Museum Gallery Assistant

July 8, 2023
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Job Description

Museum Gallery Assistant

The University of Southern Mississippi is currently accepting applications for the position of Museum Gallery Assistant.

Position Details

Location

Hattiesburg

118 College Drive
Hattiesburg, Mississippi, 39406-0001
United States

Division
School of Performing and Visual Arts

Position Type
Staff

Employment Status
Part Time

Grant Funded
No

Posting Close Date
August 1, 2024

Job Summary
The Museum
Gallery Assistant serves the needs of the Museum Director and School of
Performing and Visual Arts, primarily as gallery preparator, with responsibilities
centering on show installation, labels, lighting, crating and uncrating of
artworks, maintenance and preparation of hanging surfaces, exhibition bases and
other materials, as well as oversight of student workers, and general gallery management
during summer months. Position requires some evening and
weekend hours on occasion. This is a part-time position expected to work approximately ten hours per week.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

  1. Adhere
    to university and school policies, procedures, and regulations, represents the
    museum in contact with the public.
  2. Work with the Museum Director in
    exhibit planning, preparation, installation, events, lectures, and receptions; at
    times to include off campus venues.
  3. Help
    coordinate with artists, galleries, and shippers for receipt, delivery and
    return of materials.
  4. Supervise
    student workers and volunteers. Work with student workers in maintaining gallery
    exhibition surfaces and spaces, lighting, display cases, and bases. This includes, but is not limited to
    painting, sanding, spackling, ladder work. Works
    with student workers to prepare the gallery space and exhibition materials for
    hanging and display. Assist with crating and uncrating of exhibition
    materials, including, but not limited to, artworks, signage, and labels.
  5. Assist the Museum Director with
    the day-to-day functions of the museum, including processing documentation, such
    as exhibition text panels and labels, acquisition records, loan forms, condition
    reports, artist proposals, museum lecture and event schedules. Maintain the
    museum mailing list. Order food for, and assists with set up and hosting of
    gallery receptions. Help oversee the conservation, organization, and storage
    of the Permanent Art Collection, including loan and display and record of
    Permanent Collection works on loan and on display in university campus
    buildings and office spaces.
  6. Assumes
    management of Museum and student workers during the summer months or when
    Director is out, and reports to Art and Design Program Coordinator and School
    Director.
  7. Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

One-two years related experience; or equivalent
combination of education and experience.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

  • Ability to
    read, write, and interpret documents such as loan forms, art installation
    instructions, operating and procedure manuals.
  • Ability to write and correspond
    by mail and email.
  • Ability to speak effectively with individuals and before
    groups of customers or employees of organization.
  • Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide
    in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
  • Ability to solve practical problems and deal
    with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited
    standardization exists. Ability to
    interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or
    schedule form. Ability to
    measure accurately, use a calculator, read basic instructions, use a
    level.
  • Physical requirements include performance of repetitive motions with hands, wrists, or fingers. The employee is required to crouch; reach with
    hands and arms, and use hands to grasp objects, tools, or controls. The
    employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this
    job include close vision. The employee
    may be working in high, precarious places such as on ladders or museum
    scaffolding, may work near moving mechanical parts and fumes or airborne
    particles, vibrations and may sometimes work outside.

Preferred Qualifications

BA or BFA Degree in Art is preferred, but not
required.

About The University of Southern Mississippi

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is a comprehensive public research institution delivering transformative programs on campuses in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, at teaching and research sites across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, as well as online. Founded in 1910, USM is one of only 131 universities in the nation to earn the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education’s “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity” designation, and its robust research enterprise includes experts in ocean science and engineering, polymer science and engineering, and large event venue safety and security, among others. USM is also one of only 37 institutions in the nation accredited in theatre, art and design, dance and music. As an economic driver, USM generates an annual economic impact of more than $600 million across the state. USM welcomes a diverse student body of more than 14,000, representing 71 countries, all 50 states, and every county in Mississippi. USM students have collected four Truman Scholarships and 37 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships, while also leading Mississippi with 27 Goldwater Scholarships, an honor that recognizes the next generation of great research scientists. Home to the Golden Eagles, USM competes in 17 Division I sports sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). For more information, visit www.usm.edu.

As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer/Americans with Disabilities Act institution, The University of Southern Mississippi encourages minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities to apply.

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