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About.





Erika N. Witt is an independent curatorial specialist based in New Orleans, engaged primarily with collections management. Her main focus is in the arts of Africa and the African diaspora, with specialization in Kemetic visual expressions. Erika has developed numerous exhibitions of art and history and cared for various collections in Tennessee, Louisiana, and Virginia. Her recent works include collections management at the Harrison Museum of African American History, New Orleans Public Library, McKenna Museum of African American Art, Southern University at New Orleans, and the Andrew Johnson Museum and Library. Her recent exhibitions include Celebrating a Legacy: Selected Works from the Southern University at New Orleans African Art Collections and African Art from the Howard and Julia Pence Collection.

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Erika received a Bachelor degree in Museum Studies with a concentration in History from Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tennessee and a Master of Art in Museum Studies and Cultural Preservation from Southern University at New Orleans.


She was born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia.



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Key Competencies

ü  Collections management and cataloging

ü  Training in the history of African Art

ü  Excellent interpersonal skills

ü  Database experience (Embark, Past Perfect, EMu)

ü  Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite

ü  Exhibit development and curation

ü  Interpretation of artifacts in historical context

ü  Excellent oral and written communication


Education

MA, Museum Studies and Cultural Preservation, Southern University at New Orleans           May 2015

Relevant Courses: Topics in African Art, Exhibition Design, History of Art of the African Diaspora, Collections Management, Museums in Communities,

·         GPA 4.0

 


BA, Museum Studies, Tusculum College                                                                                 December 2012


·         Relevant Courses: Seminar in Non-Profits, Architecture and Historic Preservation, Curatorial and Collections Management, Development of Exhibits, Interpretation and Museum Education



Museum Experience


National World War II Museum, New Orleans, LA                                        April 2015-July 2015

Data Base Clerk

·         Maintains museum database software EMu by entering new and updated donor information

·         Verifies donor data by reviewing, correcting, deleting, or reentering data; combining data purging files to eliminate duplication of data

·         Processes and sends deeds of gifts and acceptance letters to donors


 

Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, LA                                               March 2014-present

Front Desk Associate/ House Manager

·         Operates Altru system to sell event tickets and gallery admission

·         Tracks attendance, including demographics, for daily gallery visitors and events

·         Facilitates deliveries throughout the day

·         Oversees the general operation the of building during special events



Southern University at New Orleans, New Orleans, LA                               June 2013-May 2015

Museum Studies and Cultural Preservation Research Assistant

·         Researched object collections for exhibit development and museum records

·         Curated  public African Art exhibitions throughout the greater New Orleans region

·         Assisted in exhibit design, installation, and de-installation

·         Assisted professors with general clerical duties to include but not limited to: filing, faxing, photocopying


 

Center for African and African American Studies Curatorial Intern                        

Summer 2013, Spring 2015

·         Accessioned and catalogued the Howard and Julia Pence Collection (109 West African objects)

·         Took digital photographs of objects for accessioning process

·         Conducted research on West African Art

·         Stabilized African objects within the collection

·         Curated African Art exhibitions


 

McKenna Museum of African American Art, New Orleans, LA                   January 2013-present

Curatorial Volunteer

·         Installation and de-installation of exhibitions

·         Assisted director with programming and events

·         Assisted in developing a Collections Management Policy

 



Pitot House, New Orleans,LA                                                                                    Spring 2013

Curatorial Volunteer

·         Catalogued and accessioned 18th century Victorian furniture collection


 

Harrison Museum of African American Culture, Roanoke, VA                  Summer and Fall 2012

Curatorial Intern

·         Initiated and completed the first Collections Management Policy

·         Oversaw object acquisition

·         Created the first Registrar system

·         Assisted in event planning

·         Designed letterheads, invitations, tickets, and flyers to community events

·         Organized and cleaned the Annex (collection storage)

·         Assisted with object and textile conservation



 

Tusculum College Doak House, Greeneville, TN                                      September 2008-2012

Volunteer

·         Facilitated Docent tours

·         Performed conservation and research on historic house objects



 

Andrew Johnson Museum and Library, Greeneville, TN                           September 2008-2012

 Volunteer

·         Facilitated exhibit installations

·         Assisted with creation of floor plan and layout; assisted with the installation of exhibit cases

·         Conducted historical research to tell the story of museum objects for records, exhibits, and docent tours



Leadership/ Team Experience


Southern University at New Orleans, New Orleans, LA                                   August 2013-2014

Graduate President, Student Government Association                                        

·         Served as ceremonial and managerial purpose, as a spokesperson of the entire graduate student body

·         Worked closely with undergraduate student body president and faculty to create and implement student activities



 

Tusculum College, Greeneville, TN                                                           September 2008-2012

Resident Assistant, Senior Resident Assistant                                        

·         Supervised and collaborated with a team of 8 resident assistants in the largest residential area of 300 students

·         Created, facilitated and marketed residence hall activities

·         Acted as a role model for residents in the dorm by modeling good citizenship, scholarship, and leadership



 

President, Student Government Association                                                         2011-2012

·         Served as ceremonial and managerial purpose, as a spokesperson of the entire student body

·         Oversaw SGA’s efforts on student activity events and planning, school policy support from students, budget allocation, fiscal planning, and recognition of developing issues pertaining to students



Strawberry Retail Store, Roanoke, VA                                                                                  2012

Part time Key Holder                                                                                                                                                                

·         Communicated store priorities as determined by store management and delegated tasks to Sales Associates

·         Supervised the sales floor, ensuring key selling zones are covered and covering all Loss Prevention policies

·         Audited and approved all register transactions in accordance with policies and procedures

·         Provided an exceptional level of customer service through personal interactions with customers



Exhibitions

​2012

·         Scholars Then Soldiers: Tusculum College and the American Civil War


2013

·         Sustaining Life: Water, Grain, Beer   

·         Adorned: Contemporary African Waist Beads 


2014

·         African Art from the Howard and Julia Pence Collection                                                                  

·         Spirit Performance: Performance Masks of Burkina Faso from the Norma Wolfe Collection       


2015 

·         Celebrating a Legacy: Selected Works from the Southern University at New Orleans African Art Collections



Grants/ Fellowships/ Awards


Shafik Gabr Foundation Fellowship, Egypt                                                                           2014 East-West: Art of Dialogue Initiative Fellow

·         Exchange program between ten Egyptian and ten American Fellows that promoted cross-cultural dialogue through meetings with renowned Egyptian and American public figures to discuss challenges in our societies as well as mending American-Egyptian foreign relations.

·         Collaborated with a team of fellows to plan action projects that would help better communities and promote cross-cultural understanding and aspirations of our societies.




Skills


·         Museum Collection Software (PastPerfect, Embark, EMu)

·         Competent with all Microsoft Office applications

·         Strong organizational skills

·         Database searches (LexisNexis, EPSCOhost, JSTOR, ProjectMuse, etc.)

·         Experienced in Adobe Photoshop and InDesign

·         Multitasking

·         Proficient in French

·         Detail Oriented




Honors


·         President’s Award, Tusculum College                                                                                 2013

·         Dean’s List, Tusculum College                               Fall 2008, Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012

·         Charles Oliver Gray Scholars , Tusculum College                                                      2011-2012

·         Senior Honor’s Key in Museum Studies, Tusculum College                                                2012




    Affiliations


·         Urban League Young Professionals                                                                July 2013-present

·         American Alliance of Museums                                                                   August 2014-present

·         American Research Center in Egypt                                                                July 2014-present

·         New Orleans Museum of Art                                                                       August 2014-present

·         Contemporary Arts Center                                                                          March  2014-present

 



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