Gretchen Hupfel Curator of Contemporary Art [Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts]

The Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts (www.thedcca.org), a dynamic non-collecting contemporary art center located on the Riverfront Wilmington in Wilmington, Delaware, seeks a skilled and team-oriented Gretchen Hupfel Curator of Contemporary Art to start in June 2015. The position will be responsible for building and implementing a program of temporary and travelling exhibitions for the center. An ability to serve artists, cultivate and maintain positive relationships with patrons and collectors, engage community and program partners, and work with the DCCA’s Education Department to meaningfully connect with area students and educators are important aspects of this position.

Position Responsibilities

The functions and responsibilities listed below are those that represent the majority of time spent working in this job. Management may assign additional essential functions and responsibilities related to the type of work of the job as necessary.

• Conduct ongoing research and organize a cohesive program of exhibitions of contemporary art for six on-site galleries.
• Work with the Executive Director, Board of Directors and senior staff to cultivate trustees, collectors, donors, and artists for program support and capital support. Participate in fundraising events; organize travel opportunities for patrons, as well as selected donors and trustees.
• Manage curatorial department staff.
• Working with the Education Department, devise interpretative strategies for understanding the works exhibited, through labels and other media. In addition, work with Education and Special Events to devise a calendar of lectures, symposia, and other programs for all audience levels to complement the DCCA’s contemporary program.
• Regularly network with peers nationally and internationally to co-organize exhibitions and tour DCCA-originated projects.
• Collaborate with guest curators and artists on project-based installations and programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of responsibility and requirements of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of contemporary art and visual culture.
• Skills in arts-based research and visual analysis.
• Ability to effectively write for and speak to both scholarly and general audiences.
• Ability to manage large projects and must be able to prioritize and delegate work as needed.
• Must communicate effectively with all levels of management and staff.
• Maintain high standards of professional etiquette.
• Have working knowledge of all curator/registrar operation procedures.
• Must understand the building and management of budgets, and routinely report accurate financial data to the Executive Director, Associate Director for Administration, and other management as needed.
• Ability to interact smoothly with artists, donors, colleagues, educators, and students.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team of dedicated professionals.
• Ability to think creatively and across disciplines.
• Ability to multi-task.

Required Education and Experience

• Master’s degree in art, art history, or related field, or related experience.
• Three or more years of contemporary curatorial experience is preferred.
• Evidence of past innovative, interdisciplinary programming.
• Demonstrated evidence of clear writing

The position reports directly to the Executive Director and is a full-time salaried position that is eligible for the DCCA’s benefit package. Salary offered is commensurate with experience.

The DCCA actively subscribes to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity, and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, religion, ancestry or national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression. Minorities, Women, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities are encouraged to apply.