Project Archivist, ICA, (East Boston, MA)
Posted October 9, 2026
Job Description:
Founded in 1936, the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston is one of the oldest contemporary art museums in the country, and its long history is recorded in many years of accumulated ephemera and documents. The ICA/Boston is in the process of a long-term effort to preserve and share this history with the public. As part of this effort, the ICA/Boston seeks a qualified independent Project Archivist to continue developing and building the structural foundation of the ICA Archives. Expanding on previous work completed to rehouse and initially process the Archives, the Contractor’s scope will support future public access infrastructure. This includes developing the Finding Aid in ArchivesSpace and documenting and maintaining records related to the Archives. The Contractor will partner with the ICA’s Curatorial department, primarily with the Curator of Collections as the point of contact.
Position Duties:
- Catalogue collection materials
- Configure ArchivesSpace and perform necessary data migration and entry
- Identify priority materials for digital preservation
- Maintain, adapt, or establish digitization work plans aligned with ICA’s structure and resources to support internal and external digitization
- Facilitate reference and access requests
- Identify restricted materials, and document restrictions of materials, implementing physical and digital labeling system to enforce restrictions within asset management and ArchivesSpace
- Establish an Archives Collections Management Policy, including Reading Room Policies, to ensure the care, safety, and security of the Archives
- Conduct independent historical research to contextualize records and creators
- Perform standard archival preservation tasks
- Provide professional updates on project milestones to curatorial and museum stakeholders
Qualifications:
- Graduate degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS/MSLIS) or related graduate program with formal training in archives, archives management, and/or archival studies
- A minimum of two years’ experience working independently and without supervision or oversight in an archive
- Demonstrated knowledge, hands-on experience, and strong command of archival theory, arrangement and description, and the use and application of current national data standards related to the archival control of collection materials such as DACS, EAD, LCSH, and MODS
- Hands-on experience with best practices of archival processing, handling, and preservation standards
- Experience with digital preservation standards, digital formats, and best practices of their documentation, preferred
- Experience processing digital objects and collections, preferred
- Experience in implementing collections management systems; experience with ArchivesSpace is highly preferred
- Background or interest in contemporary art and museum environments is a plus
- Experience with the early stages or establishment of an archive, preferred
Hours & Compensation:
This is a contract position with an immediate start and continuing through June 30, 2027, renewal options TBD.
Anticipated time is approximately 30 hours per week to meet project milestones.
Payment structure is $39.00 per hour upon biweekly submission of invoice, outlined in contract.
How to Apply:
To learn more about this position and to apply, please visit the official job posting here.