Kemper Curator of Academic Programs

Davis Museum

About the Davis.
One of the oldest and most acclaimed academic fine arts museums in the United States, the Davis Museum is a vital force in the intellectual, pedagogical and social life of Wellesley College. It seeks to create an environment that cultivates visual literacy, inspires new ideas, and fosters involvement with the arts both within the College and the larger community.

The Davis collections, including some 11,000 objects, span global history from antiquity to the present and include masterpieces from almost every continent. Today, the holdings are housed in an extraordinary museum building, designed by Rafael Moneo, winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize. In addition to dynamic presentations of the permanent collections, and installations that support specific coursework and research interests, the Davis hosts a rotating series of engaging temporary exhibitions and programs organized to inform, delight, and challenge visitors.

The Davis Museum at Wellesley College seeks an innovative, energetic, and ambitious Kemper Curator of Academic Programs. The Kemper Curator will serve as a liaison between the museum and the academic community. The successful candidate will have a deep commitment to object-based learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovative approaches to original works of art.

Supervised by the Assistant Director for Curatorial Affairs/Senior Curator of Collections, this position focuses mainly on the permanent collections at the Davis Museum and engages faculty and students from the arts, humanities, and sciences in inventive, cross-disciplinary projects and exhibitions. The Kemper Curator spearheads collaborative, collections-based projects and exhibitions with faculty based on their research and teaching interests.

Duties: conceptualizes, plans, and organizes collaborative projects and exhibitions; facilitates creative use of collections; schedules class visits; researches and writes about the Davis Museum’s collections and participates in the acquisitions process; produces gallery didactics; offers gallery talks and class sessions; participates in events and outreach efforts; supervises interns and student workers. An integral member of the curatorial team, the Kemper Curator of Academic Programs works closely with staff in all areas of the Davis Museum’s operations, with faculty and students across disciplines, and with campus administrative staff.

Qualifications:
Ph.D. in art history preferred, with two years of relevant museum experience and demonstrated object-based teaching and research or MA in art history or related field required, with 3–5 years of museum experience.  The ideal candidate will have a range of scholarly interests and knowledge of professional museum practices. The position requires excellent oral and written communication skills, the ability to collaborate effectively and collegially across disciplines, as well as to manage multiple projects and deadlines independently. Proficiency in a digital environment required. Travel and other duties as assigned.

The candidate will join the staff of a museum at the center of the intellectual life of a vital undergraduate campus, and to be successful should possess a strong commitment to the unique orientation of the academic museum and to the teaching mission of the Davis.

How To Apply:
To apply online, please use the following link: https://career.wellesley.edu or to: Human Resources Office, Wellesley College, 106 Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02481. Electronic submissions are preferred.
Wellesley College is an EO/AA educational institution and employer.  The College is committed to increasing the diversity of the college community and the curriculum.  Candidates who believe they will contribute to that goal are encouraged to apply.

Apply by:
February 07, 2014
Salary:
Competitive salary and benefits package
About this Organization:
Wellesley College is a liberal arts college for women located just 12 miles west of Boston, is a 500-acre campus of woodlands, hills, meadows, an arboretum, ponds, miles of footpaths, fitness trails, and athletic fields and facilities borders scenic Lake Waban. The mission of Wellesley College is to provide an excellent liberal arts education for women who will make a difference in the world.