Job Description

Position F40090

12-month non-tenure eligible faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor, beginning January 2016

The Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) and the School of the Arts (VCUarts) at Virginia Commonwealth University are currently accepting applications for a joint position as Associate Curator for the ICA and Assistant Professor for VCUarts Department of Art History. The successful candidate will be a dynamic, visionary curator and art historian who will develop, oversee, and implement exhibitions and programs for the ICA working in concert with the ICA’s Curator and Director, and teach one seminar course per semester in VCUarts.

This joint position is a full-time, 12-month non-tenure eligible position at the rank of Assistant Professor. The Associate Curator will work closely with the ICA Director, the ICA Curator, internationally recognized colleagues throughout VCU and its acclaimed School of the Arts, and community and international partners, to develop an ambitious, experimental, and innovative interdisciplinary program that brings together visual arts, music, performance, design, dance and theater in exhibitions, commissions, public events, special projects, publications, and artist residencies that engage the University, students, faculty, the broader Richmond community, and beyond. As an Assistant Professor in the VCUarts Department of Art History, this position will have teaching responsibilities that support the mission of VCUarts and could include undergraduate and graduate courses. In addition, the faculty member’s scholarly and creative activity should make a contribution to a body of knowledge within contemporary art, African Art, African Diaspora Art, Performance Art practices, and Curatorial Studies.

About the Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA):

Scheduled to open to the public in 2017, ICA (ica.vcu.edu) is designed by the renowned architect Steven Holl. The ICA will be a non-collecting art museum that provides a new environment for artists to explore the most critical issues of our time. This vibrant institution will engage local, national, and international communities through dynamic and challenging exhibitions, programs, and special projects that encourage critical thinking about the world we inhabit.

The ICA will be the newest institute for contemporary arts and design in the United States. Unlike a museum with a permanent collection, the ICA will be a non-collecting contemporary art institute dedicated to flexible and responsive exhibitions and performances that examine art, design, and performance from multiple interdisciplinary perspectives.

The 40,000-square-foot ICA will be an incubator for interdisciplinary experimentation for the entire university while simultaneously providing opportunities for collaboration both locally and internationally. It will be in direct dialogue with the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts (VCUarts), the #1 public art school in the country; set within a major, urban public research university with national and international rankings in sponsored research; and centrally located on the East Coast in a city with a top-10 museum and a region with few venues for the latest contemporary art. The ICA will become a conduit for global collaboration, bridging the distance to artists working in other regions internationally.

About the School of the Arts (VCUarts):

VCUarts (arts.vcu.edu) offers a variety of graduate and undergraduate degrees in design, fine and performing arts, with a unique emphasis on creative immersion. Far more than simply an education or preparation for a career, students leave VCUarts with the practical, professional and personal skills needed to make a life in the arts, no matter how they define it. That’s why our programs emphasize both doing and knowing. Why the majority of our faculty are working artists. Why we encourage students to take advantage of the many academic and intellectual opportunities that come with being part of a research university. Today, our graduates can be found throughout the academic and professional fields, and have been recognized with everything from Emmys to the MacArthur Fellowship.

The Virginia Commonwealth University campus is extremely diverse, which is an important factor for many of our students. VCUarts is comprised of sixteen programs and more than 3,000 students. With the inclusion of our campus in Qatar, come an additional 6 programs and another 254 students.

VCUarts has become known as a hotbed of artistic creation and expression. Here, emerging artists explore their potential and strive for high standards set by faculty members acknowledged for their inspiration and achievement.

About Richmond, VA:

Richmond is an art-centric town, but there’s much more all around us. Hiking, biking, kayaking and rafting opportunities abound. Brown’s Island and Maymont are just a few of the natural treasures VCU faculty, staff, and students name as their favorite Richmond spots. Richmond is a thriving capital city full of cultural diversity, great food, festivals and entertainment. We are the heart of the arts in a state with a bustling gallery and performance scene featuring local and international talent. Many state museums are located here, such as The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Richmond, more commonly known as RVA, is a haven for alternative and creative endeavors. The Today Show named Richmond the #3 Most Tattooed City in the US. In September 2012, Outside Magazine named Richmond the “Best River Town in America.” We are home to the James River Park System, one of the largest inner city park systems in the country. Washington, DC, Virginia Beach, and the Blue Ridge mountains are only 2 hours away. Richmond International Airport has daily non-stop flights to NYC, so you can be there in an hour, if you can find the time to go.

