Job Opportunities

Title: Rapaport Archivist
Department: Curatorial & Collections
Reports to: Director of Collections and Exhibitions

Overview

The American Folk Art Museum is seeking a highly motivated, collaborative, and service-oriented Archivist to manage and enhance its substantial archival collections. The Rapaport Archivist is responsible for the arrangement and description of the archival collections, ensuring a user-centered, access-driven approach to all processing work. The Archivist will also play a key role in building and diversifying the Museum’s archival holdings, in collaboration with the Director of Collections and Exhibitions, Senior Curator of Self-Taught Art & Art Brut, and Curator of Folk Art.

Established in 2014, the American Folk Art Museum Archives holds institutional records and distinctive collections related to the founding and development of the field of folk art and self-taught art, its artists, and its networks, and has been shaped by artists, collectors, curators, and scholars. Materials include manuscripts, correspondence, ephemera, clippings, photographs, audio, and video, as well as expansive artist and subject files.

Key Responsibilities

Collection Management and Records Management

• Arrange and describe manuscript, institutional, photographic, digital media, and related special collections.
• Prepare finding aids in ArchivesSpace in accordance with local and national standards.
• Refine, implement, and execute processes that enable effective acquisition, description, preservation, access to, and security of archival collections, including born-digital and hybrid collections.
• Collaborate with the Digital Asset, Image, and Rights Manager with the creation, implementation, and management of procedures for the preservation of born-digital and digitized archival records.
• Participate in the strategic growth of the collections, with a focus on diversifying the holdings, including identification of important acquisitions, potential donors, and funding opportunities.
• Collaborate with the research and writing of grants related to collection development, digitization, processing, and interpretation of archival collections.
• Present new acquisitions at Collections Committee meetings.
• Strategize with AFAM colleagues on opportunities to present archival collections in AFAM exhibitions and loans to other institutions.
• Implement a records management program, including creating a record retentions schedule across departments.

Reference Services

• Provide onsite and remote comprehensive reference assistance to external researchers, scholars, and Museum staff.
• Develops strategies for improved reference service.
• Maintain statistics for all reference inquiries for the Library and Archives.
• Participate in outreach activities such as class instructions, group presentations and tours.
• Collaborate to create programs, initiatives, and exhibits that feature, promote, and make accessible the AFAM Archives, as appropriate.
• Train and supervise interns, volunteers, and freelance consultants.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Library and Information Science or related field from an ALA-accredited institution.
• Minimum three (3) years of professional experience in an archival setting, including processing, arranging, describing, and providing reference for archival/ manuscript collections.
• Proficient in ArchivesSpace; familiarity with Gallery Systems preferred.
• Knowledge of the principles of archival functions, applied to survey, arrangement, description, preservation of collections containing mixed formats while creating DACS-compliant finding aids to support discovery and research.
• Knowledge of best practices in handling and preservation of archival material.
• Knowledge of archival metadata standards and authorities such as DACS, Dublin Core, and LCSH.
• Experience managing and conducting oral history interviews preferred.
• Experience providing high-quality research assistance to external and internal researchers.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills, and impeccable attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently.

Salary range:  $65,000 – $68,000.00

The above statements of this job description entail the general duties and level of work
performed by an employee assigned to this position. They do not claim to describe all of the
functions of the position. The Employee may be assigned other duties, and the essential functions
may change or be changed from time to time.

Please send resume and cover letter to jobs@folkartmuseum.org. No phone calls, please.

The American Folk Art Museum is located at 2 Lincoln Square in midtown Manhattan. The administrative office and storage facility for the museum is in Long Island City, Queens. The position requires in-person attendance several days per week at our Queens location.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The American Folk Art Museum provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, citizenship status, marital status or domestic partner status, genetic information, gender identity, military status and any other category protected by Federal, State and City employment law.

