Gretchen Hupfel Curator of Contemporary Art and Programming [The Delaware Contemporary, Wilmington, DE]

Description

Description

The Delaware Contemporary seeks a visionary, team-oriented, and energetic program leader who is responsible for building and leading a balanced schedule of innovative and relevant temporary and travelling exhibitions and programs that advance the mission and values for the center, while reaching diverse audiences. The position requires a commitment to the local community with an eye for national and international impact. The ideal candidate is a respected individual with a strong network of connections and background in exhibition-making and program execution, who knows the community and has the ability to capture the viewer’s attention by bridging the physical with the virtual, who can serve individuals in a broad spectrum of disciplines and engagement modalities, while cultivating and maintaining positive relationships with patrons, collectors, community, and program partners. Having an interest in entwining software platforms with technology and the visual/anthropological culture is a desirable quality.

About The Delaware Contemporary

The Delaware Contemporary contains over 5,600 square feet of exhibition space and houses seven galleries, 26 artists’ studios, a gift shop, a high-tech auditorium, and a classroom. Situated on the rejuvenated Riverfront Wilmington. The Delaware Contemporary presents numerous programs, special events, and exhibitions annually of regionally, nationally, and internationally recognized artists.

Mission statement

The Delaware Contemporary is a dynamic gathering place for the exploration of new ideas at the intersection of technology, art, and design. As a non-collecting art museum, The Delaware Contemporary’s compelling exhibitions, innovative educational experiences, and access to the artistic process inspire us to infuse creativity into our daily lives.

Requirements

Responsibilities

• Conduct ongoing research for artists, contemporary trends, or community resources, and organize a cohesive schedule of innovative exhibitions of contemporary art for seven on-site galleries.
• Generate and manage the installation of all exhibitions ensuring they are creative, collaborative, and cohesively designed to support both the education and exhibition departments and raise the organization’s profile.
• Lead and organize the programming for the annual Gretchen Hupfel Symposium that focuses on issues related to contemporary art and visual culture.
• Foster collaborative partnerships with area arts and cultural community to activate the programs and build community engagement.
• Participate in fundraising events; organize travel opportunities for patrons, as well as selected donors and trustees.
• Manage a team of curatorial associates, preparators, and interns.
• Work with the Executive Director, Board of Directors and senior staff to build collaborative partnerships with collectors, donors, and artists for program support and capital support.
• Work with the Director of Education, devise interpretative strategies to foster education. In addition, working independently and collaboratively with Education and Special Events to devise a calendar of lectures, tours, symposia, and other innovative programs that generate contextualized experiences in the galleries and auxiliary spaces for all audience levels.
• Regularly network with peers nationally and internationally to co-organize exhibitions and tour The Delaware Contemporary-originated projects.
• Collaborate with guest curators and artists on project-based installations and programs.
• Manage curatorial associates, preparators, and interns.
• Maintain positive working relationship with colleagues and diverse constituencies, such as board members, docents, staff, and general audiences
• Develop and manage budget for each exhibition and program
• Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of responsibility and requirements of the position.

·       Work with the Director of Marketing to coordinate media coverage and audience engagement.

Requirements

• M.A. or M.F.A. in Art History, Arts Administration, Museum Studies, Visual/cultural studies, Film Studies, Critical Theory, or other specialization in contemporary art.
• 3 – 5 years curatorial experience with a track record of exhibitions, publications, development of programs, and management of interns.
• Devoted to serving the general public with a commitment to the community by driving innovative programs that have local, national, and international impact.
• Understands issues of identity, discrimination, racial, cultural, ethnic, and intellectual diversity, and how they drive exhibitions and programs in a museum setting.
• A passion for museum standards and best practices, and the wider field of contemporary museums, and interest in interdisciplinary approaches to presenting and interpreting art and visual culture.
• Highly motivated, creative, capable of making decisions, goal-oriented, and capable of delivering large and small projects within deadlines.
• Strong organizational, communication, and grant-writing skills.
• Capable grasp of numeracy and sound fiscal management.
• Seek learners who enjoy challenges and are able to think through problems, delegating work as needed, and work collaboratively with artists, cultivating donors, other staff members, educators, and interns.
• Ability to write effectively for and speak to both scholarly and general audiences on contemporary art, visual culture, design, and technology.
• Sound judgment, accountability, maintains high standards of professional etiquette and personal ethics, and public trust.
• Keen visual skills, attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize, and exhibit effective communications with all levels of management and staff.
• Evening and weekend hours required for special programs and events.

Job Type: Full-time, 40 hours/week

Rank: Non-exempt

Duration: First six months probationary period; indefinite

Travel: Requires15-25%

Reports to: Executive Director

Request three-year commitment.

An EOE employer.