Curator of Collections:
Location: Frankfort, KY
Begins: November 1st, 2023
Compensation: $43,000 – Full time with benefits.
Qualifications: 3-5 years’ experience in a curatorial role at a historic site, museum, or other non-profit organization. Master’s degree or equivalent in museum studies, history, public history, historic preservation, arts management, or related area
Timeline: Accepting applications through Friday October 6th, 2023.
Send resume and cover letter to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Liberty Hall Historic Site (LHHS), a National Historic Landmark on the Kentucky River in historic downtown Frankfort, seeks a qualified and dynamic candidate for the Curator of Collections position.
The Curator of Collections helps LHHS achieve its mission to serve the public by preserving collections and sharing stories that illustrate urban life in early Kentucky, examining the contributions of Senator John Brown and his family, and demonstrating the ways in which the people and customs of the past relate to the world today.
Position Description
The Museum Curator is responsible for the day-to-day management and care of the historic collections, including the structures known as Liberty Hall and the Orlando Brown House. The Curator is the primary facilitator of the museum’s Collections Management Plan and develops and implements all collections strategies identified within the 2022-27 Strategic Institutional Plan. The Curator conducts and supervises research related to the museum’s historic objects, and in conjunction with LHHS staff, creates various forms of interpretive products, including public programs, permanent and temporary exhibits, and other presentations through a visitor-centered experience that reflects the diverse interests of the community. This position also ensures the LHHS Furnishing Plan and Interpretive Plan are reflective of the most up-to-date and accurate historical information. The Curator may also supervise volunteers, interns, and tour guide staff in the event the Executive Director is not on site.
The Curator reports to the Executive Director.
Liberty Hall and Orlando Brown House Conservation
In compliance with the site’s various maintenance and conservation policies and plans, recognized preservation practices, and the Kentucky Heritage Council’s Liberty Hall and Orlando Brown conservation easements, and in consultation with the Executive Director, the Curator will follow all designated collections care tasks identified within the museum’s Cyclical Maintenance Plan, including regular inspection with the Housekeeper of the house interiors. Additionally, the Curator will execute all collections care tasks identified within the site’s Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Plan.
Artifact Collections Care
The Curator must fulfill the requirements of the Collections Management Plan including, but not limited to, the processes of conservation, accession, deaccession and loan management recommendations made to the Executive Director and NSCDA-KY board. This position is also responsible for the implementation, monitoring, and reporting of climate and environmental conditions within each house, making recommendations for changes as necessary.
Specifically, the Curator:
- Cares for the collection by following established conservation standards
- Conducts regular inspections of exhibit and storage areas for indications of artifact damage or conservation hazards
- Monitors environmental conditions in Liberty Hall and the Orlando Brown House
- Maintains a log of temperature and humidity readings of artifact storage areas
- Conducts periodic collections inventories and assesses the condition of exhibited and stored objects, arranging conservation action as needed
- Catalogues collections and manages the collections database and hard copy files, updating the information accordingly
- Responds to research inquiries, writes, and advises other scholars relating to publications pertaining to the collection
- Arranges moving, packing, and shipping of artifacts for loan or conservation
- Makes recommendation and implements collection-oriented plan and procedural amendments to the Collections Management Policy, Housekeeping Plan, Integrated Pest Management Plan, cataloging procedure guide, or other museum documents that impact the curation of the collection
- Trains housekeeping staff in artifact care and handling
- Trains and supervises volunteers, interns, and contract employees regarding collections care
- In collaboration with the Executive Director, identifies collection-related grant opportunities and writes grant applications
Community Engagement and Outreach
The position of LHHS Curator is key to the museum’s community outreach commitment articulated within the Strategic Institutional Plan. To inform and serve the public, the Curator:
- Oversees daily tour operations and public programming
- Delivers mission-related lectures to the public and assists with educational/outreach programming and fundraising events as scheduled
- Increases museum scholarship through the development of innovative programs, tours, and exhibits
- Conducts collections research
- Designs, creates, and installs exhibits based on LHHS collections and original research
- Maintains and cares for the current exhibit, Kentucky Made: Decorative Arts from the Liberty Hall Collection
- Develops, writes, and submits session proposals to various professional network platforms, including conferences, journals, etc.
- In conjunction with the Executive Director, represents Liberty Hall and participates in professional networking opportunities, both in person and online.
Miscellaneous
- Assist in general office support including answering the phone, staffing the museum store, and setting up for events, rentals, and programs
- Provides administrative support to the NSCDA-KY
Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be committed to fostering an environment of diversity, equity, and inclusion while upholding the values, goals, and strategic initiatives of Liberty Hall Historic Site. Applicants are expected to be a positive addition to our internal culture of transparency, accountability, support, and innovation.
