Search for full-time director for Sultana museum begins

Search for full-time director for Sultana museum begins

‘ Development’abilities a key for applicants

news@theeveningtimes.com

Marion has officially begun the search for a fulltime director for the Sultana Disaster Museum.

Chamber of Commerce President Mike Demster said the person hired will be responsible for planning and development of the new museum, promoting and improving the existing museum, applying for grants, attending trade shows, visiting schools, setting up tours, coordinating with other museums, and raising money for a capital campaign to build a permanent facility and related projects.

“It’s a museum development job,” Demster said. “I think the key word here is development. We want someone who obviously has an appreciation of the even and the historical side of it, but can help generate resources to help get it built.”

Marion Advertising and Promotions Commission agreed to provide $60,000 for the position over the next three years.

The job will be a full-time city employee who will report to the mayor and work out of an office in the City Annex.

According to the job description, applicants should hold a B.A. and preferably a masters degree in public administration, business, marketing, museum management or related field.

Desired applicants should also possess five years experience in program development, administration, and fund-raising. Other job-related education or experience will also be considered.

Salary will be in the $40,000 range with the rest of the budget going toward travel and promotion.

The city opened a small museum last year on Washington Street and is considering building a bigger, permanent museum next to the Woolfolk Library. A& P has agreed to spend up to $400,000 to help build the museum.

A preliminary design study estimates that it will cost $2.8 million to build a 10,000 square foot facility.

The study also determined that the museum will attract about 35,000 visitors a year.

The Sultana was a Civil War paddlewheel steamboat that exploded just north of Memphis in the early morning hours of April 27, 1865 and resulted in the deaths of over 1,700 people, mostly Union soldiers who had been held captive and were returning home from the war. The sinking of the Sultana is the greatest maritime disaster in U.S. history.

Marion has a special connection to the disaster as many of its early residents helped rescue the survivors. The remains of the boat are buried under a soybean field in Marion.

Demster said the person they hire will “eat, drink, and breathe” Sultana.

“We want someone who obviously has an appreciation of the event and the historical side of it, but can help generate resources to help get it built. So I think this is a good move. It will help us keep it moving forward.”

Deadline to apply is Feb.

15.

Demster said they hope to have the position filled in the next 30 to 45 days.

By Mark Randall