Job Summary
This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to Image Makers: exploring photographs from Africa, a project focused on significant historic photographic collections from Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Job Description
Working closely with the Project Curator and Project Lead, you will create accurate catalogue records and upload digitised images to the Museum's database as well as helping to organise several thousand photographs so that they can be made accessible to project partners in Africa. You will also support biographical and provenance research and help maintain the project's SharePoint files.
As part of the role, you will support African artists working with the collections during visits to London, acting as an approachable point of contact and helping them access relevant material. You may also assist visiting academics, artists and members of the public wishing to consult the photographic collections.
Job Requirements
Hold a degree, or equivalent experience, in a relevant subject such as African history, art history, anthropology or visual anthropology, together with an enthusiasm for African histories, heritage and the arts.
Experience of cataloguing collections and using a collections management database within a museum or other heritage institution. Experience of working with image databases, museum objects or photographic collections is also essential.
Accurate, efficient and highly organised, with the ability to manage large quantities of digital information and maintain close attention to detail during sustained periods of database work.
Personable and confident liaising with artists, academics, colleagues and project partners, and able to provide practical support to people accessing the collections.
You will be able to manage your time effectively, remain focused and work both independently and collaboratively as part of a small team.
Job Responsibilities
Catalogue the project's selected photographic collections to Museum standards, including establishing appropriate thesauri and authority-controlled fields.
Prepare spreadsheets for the bulk upload of images and data to relevant databases and inventories.
Organise and catalogue several thousand digitised photographs.
Support collection visits by African artists and other researchers, including assisting visitors to access relevant photographic material and supervising visits where required.
Contribute to biographical and provenance research and reorganise photographs into archival-quality storage.
Maintain project documentation and correspondence.
- Job Title: Project Assistant & Cataloguer (African Photography Collections)
The British Museum is undertaking its biggest transformation since its founding nearly 300 years ago. This physical and intellectual transformation includes large scale building and gallery transformation, new ways of connecting with audiences and different ways of working. As we look towards this exciting future, we remain guided by the words of our founder Hans Sloane - who dreamed of a museum connecting all arts and sciences, which would be accessible to everyone, everywhere.
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The British Museum employer: Arts Council England
Arts Council England is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that values flexibility and employee well-being. With a focus on professional growth, employees benefit from generous annual leave, a final salary pension scheme, and opportunities to lead innovative digital projects in a collaborative environment. Located in Manchester, the role allows for hybrid working, ensuring a balanced approach to work and life while contributing to meaningful organisational change.
