Description

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Department Summary

The Fowler Museum at UCLA invites people to understand art and the world we live in from multiple perspectives by promoting the creativity and knowledge of global and local artists, past and present. Through art, research, and programs, we foster reflection, debate, community, and joy for our campus, Los Angeles and beyond. We envision a world where art connects communities across borders and generations, inspiring respect, equity, and social justice. The Fowler aspires to be a collaborative space for life-long learning, cultural exchange, and open dialogue that celebrates multiple ways of knowing and being.
Position Summary

The Fowler Museum at UCLA seeks a Provenance and Collections Specialist to participate in a research project devoted looted art from the Benin Kingdom in US University Museum collections. The project, supported by a major grant from the Mellon Foundation, will convene a consortium of university museums holding looted arts from the Benin Kingdom to collectively work on museum policies related to voluntary ethical restitution and the return of looted objects to Nigeria. The Provenance and Collections Specialist will work alongside key Fowler staff: the Director, Senior Curator of African Arts and Manager of Curatorial Affairs, Director of Collections Management and Registration, and Collections Information Coordinator. The project (New Relational Ethics in the Museum: University Museums and Indigenous Arts from Formerly Colonized Regions) has the goal of facilitating the permanent return of looted objects to the Benin Kingdom. The Provenance and Collections Specialist will trace and verify the histories of looted and suspect-looted objects held in all participating consortium museum collections. These findings will empower us to approach the Nigerian National Commission of Museums and Monuments (NCMM) with a thorough and consolidated list of works eligible for restitution. Over the course of thirty-three months the Provenance and Collections Specialist will be responsible for carrying out in depth research on up to around 250 objects that originated in the Benin Kingdom. They will work with Nigerian representatives on messaging, long term loans, and other knowledge sharing related to the returning pieces. The Specialist will also work with the Fowler’s Collections and Curatorial team members to support all consortium activities. This includes analysis of consortium museum collections, deaccessioning, and restitution policies; helping to plan and implement the in-person and online consortium meetings; and project managing all shared documents and writing projects connected to the consortium activities. The Provenance and Collections Specialist may also have the opportunity to turn their attention to other potential future consortium activities and/or types of objects eligible for ethical return. The Provenance and Collections Specialist reports to the Senior Curator of African Arts and Manager of Curatorial Affairs.

Salary & Compensation

*UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors, including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common. Visit UC Benefit package to discover benefits that start on day one, and UC Total Compensation Estimator to calculate the total compensation value with benefits.
Qualifications

  • At least one year of provenance research experience or equivalent record of academic accomplishment. (Required)
  • Substantial knowledge of provenance research (Required)
  • Substantial knowledge of collections management (Required)
  • Ability to work with registrarial, conservation, and curatorial staff at a museum (Required)
  • Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with other staff and the Museum’sstakeholder constituencies (Required)
  • Experience researching physical libraries, archives and online sources of research information and documentation of same (Required)
  • Knowledge of museum standards for collections security and management (Required)
  • Experience with collections management software (Preferred)
  • Familiarity with contemporary conservation techniques and practices (Preferred)
  • Excellent administrative, analytical, research, and communication skills (Preferred)
  • Ability to oversee complex logistical projects (Preferred)
  • Ability to work independently with general supervision (Preferred)

    • Education, Licenses, Certifications & Personal Affiliations

  • Master’s Degree in the humanities or library sciences (Preferred)

    • Special Conditions for Employment

  • Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.
  • Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.
  • CANRA: The position is designated as a mandatory reporter under CANRA . The employee must sign the “Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse”.

    • Schedule

    8:00am to 5:00pm
    Union/Policy Covered

    RX-Research Support Professionals
    Complete Position Description

    https://universityofcalifornia.marketpayjobs.com/ShowJob.aspx?EntityID=38&JDName=Museum%20Scientist%20Assistant%20(TBD_189706)

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