According to the Association of Art Museum Directors, the body that governs museum standards and practices in the United States, an art museum is a permanent, not-for-profit institution—essentially educational and humanistic in purpose—that studies and cares for works of art and on some schedule exhibits and interprets them for the public. However, the publicly visible parts of the museum are merely the tip of the iceberg. A wealth of professionals’ labor is spent behind-the-scenes in order to produce SMoCA’s remarkable exhibitions and programming. These include curators who create the exhibitions and public programs; a registrar who is responsible for the care of our collection and organizes the transport of works of art for exhibitions, loans and acquisitions; an exhibition manager and preparators who handle works of art and install exhibitions; museum educators who devise programs for K-12 students that explore our exhibitions and complimenting curriculums; a graphic designer who builds the identity of the museum and designs individual graphic identities for each exhibition; a development team who works to secure financial support; security that protects the works of art and all of us; marketing to promote us; docents who work with the public; operations and event staff that organizes the fun stuff; retail and a cleaning crew who keep us looking our best.

As part of SMoCA’s role in the strategic plan for Scottsdale Arts, we have pledged to find ways to more broadly disseminate our collection and a large part of this is to publish our collection online. In preparation, we are devoting this exhibition to the work necessary to achieving this. We have a full roster of work to do and a complete list of specialists and artists with whom we will collaborate. Lifting the veil on the behind-the-scenes of the museum, you will find in this gallery a diversity of museum professionals who are working to conserve, document, study, catalog and photograph our collection. This is the public’s opportunity to see museum professionals in action. This is an opportunity to ask questions. We are here for you in the public trust.

Organized by the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
Sponsored by the Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation