Curator

The Cumberland Museum & Archives is looking for a creative individual to join our team in the position of Museum Curator.

About the Cumberland Museum & Archives

The Cumberland Museum and Archives on Vancouver Island tells the story of the people of Cumberland—the rich, the poor, the powerful, the rebellious, the righteous and the radical. In 2019 the CMA received a Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Community Programming for the reenactment of Albert ‘Ginger’ Goodwin’s funeral process. The CMA is a valued space for community connection, experience and reflection on our past.

The current permanent exhibitions focus on the industrial history of coal mining and logging as well as early settler business while addressing the social, political and racial challenges the people of the Village of Cumberland experienced.

The artefact collection and archival holding comprise over 8,000 items and are housed onsite. The CMA also offers opportunities for research through our community research library, making the CMA a unique space for historical research on early rural Comox Valley settlements with a special focus on Chinese and Japanese communities of the past. The CMA has undertaken a number of unique projects to retain and create accessibility to artefacts and historical records for research purposes and exhibitions.

About the Curatorial Position

The role of Museum Curator at the Cumberland Museum & Archives is a combined role responsible for exhibit development and collections management. Reporting to the Executive Director and working collaboratively with team members this position plays a key role in the management and success of the museum. This position will provide an opportunity for undertaking diverse responsibilities and professional development. 

Primary Responsibilities:

Collections care and preservation of physical artefacts and archival materials including; the assessment of donations, classification and cataloguing, housing and preservation. 

Develop and maintain policies and procedures related to collections management

The development of exhibitions including initial proposals, budgeting, research, design, fabrication, installation, interpretive public programs and marketing materials.

Develop and maintain policies and procedures related to exhibitions and collections management

Work in collaboration with the Museum Director to establish a strategic plan for the curation of exhibits and collection management projects

Secondary Responsibilities:

Aid other staff members in welcoming visitors and creating meaningful relationships with community members.

Delivery of museum tours or presentations at public programming events, or for promotion.

General building maintenance duties 

Knowledge and Competences:

Undergraduate or graduate degree in museum studies, archaeology, anthropology, history or related field.

Minimum of 2 years experience working/volunteering in a museum, gallery or archival setting

Understand the foundations of design and layout composition.

Skilled in the use of Adobe programs for design: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign etc.

Be knowledgeable with open access database systems, Microsoft Access, Access to Memory and museum classification best practices including nomenclature and Rules for Archival Description.

Strong understanding of museum and archival best practices.

Strong oral and written communication coupled with strong interpersonal, and collaboration skills

Critical thinking and innovative problem-solving skills with a high level of self-motivation.

Able to lift and carry boxes and supplies up to 25lbs

Valid driver’s license with access to a car 

Please submit your resume by email to director@cumberlandmuseum.ca

Only successful applicants will be contacted. Please do not call. CMA is an equal opportunity employer.