The Louis L. and Adelaide C. Ward Senior Curator of European Art [Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO]

Description

The Louis L. and Adelaide C. Ward Senior Curator, European Arts

One of the country’s leading art museums, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is dedicated to the enjoyment and understanding of the visual arts and the varied cultures they represent. At the core of the museum’s vision of the future is the goal of playing a central role in Kansas City life by catalyzing connections to neighbors; an ever-expanding range of visitors; and community, civic and cultural partners in the city and the larger region. In short, the Nelson-Atkins is “where the power of art engages the spirit of the community.”

Museum Collections

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, recently voted Best U.S. Museum (based on Yelp reviews),  is recognized as one of the world’s finest encyclopedic art museums with collections encompassing more than 33,500 art objects, including masterpieces from diverse world cultures spanning 5,000 years of history. Well known for the arts of China and also Japan, South and Southeast Asia, the museum also holds significant European art, American art, American Indian art, African art and a magnificent photography collection. In addition, the Nelson-Atkins boasts strong modern and contemporary collections with a major emphasis on sculpture that supports the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park, which includes over 30 monumental works. The encyclopedic collection represents a pinnacle of artistic achievement and serves as evidence of humankind’s history, religions, philosophies, aspirations, and daily lives.

Basic Function

The Senior Curator, European Arts provides leadership to the department in strategy, financial management, staff development, exhibitions and programming, and is also is responsible for professional practices such as acquisitions, research interpretation and presentation.  The position guides, supervises, and evaluates all full-time and part-time staff assigned to the European Arts department.

A key component of the role is to be able to foster a sense of teamwork among members of the European Arts staff as well as with other staff of the museum. The Senior Curator, European Arts must be an articulate and enthusiastic advocate of the museum and work effectively to promote the mission of the museum throughout the wider community and with all museum constituencies. This means the incumbent must exhibit excellent judgment and communications skills while dealing with individuals with widely varying backgrounds and styles.

About the European Arts Department

The European Arts department consists of galleries and collections related to Ancient Art, Architecture, Design and Decorative Arts, and European Paintings and Sculpture, with curatorial staff to support these collections.

The Ancient galleries were reinstalled in 2010 and feature a remarkable Egyptian sarcophagus known as Meretites, along with items that were part of the funerary assemblage. Since opening, the Egyptian galleries have been the most visited in the museum. Also featured is the collection of Near Eastern, Greek, Etruscan, and Roman art, representing almost every genre and media in the ancient world.

The Decorative Arts collection includes about 5,500 objects, from the 13th century to the present. As part of the reinstallation process, decorative arts are fully integrated into the appropriate collections galleries, offering a greater understanding of the culture and lifestyle of particular periods. The collection of ceramics includes rare examples of 18th-century European porcelains and the most important collection of pre-industrial British pottery outside Britain, collected by Frank C. and Harriet P. Burnap.

The collection of European Painting and Sculpture includes a strong group of Italian paintings. One of the museum’s greatest treasures is Caravaggio’s Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness. The stars of the Northern European paintings are works by Petrus Christus, Wtewael, and a portrait by Rembrandt. The French paintings include a major Poussin, as well as a fine collection of Impressionists and Post-Impressionists. The latter includes Monet’s Boulevard des Capucines and Water Lilies, van Gogh’s Olive Orchard, and works by Cézanne, Gauguin and Manet.

In addition, the European Art galleries are currently undergoing a an $11.7 million renovation of that will showcase the internationally celebrated Marion and Henry Bloch Collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Art, which will go on permanent view in Spring 2017. The art will be integrated with the museum’s European collection, a project that is the result of a thoughtful planning process and strategic initiative.

Requirements

Ideal Experience

Candidates should possess the following type of knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience:

• Strong museum background with ten (10) or more years as a Curator to include deep scholarly knowledge of field with experience in generating lively, artistically significant programs, originating innovative exhibitions, and enhancing the permanent collection through thoughtful interpretation and acquisitions.
• Master’s degree in Art History; PhD in Ancient, Decorative or European Art.
• Demonstrated proficiency in writing successfully as a published author on art historical topics in catalogues, journals and other scholarly works.
• Previous experience supervising a staff of Assistant/Associate Curators and administrative personnel including the ability to manage, mentor and develop high performers and build succession.
• Strategic vision and creativity, coupled with a self-motivated and results-oriented work ethic.
• Extensive participation in scholarly and public forums, collaborative projects with education, interpretation and through community outreach.
• Experience developing and/or implementing, from a Senior Curatorial perspective, multiple temporary and permanent exhibitions, with cross-institutional teams and shared authority. A background in or knowledge of and training in conservation issues as related to art.
• Experience forecasting and managing labor and program budgets for a department and exhibitions.
• Must have excellent credentials and be a recognized leader in his or her field of study as well as have the ability to formulate and implement a vision for the department.
• Proven experience working closely with donors and collectors.An ability to interact well with Trustees in order to assure long-term support for the museum.

Personal Characteristics

The successful candidate should be:

• A mission-driven individual with a belief in and commitment to the mission of the Nelson-Atkins; a strong interest in, and passion for the visual arts;
• A good listener and strategist; comfortable receiving input from many sources, and able to analyze and formulate disparate information into a sound, well-organized plan;
• Intrepid yet tactful; determined yet respectful of other’s concerns; someone with the flexibility and creativity needed to find alternative ways to reach objectives when barriers arise;
• A charismatic communicator, able to build enthusiasm for the museum, its exhibitions and programs, and for innovative approaches that advance the reputation of the Nelson-Atkins as a leading museum regionally, in the United States and the world; exceptional verbal and written communication skills;
• A hard worker with a high energy level; a “doer” with a willingness to work hands-on in developing and executing a variety of Senior Curator-level activities;
• Emotionally mature (High Emotional IQ) with a very good sense of humor and the flexibility and sensitivity to work with diverse personalities and situations.

The Community

Geographically, this position is located in the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area, a community known for solid philanthropic support and a thriving arts community. Kansas City is having a renaissance in the arts, food and community. The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is located in close proximity to the Nelson-Atkins, as is the Kansas City Art Institute, an accredited four year college of fine arts and design.  The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts opened in 2011 and is home to the Kansas City Ballet, Lyric Opera, and Kansas City Symphony. The region also boasts impressive jazz and blues roots, while the Crossroads Art District has helped revitalize downtown as a showplace for art galleries, public arts and architecture combined with entertainment and business.

The Kansas City region is ranked by several national publications as one of the best places to live and work in the United States.

Compensation

A competitive compensation package, corresponding to the experience level and credentials of the candidate will be offered.

Non-Discrimination

We firmly support the principle and philosophy of equal opportunity for all individuals, regardless of age, race, gender, creed, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected category pursuant to applicable federal, state or local law.

To Apply

Interested and qualified candidates may apply online directly by visiting our website: http://www.nelson-atkins.org/get-involved/careers