POPULATION

200,000+ live in the city

1.2 million in the greater Richmond area

Responsibilities as Assistant Professor in the Department of Art History:

This position will have teaching responsibilities that support the mission and curriculum of VCUarts and the Department of Art History. The faculty member will teach one course in Curatorial Studies, Art History, and/or general seminar/interdisciplinary seminar each semester to support the curriculum requirements of the various programs and could include undergraduate and graduate courses (MA and/or PhD programs). The faculty member’s scholarly and creative activity should make a contribution to a body of knowledge within the disciplines of Contemporary Art, African and African Diaspora Art, Performance Art, and Curatorial Studies and reflect a high standard of quality of competence. The faculty member’s scholarly and creative activities should be related to the program’s curriculum and be consistent with and support the mission and initiatives of the School, and University.

Responsibilities as Associate Curator for the ICA:

-Researches, coordinates, and develops contemporary exhibitions, commissions, public events, special projects, publications, and artist residencies that engage the University, students, faculty, the broader Richmond community, and beyond.

-Ensures goals and strategies for exhibitions and educational programs are consistent with the ICA mission and overall strategic planning.

-Responsible for developing exhibitions, projects, and events that expand audiences and increase the visibility of VCU and the ICA.

-Works closely with the communications and marketing office to communicate, promote, and publicize the ICA’s exhibitions and programs.

-Partners with the development office to assist with fundraising activities for exhibitions and programs including securing grants, planning of fundraising events, sponsorship, and gifts.

-Works with Director of Education and key staff to develop strategic community partnerships and educational programs to extend the reach of the ICA into the city’s various communities and surrounding areas.

-Routinely engages key constituencies including students, faculty, the community, including local business, industry, and non-profit leaders, artists, designers, performers, board members, and volunteers and encourages service on ICA committees to foster community partnerships and engagement.

-Actively supports the Director of the ICA and the ICA Curator and all other key constituencies in regard to the envisioned ICA.

-Develops, evaluates, and maintains strategic goals, policies, and objectives related to exhibition management.

-Performs all other duties in support of the Director and ICA, as needed.

Job Requirements

Qualifications:

-PhD in Art History with a focus on contemporary art. Applicants anticipating a PhD by May 2016 are invited to apply.

-Minimum 3 years teaching experience.

-Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.
-Minimum of five (5) years of experience working with contemporary art and artists in museums and/or galleries.

-Experience working with others to develop long-range exhibition calendars with some oversight and management of direct reports.

-Experience managing exhibition and special project budgets up to $1 million dollars.

-Demonstrated record of hands-on experience and project management of exhibitions, publications, lectures, and programs from conceptualization through execution.

-A distinctive record of original exhibitions, publications, lectures, articles, etc.

-Ability to work openly and respectfully with a flexible and collegial team and evidence of strong working relationships with a diverse range of contemporary artists, dealers, curators, scholars, collectors, and journalists.

-Familiarity with current market for contemporary art and an awareness of current ethical practices and laws regarding contemporary art.

-Successful track record with donor cultivation, grant writing, marketing and public relations initiatives.

-Experience collaborating with key constituents to build strong campus, local, regional, national, and international relationships.

-Ability to work within a diverse university setting and engage students and faculty to ensure alignment of exhibition program and thematic investigations in relation to research and teaching priorities across diverse disciplines.

-Excellent verbal/written communication and customer service skills.

-Proven flexibility and willingness to perform a wide range of tasks as necessary.

-Ability to problem-solve using sound judgment and professional discretion.

-Demonstrated ability to work independently and take initiative.

-Demonstrated strong work ethic and time management skills.

-Strong organizational skills required and ability to attend to details.

-Demonstrated ability to prioritize work, handle multiple tasks and meet deadlines.

Application Process:

Submit the following application materials via VCU eJobs at vcujobs.com:

-Cover Letter

-CV/Resume

-A list of five professional references including names with titles and contact information (references will not be checked prior to candidates’ approval)

Only electronic applications submitted via VCU eJobs will be accepted. The Cover Letter should be submitted in the “Cover Letter/Letter of Application” section in eJobs; the CV/Resume and References should be submitted as one PDF in the “Curriculum Vitae (CV)” section of eJobs.

Applications are due by October 30, 2015.

To read the full position announcement and to learn more about the ICA and VCUarts, visit:

arts.vcu.edu/jobs/

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, veteran’s status, political affiliation or disability.

APPLY FOR THIS JOB

Phone: 8048282787
Apply URL: https://www.vcujobs.com/postings/46825