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Work at SVACEmployment Opportunities

Job Title: Collections Manager/Registrar
Salary: $47,000-53,000 annually
Reports to: Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art
Location: Southern Vermont Arts Center (SVAC)

Position Summary

The Collections Manager/Registrar plays a key role in the care, documentation, and management of artworks at SVAC. This position oversees the registration and handling of incoming and outgoing loans for exhibitions and the stewardship of SVAC’s Permanent Collection. The role requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and experience with museum registration practices to ensure the safe, professional management of all artworks in SVAC’s care.

Key Responsibilities

  • Manage collection of approximately 1,350 objects, including major incoming gift, overseeing collections care, inventories, conservation, and art storage.
  • Manage registration for deaccessions, disposition, shipments, gifts, acquisitions, accessions, and loans.
  • Manage incoming and outgoing loans, including preparation of loan agreements, lender correspondence, shipping arrangements, condition reporting, facility reports, and insurance documentation.
  • Maintain accurate exhibition checklists, lender information, credit lines, and tombstone details.
  • Serve as the primary liaison with lenders, artists, collectors, and institutions regarding loan logistics and requirements.
  • Including the management of exhibition projects, timelines, installation, and budgets, Collections Manager/Registrar oversees safe handling, packing, transportation, and installation of loaned and permanent collection works.
  • Manage collection database (Past Perfect) and maintain object and artist records, files, and database entries. Document SVAC exhibitions. Work with the Director of Marketing to maintain a collection presence on the website.
  • Support the Curator with exhibition planning, including image rights/permissions, fact-checking, proofreading, and preparation of interpretive and marketing materials.
  • Provide content from files to researchers, visiting scholars, students, and the public as needed.
  • Assist with donor and constituent files, Deeds of Gift, and temporary custody forms.
  • Monitor collections storage and galleries, ensuring proper care, organization, and environmental conditions.
  • Lead exhibition installation and deinstallation, and assist with related special events.
  • Provide administrative, research, and clerical support to the Curator as needed.

Qualifications

  • Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Museum Studies, Archives Management, Public History, Art History, Fine Arts, or a related field, with relevant professional experience required. A Master’s degree in one of these areas is preferred.
  • Minimum of three years of experience in a museum or gallery setting, with direct experience in registration and exhibition loans.
  • Knowledge of museum registration standards, loan agreements, and collections management practices.
  • Knowledge of collection databases, Past Perfect preferred.
  • Experience with fine art insurance.
  • Excellent organizational, research, and communication skills.
  • Ability to balance multiple projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
  • Ability to climb ladders and lift up to 40 lbs.
  • Collegial and collaborative team member

 

To apply, please send a letter of interest and resume to:

hr@svac.org
Southern Vermont Arts Center

Southern Vermont Arts Center (SVAC) is a multidisciplinary arts organization in Manchester, VT, with a mission to promote and nurture the arts. We provide opportunities for local and regional artists, introduce the wider community to artwork and performances of national relevance, and engage diverse audiences. Through exhibitions, performances, classes for children and adults, and access to our 100+ acre campus and sculpture park, SVAC serves as a welcoming community space for the arts. As we prepare to open a new building with galleries and art storage, professionalize our collections and exhibition program, and receive a major collection gift, this role will play a key part in supporting that growth.

Advancement Coordinator

Southern Vermont Arts Center (SVAC) seeks a highly organized, friendly, and technologically capable part-time Advancement Coordinator. The ideal candidate is very detail-oriented, professional, and is motivated to support the fundraising functions of SVAC.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Administrative support for Advancement

  • Perform timely and accurate data entry of constituent data and donor gifts
  • Generate gift receipts and coordinate donor acknowledgements
  • Work with the Business Manager to coordinate gift deposits and reconcile donor database with accounting on monthly basis
  • Assist with appeal mailings and Annual Report
  • Track campaign gifts and pledges
  • Track and maintain list of donor naming opportunities
  • Prepare sponsorship request materials and support sponsor communications
  • Plan and coordinate fundraising and stewardship events, including annual Gala, gatherings for Director’s Circle and Contemporaries giving groups, capital campaign events, and “Meet the Funders” event
  • Assist with donor communications across platforms
  • Collaborate with the Manager of Visitor & Membership Experience to strengthen the pipeline between membership and donor groups
  • Communicate with donors to offer assistance, schedule meetings with Executive Director, and update records
  • Schedule board, committee, and all staff meetings

Database management

  • First two months: engage in CRM database training (Alpine Humanitru) 
  • Assist staff throughout the organization with database use
  • Serve as the primary contact for Alpine’s  SVAC client account support
  • Clean up and maintain constituent records with a meticulous eye for detail
  • Document stewardship activity in database, including Executive Director’s donor interactions
  • Manage memberships for staff, board, and donors at Director’s Circle and Contemporaries levels
  • Generate regular fundraising and constituent reports from the database

Additional administrative office duties may be assigned.

