Posted July 5, 2014

The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University seeks a Curator and Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs. Reporting to the Founding Director, the Curator and Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs will be an integral part of the museum’s Senior team, overseeing the exhibitions and curatorial staff. The museum, designed by Pritzker Prize winning architect, Zaha Hadid, opened to international acclaim in November 2012.

The Curator and Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs will join an energetic and professional group led by the Founding Director, developing and implementing exhibitions and commissions of international scope. This is an extraordinary opportunity to be a key player and member of the senior staff at a new museum of contemporary art. The Broad Art Museum/MSU is unique among contemporary museums in that it possesses an historical collection dating back to Greek and Roman art. The museum’s exhibition program will actively engage dialogues across the centuries with the benefit of this historical collection.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of significant thematic as well as monographic exhibitions. In addition to keen knowledge of contemporary art and international trends, the Curator and Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs should have a passion for the history of art, informed by a study of world art history.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Exhibitions: Based on his/her wealth of ideas and enthusiasm for contemporary art, the Curator and Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs is responsible for all aspects of research, planning, budgeting, organization and implementation of original exhibitions. The Curator and Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs will also be centrally involved in soliciting and planning for world-class touring exhibitions. The Curator will champion exhibitions across contemporary practices from painting and installation to multimedia and new genres.

Management: The Curator and Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs will lead the exhibitions team including the exhibitions manager, registrar, preparators and all curatorial staff.

Publications: The Curator and Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs will be the primary writer/essayist for the exhibitions he or she develops. The Curator will be the originator of essential texts for all types of exhibition-related material, to be used by other staff members to create press releases, wall texts, brochures, etc.

Collections: The Curator and Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs will be the museum’s lead representative on the Acquisitions Committee. The Curator will be responsible for research, documentation, and collection development, including presentation of proposed acquisitions. With the Registrar, the curator will tend to the needs of the permanent collection.

Public role: The Curator and Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs will be a personable and comfortable leader working with Advisory Board Members and fostering relations with current and future donors, collectors, and member of the community. In addition to the Director and assistant Director, the Curator and Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs will also be an essential part of the public face of the museum both within the University and civically.
Job Requirements

Education and Work Experience: Minimum, MA; PhD preferred; proven track record of several significant contemporary art exhibitions, including catalogues; at least five years’ museum experience. Broad knowledge of art history and how the contemporary can be contextualized in the larger scope of world art history are strongly desired.

Skills and Abilities: Applicants must possess the ability to generate and implement exhibitions with a truly international reach. The Curator and Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs will have demonstrably strong connections to international artists, curator peers, and other institutional connections across the U.S. and internationally. The Curator must be eager to fully explore and work within a university environment, making connections between art and a very extensive pool of academic disciplines. At the same time, the Curator and Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs needs to be an outgoing member of the local community, willing and able to make strong connections with the museum’s local neighbors and visitors.

The Curator and Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs will be a consummate professional and team player. Ideally, the Curator will be able to dream big dreams while being fully grounded in the day to day life and work of the museum.

About Michigan State University: Michigan State University (MSU) was founded in 1855 as the nation’s first land-grant university. With more than 46,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in 17 colleges, MSU is known internationally as a major public research university with global reach. With more than 200 academic programs, many nationally ranked, MSU attracts scholars worldwide and students from all 50 states and approximately 130 countries. The 5,200 acre campus is located in East Lansing, three miles from the state capitol, 80 miles from Detroit, 210 miles from Chicago, and 90 miles from the shores of Lake Michigan.

All candidates must submit an application and resume through the Michigan State University Human Resources web based system (MAP). The URL for this website is www.jobs.MSU.edu. Please indicate position number ­­­­9607 when submitting your application.

Michigan State University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. MSU is strongly committed to achieving excellence through cultural diversity. The University actively encourages applications and nominations of women, persons of color, veterans, and persons with disabilities.