About the job Registrar (Arts)
Registrar
Onsite Kuala Lumpur
About Muara
Muara Art is a modern and contemporary art centre with more than 1,000 square metres of gallery space, housed within heritage, pre-war shop lots in Kuala Lumpurs historic core. Focusing on the art of Southeast Asia, Muara will feature special exhibitions, projects and collection displays. Scheduled to officially open in H1 2026, it is the first phase of a larger revitalisation project in Medan Pasar and the broader KL heritage zone, establishing a vibrant cultural hub and setting the stage for future additions.
Role Overview:
The Registrar coordinates the care, documentation and movement of artwork on loan to the museum and in the collection, ensuring the safe handling, shipping, storage and display of works, as well as managing loans and insurance. The registrar is also responsible for maintaining accurate records of artwork, including condition reports and provenance.
Reports to:
Museum Director
Key Responsibilities:
Collections and Loans Administration and Care
Works with curators and operations/technical manager to plan exhibitions, including managing loans of artworks, shipping and installation schedules
Drafts, reviews and negotiates contractual agreements with lenders and institutional partners, monitoring compliance with agreements and payment schedules; assesses lender requirements and loan fees in consultation with appropriate staff, negotiating terms in the best interest of the museum; communicates loan requirements to appropriate staff and monitors compliance
Maintains records and databases for all loan and collection related activity, including the management of image licensing
Manages records of collections and works on loan, including condition reports and photographic documentation and works with staff to ensure data standardisation
Oversees rights and reproduction requests to ensure proper accreditation and licensing of images of works in collections and loaned objects
Oversees loans to external exhibitions, including negotiating all terms and conditions relating to display, environment, photography and filming of loans, etc.; acts as a courier for outgoing loans as required
With the operations/technical manager, updates and maintains facility reports and monitors environmental conditions of galleries and condition of artworks
Evaluates works in need of conservation and arranges treatment
International Shipping and Insurance
Manages the movement and tracking of artworks on loan and in the collection, including customs procedures and maintaining records of location and movement
Oversees international shipping and logistics for installing, moving and storage of artworks
Manages fine art insurance policy coverage
Budget Management
In close coordination with curators contributes to the development of exhibition budget for planning purposes; regularly updates, forecasts and monitors expenses, ensuring performance to budget
Any other duties as may reasonably be requested by the Founders or Directors
Role Requirements
Detail orientated: This is a very important skill to have as the preservation of priceless art is dependent on multiple factors which need to be preserved and conserved on premise as well as in transit to/from country of origin.
Project Management: Ability to be in charge with overseeing various projects and events while working with multiple internal and external parties.
Strong organisational skills: You will be tasked to manage numerous but very important details related to international shipping, acquisitions processes, paperwork readiness, insurance coverage etc.
Collaboration: Ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with internal and external parties including, but not limited to, curators, artists, customs officers, insurance providers, exhibitors, collectors, etc.
Computer Literacy: Ability to build and manage databases using available technologies and to track the location and storage of artworks etc.
Qualifications and Experience
A Diploma or Bachelors Degree in any field.
At least 3 to 5 years experience in art registrar at a museum, art gallery and/or auction house.