Exhibition registrar

Exhibition registrars organise, manage and document movement of museum artefacts to and from storage, display and exhibitions. This happens in collaboration with private or public partners such as art transporters, insurers and restorers, within the museum and outside.

The following job titles also refer to exhibition registrar:

museum cataloguer
museum objects cataloguer
museum registrar

High school diploma is generally required to work as exhibition registrar. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Exhibition registrar is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to exhibition registrar.

collection manager
archive manager
art restorer
museum scientist
conservator

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of exhibition registrar. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of exhibition registrar with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of exhibition registrar.

Conservation techniques: The procedures, instruments, techniques, materials and chemicals used in conservation and archiving.
Collection management software: Be familiar with specialised collection management software used to document and keep record of the museum collection.
Museum databases: The tools and processes involved in working with museum databases.

These skills are necessary for the role of exhibition registrar.

Compose condition reports: Document the condition of artworks prior to and after movement and manipulation.
Ensure safety of exhibition: Ensure safety of exhibition environment and of artefacts by applying safety devices.
Supervise artefact movement: Supervise any movement of museum artefacts and ensure their security.
Implement risk management for works of art: A registrar determines risk factors to an art collection and mitigates them. Risk factors for artworks include vandalism, theft, pests, emergencies, and natural disasters. It is the responsibility of a registrar to develop and implement strategies to minimise these risks.
Use ict recources to solve work related tasks: Ability to choose and use ICT recources in order to solve related tasks
Assess object condition: Work together with the collection manager or restorer, to evaluate and document the condition of a museum object for a loan or an exhibition.
Advise on loans of art work for exhibitions: Working together with curators and museum collection managers, a registrar evaluates the condition of art objects for exhibition or loan purposes. The registrar also decides whether or not an artwork is able to withstand the stresses of travel or exposition.
Respect cultural differences in the field of exhibition: Respect cultural differences when creating artistic concepts and exhibitions. Collaborate with international artists, curators, museums and sponsors.
Advise on art handling: Advise and instruct other museum professionals and technicians on how to manipulate, move, store and present artifacts, according to their physical characteristics.
Prepare loan contracts: Compose loan contracts; understand and implement accompanying insurance conditions.
Document museum collection: Registrars are concerned with documentation and record keeping of museum collections. Documentation includes information about an object’s condition, provenance, materials, and all of its movements within the museum or out on loan.
Advise on tax policy: Advise government officials on changes in tax policies and procedures, and the implementation of new policies on a national and local level.
Advise on government policy compliance: Advise organisations on how they may improve their compliance to the applicable government policies they are required to adhere to, and the necessary steps which need to be taken in order to ensure complete compliance.
Cope with challenging demands: Maintain a positive attitude towards new and challenging demands such as interaction with artists and handling of artistic artefacts. Work under pressure such as dealing with last moment changes in time schedules and financial restraints.
Work independently on exhibitions: Work autonomously on the development of a framework for artistic projects such as locations and workflows.
Deliver correspondence: Distribute mail correspondence, newspapers, packages and private messages to customers.
Manage loans: Evaluate and approve or reject commercial, real state or credit loans. Follow up their status and advice borrowers on financial status and payment methods.

 
Communicate in english in a competent way: Competent use of English; R351refers to level C1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of exhibition registrar. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Art collections: The variety of paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and other works that form collections in a museum and prospective new collections which are of interest for a museum or art gallery.
Art history: The history of art and artists, the artistic trends throughout centuries and their contemporary evolutions.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of exhibition registrar. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Give instructions to staff: Give instructions to subordinates by employing various communication techniques. Adjust communication style to the target audience in order to convey instructions as intended.
Liaise with cultural partners: Establish and maintain sustainable partnerships with cultural authorities, sponsors and other cultural institutions.
Provide railway technical advice: Provide railway technical advice, technical input, or recommendations for updating maintenance processes and revising documentation in order to improve industry performance.
Manage loan administration: Oversee the loan administration for exhibitions.
Monitor museum environment: Monitor and document environmental conditions in a museum, in storage as well as exhibition facilities. Make sure an adapted and stable climate is guaranteed.
Interact with an audience: Convey the artistic values of the art form(s). Respond to the reactions of your audience and involve them.
Handle art: Work directly with objects in museums and art galleries, in coordination with other museum professionals, to ensure that artworks are safely handled, packed, stored and cared for.
Train guides: Give training to fellow guides and volunteers.
Advise on foreign affairs policies: Advise governments or other public organisations on the development and implementation of foreign affairs policies.
Provide advice on travel destinations: Give relevant information and advice on holiday or travel destinations and discuss means of transportation.
Lead inspections: Lead inspections and the protocol involved, such as introducing the inspection team, explaining the purpose of the inspection, performing the inspection, requesting documents, asking appropriate questions, and maintaining a high level of professionalism when investigating subjects.

2621 – Archivists and curators

References

1. Exhibition registrar – ESCO