JOB: Project Manager for the Romare Bearden Digital Catalogue Raisonne (Wildenstein Plattner Institute, New York)


Project Manager for the Romare Bearden Digital Catalogue Raisonne (Wildenstein Plattner Institute, New York)
Application deadline: 15 Nov 2020

The Wildenstein Plattner Institute, Inc. (WPI) is pleased to announce the inauguration of the Romare Bearden Catalogue Raisonné research project.

As one of the foremost African American artists of the 20th century, Romare Beadren produced an impressive and wide-ranging body of work that spans a variety of media and genres. The catalogue raisonné will be a scholarly digital publication documenting critical information pertaining to each work of art, including descriptive information and detailed provenance, exhibition history, and literature references.

The WPI is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the production of a digital catalogue raisonné platform, which is designed to integrate scanned archival material, linked open data from other online institutions, and digital texts. This unique combination of innovative technology and art historical expertise promises a dynamic new chapter in the role of online catalogue raisonnés.

Position Description:

The project manager will work closely with the Bearden Foundation and WPI staff to develop:
– An overarching strategy for pursuing research, a timetable, metrics to determine progress, and a budget,
– Protocols for collecting research and for contacting public and private collections, as well as galleries, auction houses, and the artist’s contemporaries,
– Guidelines for documenting research and establishing artist-specific adaptations to the general WPI house-style.

The project manager will be the primary point person for the Project’s day-to-day operations. They will be responsible for:
– Coordinating with the Co-Director of the Bearden Foundation on an ongoing basis to verify collection-based data and process new information they receive,
– Conducting research into individual works, their provenance, exhibition, and literature histories,
– Completing and reviewing data entry, which will include populating the cataloguing tool with information; creating links to digitized archival material; adding metadata to new and relevant scanned archives,
– Facilitating copy-editing procedures to maintain consistency in accordance with the WPI house style,
– Keeping track of expenses and budgetary concerns,
– Writing quarterly progress reports.

Qualifications:

– Minimum requirement of a Masters in Art History, with focus on African American art and knowledge of 20th Century American art market,
– Excellent editorial, organizational, and communication skills,
– Extensive research experience in libraries and archives,
– Professional demeanor with private collectors, museums, galleries, and auction houses
– High level of proficiency with relational databases and enthusiasm for digital projects and technology in development,
– Visual acuity, familiarity with works of art, painting materials, and processes,
– Capacity to execute tasks with accuracy, consistency, and meticulous attention to detail,
– Collaborative and proactive spirit,
– Ability to organize and prioritize workload, to execute multiple tasks with time constraints, and to work independently,
– Prior experience working on catalogues raisonnés desirable.

To apply, please send your application to info@wpi.art by November 15, 2020.