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Director
Type of Job
Full Time
Published By
The American Museum & Gardens
Job Location
Claverton Manor, Claverton Down, Claverton, Bath BA2 7BD, UK
Published Date
March 3, 2022
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About the job
The American Museum & Gardens in Bath takes its visitors on a journey through a period of American history primarily focused on 14th to the 20th centuries. With its remarkable collection of folk, decorative arts and cultural objects, the Museum shows the diverse and complex nature of American traditions. It is the only museum of Americana outside of the United States, founded to bring American history and cultures to the people of Britain and Europe. Located in an area of outstanding natural beauty, the landscape and gardens are fully integrated into the Museum’s education program and visitor experience.
The Board of Trustees are now seeking exceptional candidates to succeed Richard Wendorf in the role of Director. The Museum is now looking ahead to the future and this is a rare opportunity to play a central role in taking this Museum forward, with plans to significantly raise its profile and visitor numbers and to ensure its long-term sustainability.
Candidates will ideally bring strategic leadership experience gained in a similar context and will have a good understanding of the issues facing museums and cultural organizations. The post-holder will require a strong interest in American history and culture and be a compelling advocate and communicator.
Requirements
See Description
Benefits
Details provided during selection process
About us
The American Museum opened to the public in 1961 – the achievement of four colleagues: Dr. Dallas Pratt (an American psychiatrist and collector), John Judkyn (a British born antiques dealer, who had become a United States citizen), Nick Bell Knight (a furniture restorer employed at nearby Freshford Manor, Judkyn’s business base in Britain) and Ian McCallum, the Museum’s first Director.
It was a transatlantic alliance. Dallas Pratt and John Judkyn considered establishing a Museum of Americana in Britain as early as 1956, after visiting several historic house and ‘living history’ museums in the United States.
Collecting for the Museum began in earnest in 1958, facilitated by Judkyn’s business contacts – each piece testifying to the artistry of Americans and how these people had lived in the past. Panelling and floors were also shipped over to Britain, enabling period rooms from demolished buildings in America to be reconstructed within the spacious interiors of Claverton Manor.
Many decades on, the American Museum remains the only museum outside the United States to showcase the decorative arts of America.
Address
Claverton Manor, Claverton Down, Claverton, Bath BA2 7BD, UK