Olbrantz Curator of Collections and Exhibitions

The Hallie Ford Museum of Art (HFMA) at Willamette University supports student learning at the university as well as faculty and student research, while also serving as a vital cultural resource for campus, the greater Salem community, and the entire Northwest region. Founded in 1998, HFMA has a primary programming focus on art from the Pacific Northwest, with significant holdings of modern and contemporary Northwest art, customary and historic Native American basketry and regalia, and twentieth century craft.

In addition, the museum’s survey collection includes objects from the ancient Mediterranean, Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. The museum presents an ambitious program of exhibitions with three changing exhibition galleries and three galleries dedicated to the permanent collection – in a total of 10,000 square feet of gallery space across two floors. This endowed Curator of Collections and Exhibitions position works closely with the Maribeth Collins Director toward the care of collections and development of exhibitions at the museum.

The position will care for and manage the permanent collection (approximately 13,000 objects), develop temporary exhibitions, and work with other museum staff on the curatorial efforts related to the permanent collection galleries. The position manages all incoming and outgoing shipping. Additionally, this position represents the museum on and off campus, developing relationships with the various communities that we serve to help guide decisions around collections and exhibitions  Curator of Collections and Exhibitions will contribute to and support HFMA’s strategic plan, institutional initiatives, and commitment to equitable internal and public practices.

This position reports to the Maribeth Collins Director of the Hallie Ford Museum of Art. The successful candidate will work independently under applicable University policies, procedures, regulations, and guidelines. Additionally, this position supervises and works closely with a part-time registrar, as well as work-study students and interns from Willamette University.

• Manages and provides proper care, storage, preservation of the permanent collection; with the Registrar will respond to incoming offers of donations from collectors, artists, and galleries; chairs Collection Committee meetings where donation offers are discussed and reviewed; oversees the cataloging, accessioning, photographing, and storage of objects in the collection.
• Oversees the creation and maintenance of the Hallie Ford Museum of Art’s collection records and collection policies, including the collection database, digital images, and hard files related to the objects in the permanent collection; ensures the implementation of the collection policy; conducts research on objects in the permanent collection as needed.
• Oversees the packing, unpacking, and condition reports for incoming and outgoing loans to/from the Hallie Ford Museum of Art.
• Responsible for the planning and coordination of shipping arrangements for incoming and outgoing loans and acquisitions to/from the Hallie Ford Museum of Art.
• Identifies and prioritizes collection management projects in consultation with the Director; identifies potential funding sources for collection management projects; may write collection-related grants; serve as project and budget manager for grant-funded collection management projects.
• Provide direction and context for conservation of objects in the permanent collection; oversees the work of contract conservators.
• Coordinates with the Office of University Services about fine arts insurance. Reviews and makes recommendations to the Director about outgoing loan requests and the ongoing…