The Bill Griffith Ceramic Study Collection Fellowship

Arrowmont is committed to the education and furtherance of the careers of artists and craftpersons, including those in careers that support artists and their work, while continuing our commitment to properly caring for and being good stewards of a valuable collection. The Bill Griffith Ceramic Study Collection represents pottery and ceramic sculpture from internationally and nationally renowned ceramic artists collected from 1985 to the Present.

This Fellowship position is a dedicated project-based fellowship for a craft-based collections management/registrar to come to Arrowmont for eleven months to work on the accessioning of these objects into the database and to assist Bill Griffith with the documentation of provenance and oral histories to be included in the database, including other necessary details, such as accurate object measurements, high-quality documentation of the objects, assigning accession numbers, etc.

This is an eleven-month residency at Arrowmont. There is a $30,000 stipend, and room and board in one of Arrowmont’s studio apartments. The ideal candidate will have recently completed graduate work in collections management, curatorial practices, or a related field. A basic knowledge of the ceramic field, current practices and innovations in collections management, excellent artistic judgment, a strong interest in and desire to advance craft knowledge and preservation, and proficiency in computer applications, including knowledge of collections management software, are required. The successful candidate will work 40 hours per week under the direction of the Galleries & Collections Manager and will have access to additional experts in the field as the need arises.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist with the acquisition of the Bill Griffith Ceramic Study Collection, including documenting provenance and cataloguing the collection in our collections database
• Data entry of collection items, cataloging the collection, researching the objects, and identifying further needs for the objects
• Assist Bill Griffith with the oral history component of the collection
• Work with Galleries & Collections Manager to develop research finding aids, protocol, and signage for visiting instructors and researchers of the collection and oral histories.

Knowledge and Skills:

• A working knowledge of craft and its history, specifically as it pertains to ceramics
• Knowledge of material culture and best practices for storing and handling art objects
• Education in the fields of Collections Management, Art/Craft History, Museum Studies, or related experience
• Familiarity with collections management systems
• Well organized
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Research focused

Application Requirements:

• CV/ Resume
• Letter of Application
• Contact Information for 3 References

This position will ideally start in August 2025 but has some flexibility depending on the availability of the successful candidate.

Questions? Please contact Heather F. Wetzel, Galleries & Collections Manager, at [email protected].

Inclusion and Equal Opportunity Statement: Arrowmont is committed to creating an anti-racist, diverse, and inclusive workforce and work environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. Arrowmont strongly encourages people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, and veterans to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any protected category prohibited by local, state, or federal laws. Arrowmont is committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.