- Have an inquisitive mind and a passion for history. Creativity, collaboration, and experimentation are crucial to this position.
- Be well organized and detail-oriented
- Be well suited to working with the public, both in groups and one-on-one
- Be able to juggle projects with different timelines & deadlines with consistent communication throughout. Project Management experience extremely helpful
- Have excellent research skills, both in person and online
- Communicate in a timely manner and with complete transparency. We believe change is inevitable, roadblocks can stump progress, and people will make mistakes, but communication and accountability are required to reassess and redirect.
- Be willing to embrace and drive change with an open mind, a positive outlook, and the desire to learn
Education Specialist:
Location: Frankfort, KY
Begins: November 1st, 2023
Compensation: $20 per hour, part-time. 20-25 hours per week, up to 99 hours per month
Qualifications: 3-5 years' experience in an educational role at a historic site, museum, or other non-profit organization. Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in museum studies, history, public history, historic preservation, arts management, or other related area.
Timeline: Accepting applications through Friday, October 6th, 2023
Send resume and cover letter to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Liberty Hall Historic Site (LHHS), a National Historic Landmark on the Kentucky River in historic downtown Frankfort, seeks a qualified and dynamic candidate for the Education Specialist position.
The Education Specialist helps LHHS achieve its mission to serve the public by preserving collections and sharing stories that illustrate urban life in early Kentucky, examining the contributions of Senator John Brown and his family and demonstrating the ways in which the people and customs of the past relate to the world today.
Position Description:
The Education Specialist is responsible for the development, implementation, and execution of educational programs through a visitor-centered experience that reflects the diverse interests of the community. This position is also responsible for volunteer management within educational programs, while working with LHHS staff to ensure the smooth and effective daily operation of the site’s interpretive mission. The Education Specialist further enacts all appropriate strategies identified within the 2022-2027 Strategic Institutional Plan and performs the education goals confirmed within the museum’s Interpretive Plan.
This position reports to the Executive Director.
Education and Outreach
The Education Specialist is key to the museum’s community outreach commitment articulated within the Strategic Institutional Plan. To inform and serve the public, the candidate should:
- Reference the Kentucky Department of Education curriculum standards to develop educational programs for children, families, and school groups
- Develop educational tours and programs with corresponding curricula or materials, including tools for training and evaluation
- Engage with the community through personal interaction, committees, events, and partnerships that deliver the LHHS mission to a wider audience
- Plan and execute public programs in coordination with LHHS staff
- Develop educational components for scheduled special events and programs
- Guide tours, lead workshops, and make presentations based on our educational mission
Volunteer Coordination
- Schedule volunteers for special events, programs, and school tours
- Records volunteer hours
- Collaborate with staff to coordinate an annual volunteer recognition event
- Ensure the volunteer application form and volunteer handbook remains up to date
- Develop and maintain relationships with active volunteers
- Work with community groups to identify and recruit potential volunteers
Miscellaneous
- Assist in general office support including answering the phone, staffing the museum store, and setting up for events, rentals, and programs
- Provides administrative support to the NSCDA-KY
Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be committed to fostering an environment of diversity, equity, and inclusion while upholding the values, goals, and strategic initiatives of Liberty Hall Historic Site. Applicants are expected to be a positive addition to our internal culture of transparency, accountability, support, and innovation.
- Have an inquisitive mind and a passion for history. Creativity, collaboration, and experimentation are crucial to this position.
- Be well organized and detail-oriented
- Be well suited to working with the public, both in groups and one-on-one
- Be able to juggle projects with different timelines & deadlines with consistent communication throughout. Project Management experience extremely helpful
- Have excellent research skills, both in person and online
- Communicate in a timely manner and with complete transparency. We believe change is inevitable, roadblocks can stump progress, and people will make mistakes, but communication and accountability are required to reassess and redirect.
- Be willing to embrace and drive change with an open mind, a positive outlook, and the desire to learn
Volunteers:
Liberty Hall Historic Site relies on the support of volunteers who assist with many aspects of museum operations and garden maintenance. Volunteers who enjoy working with the public can assist with children’s and adult programs and special events. Those who prefer to help behind the scenes can lend a hand in the office and assist with occasional collections projects. Garden volunteers are needed for clean-up days and the annual planting of the annuals in May.
Volunteers receive:
- Free admission during regular tour hours
- Invitations to LHHS programs and the annual volunteer recognition event
For details contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Click here for a printable volunteer application.