Curator [Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY]

Description

The Everson Museum of Art seeks a dynamic Curator to develop, lead, and manage a robust curatorial program of modern and contemporary art that serves multiple audiences through exhibitions, collections, collaborative ventures, and community engagement.  A creative thinker with an extensive knowledge of modern and contemporary art, the Curator will have at least five years of previous curatorial experience, proven track record of publications and projects of note, and an established network of peers. Ideally, the candidate will also have a strong background or interest in ceramics.  Excellent organizational, research, and communication skills; a commitment to diversity and cultural context; successful grant writing and donor cultivation; and prior budget and staff management are required.

Working closely with the Director/CEO to define the Museum’s strategies for exhibitions and engagement, the Curator will translate organizational vision into action through programming. A strong team player, the Curator will lead an initiative to integrate the work of education, outreach, exhibitions, and collections, and will collaborate with all Museum departments to ensure that programs meet the highest professional standards while advancing the Museum’s values of innovation, relevance, scholarship, and broad audience engagement. The Curator will be responsible for managing and contributing to a multi-year exhibitions schedule that balances historical and contemporary exhibitions, commissioned projects and traveling exhibitions, and nationally and/or regionally significant shows, while also showcasing the Museum’s permanent collection. In addition to authoring related exhibition texts and didactic materials, the Curator will assist with grant writing and development efforts to help secure resources necessary to sustain programming, as well as support the museum’s broader cultivation efforts.  The Curator will develop and manage programmatic budgets and provide leadership to programmatic staff. The Curator will create opportunities for partnerships with external agencies, community groups, cultural organizations, and educational institutions.

The Curator will also steward the Museum’s Collections Committee and actively develop the permanent collection through research, soliciting gifts, recommending works for acquisition and deaccession, and cultivating other forms of support.  The Curator will establish and maintain relationships with Museum donors, Board members, collectors, artists, and gallerists, and will serve as a resource for scholars and curatorial peers. The Curator will guide and participate in educating docents and volunteers, and will present lectures, talks, and tours for the public and peers. Additionally, the Curator will build partnerships and audience engagement through service in professional advisory groups and grants panels and participation in community activities and events.

The candidate must possess a Master’s degree in art history, museum studies or equivalent practical experience; a background in ceramics is preferred. The candidate should have at least five years of curatorial experience with a proven track record of producing original and engaging exhibitions, scholarly research, and publications. Experience should reflect a professional commitment to interpretation and engaging a diverse public audience in innovative and exciting ways, as well as creative program development.  Strong writing skills and the ability to lead and work flexibly and effectively with colleagues in a highly collaborative, faced-paced environment are essential. The candidate should have demonstrated success in project planning, management, and implementation, with a proven ability to establish goals, manage shifting priorities, and handle numerous time-sensitive projects concurrently.

Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Everson Museum of Art was founded in 1897 as the Syracuse Museum of Fine Arts, and is housed in the first museum designed by acclaimed architect I.M. Pei, which opened in 1968. The Everson is notable for its fine collection of works by American artists, its pioneering collection of video art, and it outstanding collection of international ceramics, one of the largest and most comprehensive in the country. Located in downtown Syracuse, the Everson serves a diverse audience of approximately 80,000 visitors each year and presents more than a dozen exhibitions annually.

This is a full-time exempt position with a competitive salary and benefits package. Please email a cover letter, resume, contact information for three references, and two recent writing samples to everson@everson.org. No phone calls please.

Requirements

The candidate must possess a Master’s degree in art history, museum studies or equivalent practical experience; a background in ceramics is preferred. The candidate should have at least five years of curatorial experience with a proven track record of producing original and engaging exhibitions, scholarly research, and publications. Experience should reflect a professional commitment to interpretation and engaging a diverse public audience in innovative and exciting ways, as well as creative program development.  Strong writing skills and the ability to lead and work flexibly and effectively with colleagues in a highly collaborative, faced-paced environment are essential. The candidate should have demonstrated success in project planning, management, and implementation, with a proven ability to establish goals, manage shifting priorities, and handle numerous time-sensitive projects concurrently.