Global Arts

Background:
The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) is in the process of developing and installing our exhibits in a new facility in North Phoenix. The 190,000 square foot building is currently under construction in Phoenix, Arizona and is scheduled to open in April 2010..We are planning audio and video content to accompany around 250 exhibits in a 90,000 sq. ft. gallery space. The focus of the museum is on global musical instruments, with over 3000 instruments on display. In order to contextualize the objects on display, video screens allow museum guests to see the instruments being played in their cultural setting where possible. We are drawing on archival and commercial sources for our video, as well as video that is gathered by our curatorial staff in the field. We deal mainly with digital and analog video, and our film transfers are outsourced. You can see more about our museum on our website, www.themim.org.

Multimedia Collections Assistant
Essential Duties: Reporting to the Manager of Multimedia Collections, the Multimedia Collections Assistant assists in the acquisition, proces
sing, preservation, and documentation of multimedia content. Under direction, the incumbent will digitize analog media, process and transfer digital materials, and gather and organize relevant data. The position will assist the Manager of Multimedia Collections and other relevant MIM staff in the research, acquisition, processing, and installation of multimedia content for the permanent exhibition. This position is planned for a 12-month term of service.

The Multimedia Collections Assistant will:
•Assist the Manager of Multimedia Collections in the research, acquisition, and processing of multimedia content for exhibition

• Gather the required information for museum labeling of multimedia content for production by the exhibits team

• Assist the Multimedia Collection Manager in processing accessions to MIM’s Multimedia Collections

• Catalog, label, and track physical media items

• Create and maintain metadata records for digital and physical multimedia assets

• Assist the Multimedia Collection Manager in maintaining an inventory of MIM AV equipment and other technical resources

• Transfer video from a variety of formats for addition to the MIM’s digital archive and use in exhibits

• Follow MIM standards and guidelines regarding audio/video quality and archival practices

• Assist in the installation of multimedia content for exhibits

• Assist the Multimedia Coll
ection Manager with other tasks as assigned

Required Qualifications:
• Experience in a library, archive, or museum environment

• Proficiency with multimedia technologies

• Experience working with multimedia on a variety of platforms

• Ability to work in a fast-pace environment with frequent interruptions

• A Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience

Desirable Qualifications
• Knowledge of practices related to the preservation of multimedia materials

• Education in Ethnomusicology, Anthropology or related field

• Familiarity with major collections of ethnomusicological/