Director of Collections and Exhibitions [The Columbus Museum]

DIRECTOR OF COLLECTIONS AND EXHIBITIONS

The Columbus Museum

1251 Wynnton Road

Columbus, GA  31906

The Columbus Museum seeks a Director of Collections and Exhibitions for planning and directing the care, research, interpretation, and growth of its noted collections of American art and history and for the Museum’s lively exhibition program. The Columbus Museum’s art collection includes paintings, sculpture, photography, prints, decorative arts, and a renowned collection of drawings.  Its historical collection focuses on the Chattahoochee Valley.  The Museum’s grounds include the Bradley-Olmsted Garden, designed by the Olmsted Brothers firm in the 1920s for homeowner and noted industrialist W. C. Bradley.

The Director of Collections and Exhibitions serves on the Museum’s senior management team and supervises the curator of history, and the registration, preparation, and exhibition design staff.  The position’s responsibilities include coordinating the activities of the curatorial staff with other museum staff and board committees and developing and overseeing the collections department’s budget.  Recently the Museum adopted a five-year strategic plan that calls for: greater integration between the art and history collections; reinstallation of the galleries; engaging interpretations of the collection; and appealing, innovative special exhibitions and programs. The implementation of the strategic plan offers the Director of Collections and Exhibitions the opportunity to have significant impact on visitors’ understanding of American art and history and to make important contributions to the fields of American art and history through new scholarship and publications.

One of the largest museums in the Southeast, the Columbus Museum is unique in being a part of the Muscogee County School District, which provides 42% of the operating support. The Museum is also supported by a nonprofit corporation for additional staff, programs, acquisitions, and endowments.  Admission is free.

Mission: The Columbus Museum brings American art and history to life for the communities of the Chattahoochee Valley.

Vision: The Columbus Museum is central to life in the Chattahoochee Valley as a hub of community learning and enjoyment. Through an educational approach, the Museum strives to ignite creativity, inspire critical thinking, and spark conversation.

Desired education, experience, and skills

–M.A.  in art history or related field (Ph.D. preferred)

–Minimum five years’ experience as a museum curator at a collecting institution

–Expertise in American art.  Demonstrated interest in American history and decorative arts highly desirable.

–Strong record of exhibitions and publications

–Experience in developing/maintaining relationships with donors and in acquiring art through both gift and purchase

–Superb public speaking skills

–Passion for engaging diverse audiences of varying levels of art knowledge through the exhibition program and through new presentations of the permanent collections

–Ability to lead a team and to work collaboratively with staff from other departments

–Excellent organizational and strategic thinking skills

–Knowledge of the proper care and management of collections, standards of documentation and ethics, exhibition organization and implementation, preparation of exhibition-related publications and scholarship

The Director of Collections and Exhibitions is a full-time position that offers a competitive salary and full benefits.  More information about The Columbus Museum can be found at www.columbusmuseum.com. Interested applicants should visit the Muscogee County School District website at www.muscogee.k12.ga.us to submit an online application.  A cover letter and resume with the names of three references should be emailed by March 10, 2015 to Jean Marie Worthington at Worthington.Jean.M@muscogee.k12.ga.us

The Columbus Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.