2016
Johanna Best
Position Description
The Smithsonian Provenance Research Initiative (SPRI) advances and enhances the institution’s ongoing serious commitment to provenance research and the preservation of cultural property and heritage as an integral part of the Smithsonian’s mission: the increase and diffusion of knowledge. Current emphasis is on the decorative arts and Asian art, with projects at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and Freer Gallery of Art, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, and the National Museum of American Art. SPRI develops and offers training for established as well as emerging professionals; initiates international partnerships with museums, archives, libraries, and universities around the world; organizes symposia and roundtables; and publishes its findings and results.
The Program Manager for Scholarly and Public Engagement will report to the SPRI Director, gaining deep experience with all facets of the Initiative by taking the lead on administrative, programmatic, and scholarly management tasks. The program manager will contribute to SPRI’s ongoing provenance research projects at Smithsonian museums, researching and facilitating research in consultation with its museums’ teams of curators, researchers, collections management staff, and external partners. S/he will assist in developing research priorities for publications and digital outreach, and ensure that the content of the research is accurate, articulate, and comprehensive. S/he will also help develop national and international training programs. Through this position, the program manager will build a strong portfolio in provenance research management, museum policy and administration, educational programs and training, archival research and digitization, web-based technology, collections software, conservation, and legal issues.
The Program Manager for Scholarly and Public Engagement will report to the SPRI Director, gaining deep experience with all facets of the Initiative by taking the lead on administrative, programmatic, and scholarly management tasks. The program manager will contribute to SPRI’s ongoing provenance research projects at Smithsonian museums, researching and facilitating research in consultation with its museums’ teams of curators, researchers, collections management staff, and external partners. S/he will assist in developing research priorities for publications and digital outreach, and ensure that the content of the research is accurate, articulate, and comprehensive. S/he will also help develop national and international training programs. Through this position, the program manager will build a strong portfolio in provenance research management, museum policy and administration, educational programs and training, archival research and digitization, web-based technology, collections software, conservation, and legal issues.