About the Client
Our client is a reputable contemporary art gallery in London, focused on presenting the work of established and emerging international artists.
About the Role
The Archive Manager is responsible for ensuring that all image assets are received, catalogued and made available for gallery staff. They are responsible for maintaining the gallery’s digital image archive and related databases, photographic slides & transparencies, publications archive and match print catalogue. They will coordinate documentation of artworks across galleries, art fairs and off-site projects; liaising directly with the artist’s studios, galleries and museums when required. The Archive Manager will also manage all image distribution and copyright agreements.
Key Areas of Responsibility:
Management:
- Managing and overseeing the responsibilities of the Image and Archive department (2x Photographers and 1x Digital Media Coordinator)
- Managing and maintaining the gallery’s digital image archive and related databases (i.e. ArtLogic and Reference Image), including all image rights and reproduction requests received by the gallery
- Working with Artist Liaisons to produce special projects related to the image archive as requested
- Assisting the artist’s studios with image management as requested
Digital Image Archive:
- Coordinating with the gallery’s in-house photographers and external contractors to ensure that all digital images are produced and made available on the server
- Receiving and cataloguing digital image files and filing them in the appropriate folders on the server
- Retouching digital image files in Photoshop as required (i.e. creating mock-ups, cropping, colour balancing etc.)
- Managing and updating the digital image archive on Reference Image, capturing and editing metadata to ensure all image files are saved with accurate information
- Periodically auditing Reference Image and the server to ensure that digital image files are catalogued accurately
- Working with developers and gallery staff to improve functionality and accessibility of Reference Image and the server, as required
Image distribution, licensing and copyright clearance:
- First point of contact for images rights and licensing requests by auction houses, galleries, museums, public institutions and private clients
- Providing approved images with accurate captions and credits to third parties (i.e. museums, galleries, publishers etc.) and preparing image reproduction agreements, as required
- Managing all copyright and licensing agreements for third parties
Photography:
- Coordinating the schedule of the gallery photographers for all premises and off-site projects as required
- Coordinating photography on off-site projects such as art fairs with external contractors
Archival strategies and special projects:
- Supporting Artist Liaisons, artist’s studios and artists with image management and digital archive development
- Supporting Artist Liaisons, artist’s studios and artists with image print production projects (i.e. Exhibition wallpapers, photographic prints etc.)
- Working on publication projects (i.e. booklets and catalogues as directed)
- Managing the ongoing digitization of all slides and transparencies in the Artists’ archive and ensuring all information is correct, up-to-date, and consistently organized as requested
- Maintaining the artists’ slides and transparencies folders
Suppliers:
- Responsible for stocking up on archival material (i.e. archive boxes, plastic sleeves for transparencies and other archiving related products)
A great deal of flexibility is required in terms of:
- To job share where necessary i.e., holiday and sick cover
- Answering phones, taking and passing on messages
- To work on special projects as requested by gallery staff, such as research
In recognition of The Paris Agreement, our client is actively working to cut carbon emissions by 50% by the year 2030. All staff are encouraged to consider how they could contribute to this goal.
Skills and Experience:
Essential
- Highly organised with excellent attention to detail
- Highly efficient with the ability to work within given deadlines
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to deal with multiple requests and projects, whilst remaining calm under pressure
- A willingness to provide feedback, share information and contribute ideas and suggestions as necessary
- Demonstrable ability to manage a team and their deadlines
- Proven experience handling a high volume of digital image and video assets and a working knowledge of file formats and photographic processes
- Confident using the Adobe Suite and high levels of overall digital literacy
- Excellent understanding of copyright agreements and licencing requirements
Desirable
- Demonstrable experience working on the post-production of digital image and video assets
- Experience of working with image archives within the visual arts sector
- A demonstrable interest in working with artist’s archives and the documentation of artworks and exhibitions.
- An interest in working within a commercial contemporary art gallery
Reporting to: Head of Operations
Hours: 10:00 am – 18:00, Monday to Friday, and as required
Location: Various locations within zone 1 London and off-site locations as required
Salary: around £38,500
Contract: Full-time, permanent