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Position: Social Media & Communications Manager
Department: External Affairs
Reports to: Chief Communications & Audience Officer

The Social Media & Communications Manager will:

• Work hand-in-hand with the Chief Communications & Audience Officer to develop and implement a comprehensive social media strategy for the Museum.
• Create compelling, on-brand organic and paid content for AFAM social media channels that is dynamic, engaging, and consistent with the Museum’s standards.
• Collaborate with colleagues in curatorial, development, exhibitions, learning & engagement, editorial, and more to develop content ideas that will drive engagement with the Museum and support fundraising efforts and special events.
• Work closely with the Museum Shop on a social media strategy to sales and support seasonal shopping initiatives.
• Create regular reporting which translates digital engagement metrics and insights into actionable data and knowledge for staff.
• Lead partnerships with content creators, influencers, and others to extend the reach and relevance of the Museum to new audiences.
• Manage media relationships, develop original story ideas, cultivate and pitch journalists and editors, and respond to media inquiries.
• Utilizing the Museum’s Mailchimp account, create and ensure timely and regular distribution of the Museum’s email newsletter program to promote programs, exhibitions, institutional announcements, retail initiatives, and fundraising campaigns.
• Gather and post promotional, programmatic, newsworthy, and organizational information on the Museum’s website, digital guides, microsites, and other forms of online publishing.
• Evolve working knowledge of digital platforms, web publishing, and emerging communications channels.
• Stay attuned to changes in the media landscape and aware of relevant opportunities to promote the Museum through listings, news stories, and reviews.
• Cultivate relationships and digital partnerships that help grow, enrich, and diversify the Museum’s reach and relevance; advise the Museum’s leadership on ways the Museum can be at the cutting edge of digital engagement strategies.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and 2-4 years of experience in a social media, public relations, or communications position.
• Experience with content planning and creation, media relations, and storytelling across different platforms.
• Experience at a museum, non-profit, or within the commercial art world is a plus but not required. Candidates with experience from an array of backgrounds, such as luxury goods and consumer products, are also encouraged to apply.
• Knowledge of social media content planning platforms, such as Later Social, and CMS platforms.
• Experience drafting press releases, pitching media, and managing media relationships is also preferable.

Salary range:  $55,000.00 – $60,000.00

The above statements of this job description entail the general duties and level of work performed by an employee assigned to this position. They do not claim to describe all of the functions of the position. The Employee may be assigned other duties, and the essential functions may change or be changed from time to time.

Please send resume and cover letter to jobs@folkartmuseum.org. No phone calls, please.

The American Folk Art Museum is located at 2 Lincoln Square in midtown Manhattan. The administrative office and storage facility for the museum is in Long Island City, Queens. The position requires in-person attendance several days per week at our Queens location.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The American Folk Art Museum provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, citizenship status, marital status or domestic partner status, genetic information, gender identity, military status and any other category protected by Federal, State and City employment law.

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Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are vital to the success of the Museum, contributing countless hours to visitor services, education projects, administrative assignments, and special events. The Museum is always seeking energetic and committed volunteers interested in folk art and self-taught artists. While each opportunity requires specific skill sets, every qualified candidate must be dedicated, communicate effectively, possess basic computer skills—including familiarity with the internet—and have a valid email address.

To apply: Please complete the volunteer application form here.

If your skills and qualifications meet our immediate needs, you will be contacted for an interview. If not, your application will be kept on file and you will be contacted if an appropriate position becomes available. Only individuals authorized to work for the museum in the United States will be accepted into the internship program. The museum will consider expressions of interest in providing volunteer services to the museum from non-work-authorized individuals.

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Internships

The Museum offers internships for college and university students, graduate students, and emerging professionals interested in museum careers. The goal of an internship is to provide practical experience as well as a general understanding of the role of an individual department within a larger museum setting. Academic internships are by semester or full year.

For general internship queries, send a résumé and cover letter to education@folkartmuseum.org, stating the departments you are interested in working in, the skills you bring, and how you hope to contribute to the department.

Fellowships

Visit the Fellowship page to learn about current opportunities.