COMPANY DESCRIPTION
Singapore Art Museum opened in 1996 as the first art museum in Singapore. Also known as SAM, we present contemporary art from a Southeast Asian perspective for artists, art lovers and the art curious in multiple venues across the island, including a new venue in the historic port area of Tanjong Pagar.
SAM is building one of the world's most important public collections of Southeast Asian contemporary art, with the aim of connecting the art and the artists to the public and future generations through exhibitions and programmes. SAM is working towards a humane and sustainable future by committing to responsible practices within its processes.
For more information, visit www.singaporeartmuseum.sg.
RESPONSIBILITIES
This dual-track role combines collections management with collections-based research and interpretation. The position is responsible for ensuring the effective care, documentation, movement, and administration of the National Collection under the Singapore Art Museum's stewardship, while also contributing to its long-term policy direction, strategic development, and public articulation. Working closely with Curatorial, Conservation, Production, Learning, and Interpretation & Publishing, the role supports how the collection is managed, understood, and activated across SAM. The position requires strong organisational discipline, sound judgement, and the ability to work closely with objects, and ideas.
1. Collections Management
- Oversee the day-to-day management of the National Collection under SAM's stewardship, ensuring accurate documentation, tracking, and care of artworks.
- Manage accessioning and de-accessioning processes, including records, visual documentation, and related administrative requirements.
- Maintain accurate inventory records and update artwork locations, movement histories, exhibition schedules, and loan information.
- Ensure proper documentation of existing collection works, new acquisitions, and loans according to institutional procedures and guidelines.
- Coordinate collection-related logistics, including incoming acquisitions, outgoing loans, artefact lists, viewing requests, and artwork retrieval for conservation, display, and access purposes.
- Work closely with the Heritage Conservation Centre (HCC) and SAM Production team on artwork movement, packing, unpacking, installation, de-installation, and storage according to approved procedures.
- Support periodic stocktaking exercises and ensure records are indexed, maintained, and accessible for retrieval and internal use.
- Serve as a key liaison with HCC and NHB on collection-related matters, including reports, meetings, agendas, minutes, and follow-up actions.
- Ensure collection policies, procedures, and updates are clearly communicated to curators, project managers, and relevant departments at SAM.
- Serve as secretariat for the Acquisitions Committee.
2. Collection Policy & Strategy
- Contribute to the development and review of collection policies, procedures, and frameworks in alignment with SAM's curatorial direction.
- Support the shaping of acquisition priorities and long-term collection strategy through research, documentation, and internal discussion.
- Assist in evaluating acquisition and loan proposals with attention to relevance, context, feasibility, and institutional fit.
- Contribute to internal conversations on how the collection should grow, be positioned, and be activated within SAM's broader curatorial framework.
- Conduct market and valuation research to support acquisitions, donations, and loan-related decisions, ensuring that proposals are informed by sound comparative.
- Support donor relations and collection development efforts by contributing research, documentation, and object-based knowledge for discussions with patrons, collectors, and prospective donors.
3.Collection Research & Interpretation
- Develop a resource repository that registers the historical, artistic, and social significance of works in the collection, ensuring relevant materials and resources are properly documented and maintained.
- Support the collection's research and mobilisation for display across SAM's exhibitions, programmes, publication, and other interpretive formats.
- Support the production of texts, object notes, interpretive materials, and research content for exhibitions, publications, digital platforms, and other public-facing formats.
- Support the activation of the collection through exhibitions, programmes, loans, publications, and other forms of public presentation.
- Evaluate loan requests with care and judgement, ensuring collection works are shown in appropriate and meaningful contexts.
- Champion internal understanding of the collection by making research and collection knowledge more accessible to curatorial and other museum teams.
- Supervise staff, on collections related matters, and provide guidance to junior colleagues where required.
4.General
- Undertake other related duties and projects as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS- Graduate or post-graduate degree in art history, visual culture, museum studies, Southeast Asian studies, or a related field.
- Relevant experience in collections management, collections-based research, or curatorial work within a museum, collection, or comparable institutional setting.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage detailed records, logistics, and administrative processes accurately.
- Demonstrated ability to conduct object-based research and translate research into clear written and public-facing formats.
- Familiarity with collection documentation systems, loans processes, inventory management, and artwork handling procedures.
- Knowledge of contemporary art and/or strong literacy in regional artistic and material cultures relevant to SAM's collection.
- Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with external partners.
- Strong written and spoken English additional regional language skills are an advantage.
Please note that your application will be sent to and reviewed by the direct employer - Singapore Art Museum
