Curator of Collections

Kentucky Derby Museum•Louisville, KY

9h•Onsite

About The Position

The Kentucky Derby Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization located at Churchill Downs Racetrack. It is a major regional attraction celebrating the history and tradition of the Kentucky Derby, welcoming over 258,000 visitors annually, many from outside Kentucky. The primary purpose of the Curator of Collections position is to manage, preserve, and develop the museum’s collection of artifacts, artworks, and archives. This role involves researching, acquiring, cataloging, and interpreting objects to ensure their historical, cultural, and educational value is accessible to the public. The Curator of Collections is responsible for maintaining the integrity and conservation of the collection and will report to the Senior Director of Curatorial and Education.

Requirements

BA or MA in Museum studies, public history, or related field.
Three (3) years’ experience in collections/archival management.
Working knowledge of library science.
Ability to read and interpret written documents such as newspapers, magazines, and internal manuals.
Ability to deal with various types of problems that may include logistics, scheduling, and supervising personnel.
Ability to count and calculate sequential numbers in assigning new accession numbers and understand Imperial measurements.

Responsibilities

Oversee the acquisition, documentation, care, and management of the Museum’s collection, including cataloging, classifying, and maintaining accurate records in the collection database, maintaining storage areas, and managing security issues.
Research and recommend potential acquisitions that enhance the Museum’s collection, and evaluate and facilitate deaccession of items that no longer align with the Museum’s mission or collection goals.
Ensure proper care, storage, and preservation of all objects in the collection, and work with the Senior Director of Curatorial & Education to access and implement conservation treatments and establish best practices for long-term preservation.
Ensure that all appropriate collections forms are complete and up-to-date, including deeds of gift, incoming and outgoing loans, and records of bequests or transfers.
Collaborate with the Curatorial Team to plan, curate, and organize exhibitions, and develop interpretive materials such as labels, catalog entries, and digital content to provide historical, cultural, or artistic context.
Conduct research on the collection to deepen understanding of individual pieces or groups of objects for both internal and external use.
Provide expertise on the collection for internal and external purposes, including social media, external media opportunities, and answering public research requests.
Work with curatorial staff on the creation and management of digital records, ensuring the collection is available for internal and external research.
Ensure that all acquisitions and collection practices comply with Museum ethics, legal requirements, and cultural sensitivity standards.
Supervise other collections staff, interns, or volunteers.
Perform other duties as assigned.