Qualifications

  • High level of attention to detail and accuracy. Self-motivated to create and maintain systems to ensure errors are caught and corrected in a timely manner
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills. Ability to independently prioritize, coordinate, and complete tasks and projects
  • Experience in an administrative role in a professional setting
  • Excellent customer service skills with the ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and professional demeanor
  • Strong professional communication skills, both written and verbal
  • Team player with a positive, cooperative, productive attitude
  • Excellent computer skills and proficiency with word-processing, spreadsheets, Google Workplace including online file maintenance, online calendaring, and email. Able to quickly learn new programs and software applications
  • Experience with data entry in a constituent database, especially donor management software, is desired but not required
  • Experience in advancement (fundraising) activities is desired but not required
  • Experience planning, organizing, and coordinating events is desired but not required
  • Excitement for SVAC’s mission and service to the community

Position Classification

  • Part time, non-exempt, averaging 25 hours per week
  • In-person position
  • Flexible schedule, ideally M/W/F
  • $25/hour

Working Conditions
Ability to work in a shared office environment subject to interruptions. Requires a great deal of interaction with the public in person and via other means of communication. Involves some outdoor work, including moving from various buildings around campus. Occasional evening/weekend hours required for donor/member events.

About Southern Vermont Arts Center
Southern Vermont Arts Center (SVAC) is a multidisciplinary arts organization in Manchester, VT with a mission to promote and nurture the arts. SVAC strives to provide opportunities for local and regional artists, to introduce the wider community to artwork and performances of national relevance, and to engage diverse audiences. To do this, SVAC creates a community space for the arts through exhibitions, events, performances, and classes in a variety of media for children and adults, and an opportunity to explore the 100+ acre campus and sculpture park.

To Apply
Please send cover letter and resume to: hr@svac.org

Curator, Modern & Contemporary Art

Southern Vermont Arts Center seeks a Curator at an exciting time of growth centered on sharing the story of Vermont art with all. The Curator, Modern & Contemporary Art will be a key leadership position responsible for setting the vision for SVAC’s modern and contemporary art collection, its representation of regional contemporary artists, and its program of temporary exhibitions.

Permanent Collection
SVAC has a nearly 100-year history of showcasing Southern Vermont artists, with a vibrant community of approximately 300 artist members and 40,000 annual visitors today. The Permanent Collection is comprised of over 1,000 paintings, sculpture, and works on paper by prominent American Regionalists including Reginald Marsh, Guy Pene duBois, Harriette Gowen Miller, Ogden Pleissner, Jay Hall Connaway, Marion Huse, Luigi Lucioni, Bernadine Custer Sharp, and Robert Strong Woodward, among others. For the first time this fall, the collection is being shared as a free online resource, part of a larger multi-phase project to document the collection managed by a highly experienced contract consulting Curator. SVAC is entering into planning phases for the creation of permanent galleries to share the collection with the public. SVAC’s campus also includes a 10-acre sculpture garden with exciting opportunities for future growth.

As we deepen our work with the collection, the Curator will lead the development of a collection plan, collection management strategy, and conservation planning. The Curator will also guide the planning for permanent collection installation and develop interpretation to share the story of Vermont art with the public. 

Contemporary Art
The Curator will create connections between the Art Center’s history and the rich artistic community working in Vermont today. This position will be key to fostering and growing SVAC’s relationships with a deep network of artists throughout the region. The Curator will lead the next chapter of SVAC’s presentation of regional contemporary art and guide SVAC’s work to support our artist community.

Exhibitions
The Curator will develop and execute a program of exhibitions that attracts, engages, and inspires growing audiences of locals and visitors. The Curator is responsible for development, installation, and management of all exhibitions at SVAC in both the Wilson Museum and Yester House.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

  • Conceive and develop exhibitions and gallery installations to attract and engage a wide range of audiences, with a special focus on sharing the story of Vermont art. Execute exhibitions from initial idea through final installation. Guide the planning for a permanent collection installation and future gallery rotations.
  • Work closely with the Executive Director to forge and foster relationships with arts funders, supporters, and partners, both within and beyond the Southern Vermont region. Attracting strong grant funding for the exhibition program and upcoming collection installation is a primary objective. Cultivating relationships with partner organizations including universities and art museums is also essential.
  • Develop annual work plans, budgets, and goals for Collections and Exhibitions, aligned with forthcoming institutional strategic planning. Manage a balanced budget and forecast expenses and income opportunities as we plan for growth.
  • Develop an SVAC Collections Plan to define the scope and management of the permanent collection, ensuring compliance with professional ethics codes including the American Alliance of Museums. Guide the development of the collection, including identifying and suggesting gifts and purchases.

