Part-Time Registrar (Temporary)

About the role

Reporting to the Senior Curator, the part-time (16–24 hours per week) Registrar will support all aspects of a dynamic exhibition program for 2027, as well as Storm King’s permanent collection of large-scale modern and contemporary sculpture situated in an expansive landscape. As custodian of the collection—which also includes site-specific earthworks, small-scale sculptures, drawings, and photographs—the Registrar will be responsible for the routine care, preservation, and documentation of the collection, adhering to industry best practices for collections management, conservation, and exhibition preparation. They will collaborate closely with the Curatorial, Facilities & Conservation, Archives, and Visitor Experience teams to ensure that Storm King’s mission is supported through a robust collection strategy designed for its primarily outdoor program. The Registrar will also facilitate the execution of all acquisitions and permanent commissions.

Responsibilities

• Curatorial Support
  • Prepare weekly summary email of movement and condition of artworks onsite.
  • Manage the Collens Building Calendar (onsite building devoted to conservation, fabrication, and maintenance).
  • Maintain Storm King’s collection database (Collective Access) in collaboration with the Archives team—updating object records and overseeing long-term database projects to ensure integrity and accessibility of object files.
  • Manage physical object files in coordination with the Archivist and Curatorial team, including printing emails, filing, and transferring materials to the Archive.
  • Provide general administrative support as required.
• Exhibitions and Long-Term Loans
  • Oversee packing and shipment of all inbound temporary exhibition artworks in coordination with Curatorial and Facilities & Conservation.
  • Assist the Director of Facilities & Conservation with the realization of site-specific artworks, handling shipments of materials to site as needed.
  • Participate in logistical planning of exhibitions: compiling shipping, packing, and storage estimates; facilitating shipping and packing; maintaining budgets; drafting schedules; and assisting with all aspects of exhibition preparation and installation.
  • Request Certificates of Insurance and maintain fine arts insurance for the collection as well as for incoming, outgoing, and long-term loans; liaise with the Director of People, Culture, and Museum Experience on related needs.
  • Organize, manage, and archive exhibition paperwork and registration records, including loan agreements, long-term loan agreements, artist contracts, and external service agreements.
  • In collaboration with Curatorial and Facilities & Conservation, instruct staff on art safety—drafting and distributing reference guides for each exhibition to share with the Visitor Experience team, and instructing Visitor Experience on processes and procedures for generating Condition and Sculpture reports.
  • Coordinate between Visitor Experience and Curatorial/Conservation to review, assess, delegate, and prioritize sculpture cleaning or treatment in response to Condition and Sculpture reports.
• Collection Management
  • Perform monthly condition checks on all artworks installed throughout the grounds, notifying key staff of changes and documenting condition.
  • Document relevant landscape changes or hindrances to the viewing or experience of any work of art; work with the Facilities and Conservation Team to remedy issues.
  • Document, both visually and in writing, all conservation procedures conducted, and file documentation appropriately.
  • Oversee incoming and outgoing shipments for all collection artworks, reviewing Bills of Lading and creating receipts, and directing trucking teams onsite.
  • Prepare loan agreements and review lender terms in collaboration with Curatorial and Facilities & Conservation, maintaining accompanying records.
  • Oversee collection storage in collaboration with the Director of Facilities & Conservation, acting as the liaison for all deliveries.
  • Obtain and oversee appraisals and art insurance values as needed.
  • Assist Curatorial in preparing, receiving, and cataloguing new acquisitions.
  • Coordinate and manage the process for deeds of gift, bequests, donations, and purchases.
  • Help facilitate all aspects of Rights and Reproductions requests for Storm King’s collection and other relevant works of art, liaising with internal colleagues and external entities.

Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of registrar experience, preferably in a collecting institution, with a demonstrated focus on art from 1960 to today.
• Experience with large-scale outdoor sculpture preferred.
• Strong understanding of and ability to implement best practices regarding collection stewardship.
• Excellent project management, communication, and leadership skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated passion for the visual arts, with a strong commitment to making art collections more accessible and meaningful to the general public.
• Ability to communicate effectively and interact with all levels of staff as well as artists, the public, and visitors in a positive, professional, and friendly manner.
• Proven capability to work on multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines; making sound judgments and decisions.
• Experience safeguarding confidential information and performing with a high level of discretion, professionalism, and integrity.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office suite.
• Valid Class D driver’s license with a clean record, without driving restrictions.

Working Environment

• Works in an office environment.
• Ability to maneuver outdoors in all weather conditions across 500 acres of hills, grass, and gravel pathways.
• Ability to stand or walk for long periods during events or tours.
• Frequently sits for long periods of time.
• Frequently speaks, reads, writes, and uses a computer keyboard.
• Occasional lifting, stooping, or bending.
• Ability to lift/move up to 50 lbs.
• Requires some time outside normal business hours, including weekend work, special events, and exhibition openings.

This role is represented by the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO and is governed by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between Storm King and CSEA Local 720 (Unit A). Requires travel to the tri-state area and NYC, and on occasion nationally and internationally.