Collection Curator and Archivist

The Ohio State University•Columbus, OH

4d•$47,700 - $66,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Frank W. Hale, Jr. Black Cultural Center (HBCC) is seeking a strategically minded professional to lead the stewardship, development, and activation of its African American art collection. This role will strengthen the connection between HBCC’s mission and the collection by improving digital and physical accessibility, expanding community engagement, and elevating the visibility of the works through programming, partnerships, and scholarship. The position serves as the primary collection advocate, supporting archival infrastructure, building donor and artist relationships, coordinating collection-centered events, and representing the cultural and historical significance of the archive within the university and broader community. The HBCC seeks a visionary, detail-oriented collection steward who can protect and grow the HBCC art archive while ensuring its cultural, academic, and community significance is fully realized. This role will build archival infrastructure, nurture donor and artist relationships, develop collection-centered programming, and serve as a primary public representative of the collection’s relevance within the university and beyond.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and 4+ years of experience.
Demonstrated knowledge of art handling, preservation, archival or museum collection methods.
Ability to communicate the cultural significance of a collection to diverse audiences.
Experience with databases, metadata, or digital archiving systems.
Ability to manage interns, student staff, or volunteers.
Strong writing skills, especially for catalogue entries, interpretive material, or grant proposals.
Experience with cultural or arts-based programming and/or community organizing.
Knowledge of African American art history or cultural heritage work.

Nice To Haves

Grant writing and/or fundraising experience.
Experience with oral histories, community-based archives, or culturally rooted collections.
Experience working with artists, donors, families, or estates.
Experience designing collection-based programs or exhibitions.
Familiarity with university arts infrastructure or cultural center operations.

Responsibilities

Lead the stewardship, development, and activation of the African American art collection.
Improve digital and physical accessibility of the collection.
Expand community engagement with the collection.
Elevate the visibility of the works through programming, partnerships, and scholarship.
Serve as the primary collection advocate.
Support archival infrastructure.
Build donor and artist relationships.
Coordinate collection-centered events.
Represent the cultural and historical significance of the archive within the university and broader community.
Develop collection-centered programming.
Serve as a primary public representative of the collection’s relevance.