Exhibit Curator [Sealaska Heritage Institute, Juneau, AK]

Description

Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) is a regional Alaska Native non-profit organization (501(c)(3)) founded in 1980 by Sealaska Corporation, a regional Native corporation established under the terms of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.  SHI’s mission is to perpetuate and enhance the culture of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian peoples.  Our goal is to promote cultural diversity and cross-cultural understanding.  SHI operates an extensive array of programs in education, the arts, language, culture and history.  We work in close association with the local school district and state university under cooperative agreements, and our language and art programs are focused on restoration of those fundamental aspects of culture.  Every two years, SHI hosts Celebration, a cultural festival featuring 50 dance groups and a number of associated events including a juried art show, an artists market, a traditional foods contest, and scholarly lectures; it draws more than 5,000 people to Juneau.  The Culture and History Department oversees a number of research and documentation projects, a visiting scholar program, an annual lecture series, and our archives, library and collections.  The mission of the Archives, Library and Collections Program is to collect and preserve materials that document the history, culture, heritage, and languages of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people and to make these materials available to the public for educational purposes. SHI has contributed significantly to the documentation of Tlingit oral traditions through major publications and enjoys an ongoing relationship with the University of Washington Press.  SHI moved into a new building in downtown Juneau in May, 2014.  The Walter Soboleff Building, constructed to LEED Gold standards, includes three installations of monumental art created by some of the best Northwest Coast artists alive today, a cedar plank clan house, a 1650 square foot exhibition hall, and a gift shop featuring art produced by contemporary NWC Artists.  The exhibits are a significant component of our public education activity serving the Native and non-Native public.

The Exhibits Curator has responsibility for the design, planning and execution of exhibition projects in collaboration with the President, Director of the Culture and History Department and the Archives and Collections Management Specialist including in-house and temporary exhibitions.  The Exhibits Curator facilitates the integration of curatorial content and interpretation in the development of exhibitions, digital activities, education and publications, ensuring that SHI’s exhibitions and digital activities balance the highest quality of scholarship and innovation while providing an outstanding visitor experience and meeting the interests of a diverse audience.  The incumbent will also be responsible for managing specialists providing professional services for exhibition construction and installation, collaborating with other SHI departments and project teams to integrate exhibitions with visitor services, educational programs and other activities, and writing or reviewing grant proposals, exhibit-related publications, articles for professional journals, and publicity materials.

Requirements

1. Propose, plan and develop exhibitions in the areas of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian culture, history, art, and science: create themes and story-lines; select objects to be exhibited; collect subject-matter information, photographs, and other materials to be used in the exhibit; and develop educational materials to support the exhibit.
2. Exercise creativity in exhibit design and advance practices of innovation, collaboration and new approaches to content delivery.
3. Conduct exhibition planning including establishing a timeline and schedule, creating a budget, identifying required staffing and resources, selecting interpretive media, and managing the procurement of required goods and services.
4. Search for and recommend the acquisition of temporary or travelling exhibitions based on interest, budget and facility and security considerations.  Plan, schedule and coordinate their installation and removal.
5. Collaborate with other SHI departments in museum tours and interpretation of exhibits, implementing docent program and other visitor services, and developing educational and curriculum materials based on exhibits.
6. Participate in short- and long-range exhibition planning and ensure the coordination of multiple projects over several years.
7. Develop grant proposals and budgets and administer/manage grants and projects.
8. Develop, negotiate and monitor professional services contracts and supervise work of consultants.
9. Represent SHI meetings and conferences at the state and national levels.
10. Perform other duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES

1. Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices, and current developments in the design, construction and installation of museum exhibitions.
2. Thorough knowledge of the professional standards, principles, and practices to plan, develop and implement a program of educational exhibits.
3. Thorough knowledge of contemporary interpretive media.
4. Ability to promote and enhance cross-cultural understanding through museum exhibits and educational programming.
5. Ability to manage creative and scholarly professionals and projects.
6. Ability to establish working relationships with other institutions, organizations, and individuals at community, state, national, and international levels.
7. Ability to communicate effectively and represent SHI to the media, potential donors, Indian tribes and representatives, community organizations, and the public.
8. Ability to deal effectively with sensitive or controversial issues when dealing with Indian tribes and clans, state and federal agencies, the media, private organizations, and the public.
9. Skill in effective communication, both oral and written.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Master’s degree or certificate in Museology, Public History, History, Cultural Anthropology, Visual Arts, Art History, or a closely related field; and two years of professional curatorial experience in a cultural or historical museum.
PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Knowledge of Northwest Coast Indian cultures.