Qualifications

  • Contagious passion for sharing art with others and an interpretive philosophy that centers visitor engagement.
  • Five years’ curatorial experience in a museum or exhibiting arts organization and a Master’s degree in Art History with extensive knowledge of contemporary and/or modern art is required. Experience working with living artists and knowledge of American Regionalist artists is desired.
  • Strong storytelling and writing skills that include compelling public speaking, an engaging writing voice that welcomes the broadest possible public into the conversation around art, and the ability to successfully interact with a wide range of stakeholders including community leaders, donors, and artists.
  • Proven record of attracting grant funding for exhibitions and/or research. Demonstrated experience in donor cultivation and stewardship.
  • Excellent problem-solving, planning, and organizational skills, with the ability to execute multiple projects and responsibilities. The ability to navigate a complex workload independently and take initiative to prioritize, pivot, and recommend changes when needed is especially desired.
  • A hands-on, collaborative attitude. Comfortable rolling up sleeves and carrying out tasks at all levels to execute plans. Ability to build trust and partnership across SVAC’s small, hardworking staff is essential.
  • Experience handling art and proper care and conservation of works. 
  • Knowledge of research tools and methodologies.
  • Availability for periodic evening and weekend openings and exhibition events.

Salary and benefits:
The salary range for the position is $65,000-$75,000. SVAC does not offer health insurance but offers vision and dental coverage.

To apply, please send a letter of interest and resume to: 

Amelia Wiggins, Executive Director
Southern Vermont Arts Center
awiggins@svac.org

Summer Art Educators

JUNE 11–AUGUST 29, 2025
Summer Camp Lead Teaching Artist Positions

Southern Vermont Arts Center seeks art educators to lead children’s day camps in our classrooms and outdoors on our 100-acre campus. We welcome applicants with strengths in visual arts, performing arts, crafts and more. 

Requirements:

  • Design and plan engaging curriculum with support of SVAC Manager of Education
  • Prepare for and pivot as needed to create a safe, positive, structured environment
  • Possess classroom and/or art center teaching experience with youth
  • Demonstrate a thoughtful, warm, energetic approach
  • Exhibit flexibility in meeting the needs of diverse learners
  • Provide camp counselors with appropriate guidance
  • Demonstrate sincere interest in the artistic development and social-emotional welfare of each camper
  • Provide background check authorization
  • Complete First Aid/CPR training at SVAC or separately and provide certification
  • Exhibit the highest professional standards and ethical behavior with campers, families, SVAC staff and museum visitors

Schedule
Camps run one week, M–F. Teaching artists arrive a minimum of 15 minutes before the start of camp and allow time for cleanup after camp each day. Most camps run for full days. Some half-day slots exist. Campers are present on one of the following schedules:
9 a.m.–3 p.m.
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
12–3 p.m.
1–4 p.m.

Compensation:
Instructor payment for camp is $1000 per week for full days and $700 for half days. 

To Apply:
Please send the following by December 15, 2024.

  • Title, description, age range and sample lesson plan for a one-week-long camp
  • Resume
  • Cover letter
  • Contact information for two professional references
  • Weeks available within the window June 11–August 22, 2025

Submit materials to Erin Kaufman, SVAC Manager of Education, at ekaufman@svac.org. Please contact Erin with questions by email or phone at 802-367-1306.

Summer Camp Assistant

JUNE 11–AUGUST 29, 2025

Southern Vermont Arts Center is looking for camp assistants to work one or more weeks during the summer. We welcome applicants who have an interest in working with children and adults in a fast-paced, arts-oriented environment. 

Responsibilities:

  • Help children with visual art and/or performance projects
  • Help children with whatever else they need
  • Help teachers with studio setup and cleanup
  • Help with lunch coverage, errands and administrative tasks for children’s camps
  • Demonstrate a thoughtful, warm, energetic approach
  • Maintain close communication with lead teaching artists and SVAC staff
  • Exhibit the highest professional standards and ethical behavior in dealings with campers, parents, staff and museum visitors 

Qualifications:

  • Complete First Aid/CPR training at SVAC or separately and provide certification
  • Have experience working with children
  • Demonstrate interest in visual and/or performing arts
  • Be able to communicate effectively with adults as well as children
  • Be responsible
  • Be punctual

Hours:
Full days: 8:30-3:30, Monday – Friday
Half days: hours vary

Payment:
Summer Camp Assistants will be paid at a rate of $14.25/hr. Volunteer arrangements are also welcome; please submit a complete application whether applying for a paid or unpaid position.. 

How to Apply:
Please send the items below to Erin Kaufman, SVAC Manager of Education: ekaufman@svac.org. Feel free to reach out in advance with questions. 

  • Resume
  • Letter describing experience and interest including a note re: which weeks you would be available
  • Contact information for two references

Applications accepted until positions are filled.

For volunteer and internship opportunities, please visit our Volunteer/Intern page.

SVAC is an equal opportunity employer and considers all candidates for employment regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, age, gender identification, national origin, creed, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or political affiliation.