Senior Curator: Numismatics and the Welsh Economy
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Senior Curator: Numismatics and the Welsh Economy Based at St Fagans and National Museum Cardiff Background Established by Royal Charter in 1907, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales is one of the largest museums in the United Kingdom, and the most important cultural institution in Wales. The Museum is the custodian of internationally significant, diverse collections and a leader in education and cultural participation. Amgueddfa Cymru is responsible for Wales’ seven national museums: National Museum Cardiff; St Fagans: National History Museum; Big Pit: National Coal Museum in Blaenavon; National Wool Museum in Dre-fach, Felindre; National Roman Legion Museum in Caerleon; National Slate Museum in Llanberis, Snowdonia, and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. Amgueddfa Cymru also has a National Collections Centre near Cardiff. Amgueddfa Cymru’s total Grant-in Aid from the Welsh Government in 2017-18 was £21 million. It employs over 600 staff and has around 1.8 million visitors annually, an increase of 70% on pre free-entry levels. We have approximately 2 million annual visits to our website. There are over 5 million individual items in our collections, embracing art and design, history and archaeology, and natural sciences. Amgueddfa Cymru has a wholly owned trading subsidiary, National Museums and Galleries of Wales (NMGW) Enterprises Ltd, with co-opted Non-Executive Directors with relevant expertise. The main activities of the company are sales at all the Amgueddfa Cymru’s retail outlets, catering, car parking charges, image licensing, corporate hire lettings, proceeds from the sale or loan of exhibitions and filming rights. The company remits its profits to Amgueddfa Cymru by means of Gift Aid. Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales is funded by the Welsh Government as a Welsh Government Sponsored Body, and has a Board of Trustees whose role is to set the strategic direction of the organization, and to ensure proper management of its resources. Our Vision In 2015 Amgueddfa Cymru agreed a new Vision, "Inspiring people, changing lives", to guide all future activities. Our purpose is to inspire people through our museums and collections to find a sense of well-being and identity, to discover, enjoy and learn bilingually, and to understand Wales's place in the wider world. Our work is based on the principle that culture is created by people and communities. Our collections and other resources partly come from the society of which we are part, and are continually renewed through our work with the public. Our natural sciences collections effect the biodiversity and geodiversity of Wales and make comparisons on a global scale. We are accountable for our use of these resources to the nation we serve. We have made four commitments – Prosper, Experience, Learn, Participate - to support the implementation of the Vision. The work of every department and member of staff is directed to achieving these commitments. The Senior Management Team Amgueddfa Cymru is led by the Senior Management Team (SMT), consisting of the Director General and four Divisional Directors. A Joint Executive Group (JEG), whose members include departmental managers as well as the SMT, approves policies and reviews significant projects and initiatives. Main purpose of the post The Senior Curator will have responsibility for the field of numismatics, including coins, tokens, paper money and medals. The post holder will fulfil the Museum’s statutory function in support of the Treasure Act 1996 by preparing reports for coroners and attending inquests as required. He/she will also be responsible for the Museum’s collection relating to numismatics, weights and measures, and post-medieval business, trade and commerce including the history of the Welsh economy. The post holder will have the desire and ability to research and communicate these collections by engaging communities across Wales using a participatory approach, and contribute to the contemporary debate around issues of poverty and wealth inequality. The Senior Curator will be responsible on a day-to-day basis for the curation and interpretation of the numismatic and corporate life collection, and developing new collections that tell the economic story of Wales. The post-holder will contribute to the delivery of exhibitions, online resources and socially engaged participatory public programmes and events that are informed by new discoveries, concerns for our archaeological heritage and a concern for social justice. Responsible to Keeper of History and Archaeology Responsible for The post holder will be responsible for the management of voluntary and/or temporary staff, as required. Key Tasks and Responsibilities Job Specific 1. To support the Keeper in the strategic development of the numismatic, corporate life and economic history of Wales collection, delivering agreed departmental and organization-wide objectives. 2. To work in partnership with external organizations to generate engaging and diverse content and displays in relation to the numismatic, corporate life and contemporary history of the Welsh economy collection 3. To collect relevant and engaging numismatic, corporate life and economic collections through community engagement and participation to support the delivery of the Museum’s Collection Development Strategy. 4. To provide curatorial input as part of the Department of History and Archaeology to ensure that all work complies with ethical standards and legal obligations as defined by the relevant corporate policies and procedures. 5. To administer the Treasure Registry, and fulfil the Museum’s statutory function in support of the Treasure Act 1996 by preparing reports for the coroner and attending inquests as required. 6. To support the work of the Portable Antiquities Scheme (Wales) by providing numismatic identifications, providing records and producing reports. 7. Develop knowledge of potential funding sources and realise the commercial potential offered by the post to generate income, including costing and delivering reports for commercial archaeological projects 8. To contribute to Amgueddfa Cymru’s reputation for scholarship by engaging in a programme of research (agreed with the departmental management team) to increase specialist knowledge and improve understanding of the collection and contribute to the delivery of the Museum’s Research Strategy. 9. To collaborate with Digital Media to develop and raise the profile of the numismatics, corporate life and contemporary Wales collection on Amgueddfa Cymru’s website and other digital platforms. 10. To network and maintain contact with peers in the post holder’s specialist field and to represent Amgueddfa Cymru at relevant national and international conferences contributing papers, posters etc. in their area of expertise. 11. To promote awareness and public access to the collections through responding to enquiries, delivering talks, organizing visits and tours and delivering a programme of events that support the delivery of the Museum’s Events strategy. Corporate 1. To participate actively in supporting the principles and practice of equality of opportunity as outlined in the organization's Equality & Diversity Policy. 2. To support the department’s compliance with Amgueddfa Cymru’s policies on Sustainability and Welsh Language. 3. To take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and other persons who may be affected by your acts or omissions and to comply with all health and safety legislation as appropriate. 4. As a term of your employment you may be required to undertake such other duties and/or times of work as may reasonably be required of you, commensurate with your grade or general level of responsibility within the organization. Outcomes 1. Amgueddfa Cymru delivers world-class research that is accessible through displays, public engagement, digital platforms and publications. 2. Amgueddfa Cymru’s curatorial work is recognized as an exemplar, both nationally and internationally, of current museological thinking and practice. 3. The numismatics, corporate life and collections that tell the economic history of Wale, and associated programmes are user-focused and contribute to Amgueddfa Cymru’s Vision objectives. 4. The Senior Curator: Numismatics and Welsh Economy will be part of a motivated History and Archaeology Department that will work effectively across the Collections and Research Division. Person Specification The successful applicant will need to demonstrate the following (please see the Recruitment Guidance for advice on how to complete the application form): ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE Knowledge Required Evidence of expert knowledge of numismatic, corporate life and economic history collections. Knowledge of issues concerning treasure, portable antiquities, and the operation of Treasure law in the UK An understanding of current practices in interpretation, public learning and display of numismatic, corporate life and economic collections. Experience Required Experience of working in a museum, gallery or archive. Experience in the handling and display of objects and numismatic items. Demonstrable evidence of developing sound curatorial ideas and innovative ways of engaging audiences with content. Experience of fieldwork, interviewing and survey techniques and a strong awareness of participatory methodologies and socially engaged practice. Academic Qualifications / Standard of Education A degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent experience. A post-graduate qualification in a relevant field. Skills Required