The Arni Magnusson Institute for Icelandic Studies (Reykjavík, Iceland) seeks to hire a project manager to oversee the planning and setting up of a permanent exhibition in the House of Icelandic Studies, scheduled to open in autumn 2023.
The Árni Magnússon institute (www.arnastofnun.is) preserves several important collections in the field of Icelandic studies. It houses the world’s largest collection of medieval Icelandic manuscripts and documents, as well as many younger manuscripts. The institute’s folklore collection contains over 2,000 hours of audio recordings, the oldest dating to the early 20th century. The place-name collection now contains several thousand documents detailing place-names for practically every farm in Iceland. The institute’s collection of Icelandic lexica and lexical databases track the meanings, pronunciations, and origins of words, including the adoption of new words and technical vocabulary for over 60 disciplines.
The new exhibition in the House of Icelandic Studies is intended to stimulate interest in Icelandic cultural heritage as represented in the Institute’s diverse collections, and to present this heritage in a new light. The collections include some of Iceland’s best-known medieval manuscripts, an extensive archive of Icelandic place-name material, and ethnographic sound recordings. The exhibition is intended to appeal to people with all backgrounds both those who live in Iceland and visitors from abroad.
This is a fixed-term position for three years. The exhibition project manager will report directly to the Director of the Institute.
Role
The exhibition project manager is expected to:
- create a preliminary exhibition plan in collaboration with the Institute Director, Institute exhibition committee, and other Institute staff members;
- design the exhibition in collaboration with the exhibition committee, exhibition designers and House of Icelandic Studies architects;
- oversee work required regarding the production of all exhibition content and media, the installation of the exhibition, and any follow-up work;
- be responsible for the production of the exhibition catalogue, all other supporting information materials, and merchandise connected to the exhibition;
- be responsible for the project budget;
- develop a schedule of public-facing events that will run in conjunction with the exhibition;
- facilitate collaborative efforts with other local cultural institutions.
Education & Professional Qualifications
- A university degree in a relevant field
- A passionate interest in Icelandic language and culture and the dissemination of this to younger generations
- Demonstrable experience in exhibition management
- Excellent communication skills
- A proven track record of initiative-taking and individual and group motivational skills in the context of project work
- The skills required to lead a vision-driven project with a diverse team
Salary will be according to the current collective wage and salary agreement between the Union of University Teachers and the Minister of Finance. The term of employment is expected to begin May 1, 2021, although other arrangements will be considered. The position is full-time (100% employment). Applicants are asked to submit a CV and a cover letter detailing their interest in the position and relevant qualifications. Applications should be sent to umsoknir@arnastofnun.is. For more information, please contact the Institute Director, Guðrún Nordal, gudrun.nordal@arnastofnun.is.
The deadline for receipt of applications is March 15, 2021