Curator, Works on Paper [Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH]

 Primary Responsibilities:

• Foster and maintain excellent working relationships with donors, patrons, collectors, dealers, colleagues from other institutions, and the scholarly community.
• Works with other TMA curators and across museum departments to realize the museum’s visual literacy initiative.
• Works closely with Education and Programs staff to develop meaningful opportunities for visitor engagement with works of art.
• Conducts ongoing research on the Museum’s art collections and in relation to special exhibitions, as assigned.
• Conducts research in support of potential acquisitions and deaccessions.
• Participates in the development of exhibitions and installations from the Museum’s permanent collection.
• Originates and organizes exhibitions as needed. Conducts research, selects objects, and works with registrars department on coordination of loan agreements, packing and shipping, and other exhibition details.
• Collaborates cross-departmentally to facilitate the creation of interpretive materials including catalogues, brochures, and other publications.
• Serves as curator-in-charge of traveling exhibitions, when appropriate.
• Present gallery talks, docent lectures, and public lectures on relevant exhibitions and aspects of the permanent collection and field inquiries from the public.
• Cultivates collectors for possible donations of art objects.
• Works with other TMA curators and across museum departments to realize the museum’s visual literacy initiative.
• Works closely with Education and Programs staff to develop meaningful opportunities for visitor engagement with works of art.
• Fundraises for acquisitions and exhibitions; works with the Development Office to develop fundraising support for programs and activities and assist with fundraising as appropriate.
• Participates in the professional and intellectual discourse related to the museum’s art collection as well as the museum profession; provides services to the disciplines through participation as an active member of professional organizations.
• Is conversant with the art market, maintains contact with dealers, galleries, collectors, fellow professionals, and other constituencies as appropriate as a basis for collection growth and exhibition development.

Education, Specialized Knowledge and Experience

• Ph.D. preferred; minimum of Master’s and 2 years works on paper curatorial experience.
• Expertise in the curation and management of works on paper collections.
• Experience in use of museum collections databases.
• Must communicate effectively with other Museum staff and the public, in small and large groups, in writing and in speech; proficiency in two foreign languages preferred.
• Visitor Engagement – Deep interest in and experience with customer service and visitor engagement; actively seeks information to understand and anticipate visitor expectations, and needs; Builds rapport and cooperative relationships; considers how actions or plans will affect customers; responds quickly to meet customer needs and resolve problems.
• Innovation – An unrestrained approach to problem-solving that generates new solutions and applies existing knowledge/practices in new ways; should constantly be seeking ways to improve the Museums processes and offerings.
• Initiative- The vision and ability to make substantial changes at the Museum; takes prompt action to accomplish objectives; taking action to achieve goals beyond what is required.
• Adaptability – Ability to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends and occasional overnight travel; maintain effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or the work environment; adjust effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures

Since our founding in 1901, the Toledo Museum of Art has earned a global reputation for the quality of our collection, our innovative and extensive education programs, and our architecturally significant campus. More than 30,000 works of art represent American and European painting, the history of art in glass, ancient Greek,

Roman, and Egyptian works, Asian and African art, medieval art, sculpture, decorative arts, graphic arts, and modern and contemporary art. To accommodate the ever growing collection and demand for art education,

the Museum campus has grown exponentially since its founding. From its humble first exhibition space in two rented rooms, the Museum has grown to cover approximately 36 acres with six buildings. Thanks to the benevolence of its founders, as well as the continued support of its members, the Toledo Museum of Art remains a privately-endowed, non-profit institution and opens its collection to the public—free of charge—six days a week, 309 days a year. We are closed on Mondays and major holidays.

Position Summary

The Toledo Museum of Art houses a world class works on paper collection which is a major attraction for scholars and the public alike.  The collection contains works by Albrecht Dürer, Rembrandt van Rijn, Francisco Goya, Vincent van Gogh, Ed Ruscha and Henri Matisse. A first-edition King James Bible, pages from the Gutenberg Bible and photographs by Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen and Ansel Adams, among others.  The Associate Curator of Works on Paper provides curatorial support related to the Toledo Museum of Art’s permanent collection, exhibitions, and special presentations in this area. The position reports to the Associate Director and requires close collaboration with the curatorial staff, and colleagues in Education, Programs, Registration, Conservation, Finance, and Marketing.  The position actively supports the care, research, exhibition, growth, and custody of all objects in the art collections belonging to or on loan to Toledo Museum of Art.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Foster and maintain excellent working relationships with donors, patrons, collectors, dealers, colleagues from other institutions, and the scholarly community.
• Works with other TMA curators and across museum departments to realize the museum’s visual literacy initiative.
• Works closely with Education and Programs staff to develop meaningful opportunities for visitor engagement with works of art.
• Conducts ongoing research on the Museum’s art collections and in relation to special exhibitions, as assigned.
• Conducts research in support of potential acquisitions and deaccessions.
• Participates in the development of exhibitions and installations from the Museum’s permanent collection.
• Originates and organizes exhibitions as needed. Conducts research, selects objects, and works with registrars department on coordination of loan agreements, packing and shipping, and other exhibition details.
• Collaborates cross-departmentally to facilitate the creation of interpretive materials including catalogues, brochures, and other publications.
• Serves as curator-in-charge of traveling exhibitions, when appropriate.
• Present gallery talks, docent lectures, and public lectures on relevant exhibitions and aspects of the permanent collection and field inquiries from the public.
• Cultivates collectors for possible donations of art objects.
• Works with other TMA curators and across museum departments to realize the museum’s visual literacy initiative.
• Works closely with Education and Programs staff to develop meaningful opportunities for visitor engagement with works of art.
• Fundraises for acquisitions and exhibitions; works with the Development Office to develop fundraising support for programs and activities and assist with fundraising as appropriate.
• Participates in the professional and intellectual discourse related to the museum’s art collection as well as the museum profession; provides services to the disciplines through participation as an active member of professional organizations.
• Is conversant with the art market, maintains contact with dealers, galleries, collectors, fellow professionals, and other constituencies as appropriate as a basis for collection growth and exhibition development.

Education, Specialized Knowledge and Experience

• Ph.D. preferred; minimum of Master’s and 2 years works on paper curatorial experience.
• Expertise in the curation and management of works on paper collections.
• Experience in use of museum collections databases.
• Must communicate effectively with other Museum staff and the public, in small and large groups, in writing and in speech; proficiency in two foreign languages preferred.
• Visitor Engagement – Deep interest in and experience with customer service and visitor engagement; actively seeks information to understand and anticipate visitor expectations, and needs; Builds rapport and cooperative relationships; considers how actions or plans will affect customers; responds quickly to meet customer needs and resolve problems.
• Innovation – An unrestrained approach to problem-solving that generates new solutions and applies existing knowledge/practices in new ways; should constantly be seeking ways to improve the Museums processes and offerings.
• Initiative- The vision and ability to make substantial changes at the Museum; takes prompt action to accomplish objectives; taking action to achieve goals beyond what is required.
• Adaptability – Ability to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends and occasional overnight travel; maintain effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or the work environment; adjust effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures