Curator of American Art

Description

Job Title: Curator of American Art

Employment Type: Full Time, Exempt

Department: Curatorial

Division: Curatorial

Reports to: Director of Curatorial Affairs

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes

Salary Range: Up to $85,000

Hybrid Position

Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion at WAM:   At WAM we are committed to building a diverse environment, one where staff feel a sense of belonging, and are valued for their contributions and the perspectives they bring. Please visit our Mission, Vision, and Values page to learn more.     

Job Overview: 

To contribute to the fulfillment of the Worcester Art Museum’s mission to connect people, communities, and cultures through the experience of art by managing, developing, and interpreting the collection of American art and developing an active program in this area, including exhibitions, acquisitions, and public programs in collaboration with departments across the museum.

The Worcester Art Museum seeks a dynamic, collaborative, and energetic Curator of American Art to oversee our renowned collection. At WAM, the Curator of American Art is responsible for the stewardship, interpretation, and expansion of our paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts created in the Americas. Currently, the strengths of the collection are in Colonial and Federal period US portraiture, paintings by Winslow Homer and John Singer Sargent, and American Impressionists. Through recent acquisitions, WAM has also developed a small but important collection of 19th and 20th-century art by African American artists, which we hope to grow. We encourage applications from candidates with a scholarly record and curatorial experience in at least one of the areas of our strengths.

At the Worcester Art Museum, we strongly value innovative approaches to interpretation and installation and strive to integrate works by artists from underrepresented populations and present a fuller narrative of American art history. The successful applicant will develop a new installation for our permanent collections galleries and pursue personal areas of scholarly interest in our exhibition programming.

Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Initiate and oversee programming in American art, including traveling exhibitions and long-term installations of the permanent collection, under the guidance of the Director of Curatorial Affairs
• Steward the Museum’s collection of American art working in collaboration with Conservation and other museum services.
• Seek out, research, and recommend new acquisitions, both purchases and gifts with an eye to infuse greater diversity into our collection of American art in line with our overarching collecting plan; advise on deaccessioning; build relationships with collectors, under the guidance of the Director of Curatorial Affairs
• Create opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations with the area’s cultural and educational institutions
• Conduct research, document and publish the Museum’s holdings and assist outside scholars
• Promote the Museum’s collection through lectures, seminars, etc.
• Advise on loan requests to other institutions
• Identify funding opportunities in concert with Development; assist in preparing grant applications and funding proposals for projects; cultivate relationships between the Museum, donors, and collectors
• Prepare and monitor budgets
• Supervise fellows, interns, and volunteers as assigned
• Collaborate with Education and Experience and curatorial colleagues on the interpretation and presentation of the collections for a diverse public
• Represent the museum to various public constituencies in the region
• Develop a strong and effective network of curators and other scholars in the field
• Serve on various internal committees to further the Museum’s efforts and effectiveness
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Requirements

Qualifications: 

• A broad knowledge of art history with expertise in American art and cultural history
• Excellent research, written and oral communication skills
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills
• Ability to collaborate respectfully and effectively with colleagues
• Experience with museum databases and technology
• Excellent negotiation, resource management, and people skills
• Availability to represent the Museum at public events at after-hours events
• Availability to travel
• Embraces and promotes diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion initiatives

Education and Experience: 

Advanced degree in art history or American studies with proven experience in the field of art history

Competency in languages in area of specialization

Preference will be given to candidates with broad knowledge of and interest in art making in the Americas, including North, South, and Central America, and the Caribbean.

Minimum 7 years experience working as a curator with a PhD in a related field; 10 years experience working as a curator with an MA.