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CURATOR, ART MUSEUM
Job Title: CURATOR, ART MUSEUM
Job Code: 1446
FLSA: E
Job Level: 98
Revised Date: 08/01/2020
Job Family: JF 28
Occupational Summary
As head of the curatorial department, responsible for the overall administration of curatorial affairs of the museum, including design and oversight of the exhibition and collections programs, organization of original exhibitions with accompanying publications, recommendation of acquisitions, supervision of the curatorial department staff and student interns, as well as members of the collection management team, participation in the promotion and educational aspects of exhibitions and curatorial practice, oversee care of the permanent collection in field of expertise. Work with the Director and the Director of Development to develop donor relations, steward donors, assist in all forms of fundraising, participate in Concentration in Museum Theory classes, represent museum at professional meetings inside and outside Duke, execute other administrative duties as assigned by director.
Work Performed
Work with Director in developing curatorial direction.
Work with Director in developing museum policies and procedures.
Lead collections management team.
Oversee weekly meeting of collections team and other staff.
Train and supervise curatorial staff; conduct annual performance reviews.
Supervise head registrar and chief preparatory/exhibition designer; conduct performance reviews.
Create and oversee annual curatorial budgets.
Review museums annual budget allocations with Director and Deputy Director for Operations.
Collaborate with Director and Deputy Director of Operations on other budgetary matters, as needed.
Represent curatorial interests and participate on internal and external Boards.
Stand in for the Director at public programs and other events, as needed.
Superintend legal contracts for exhibition venues, guest curators, artist commissions and residencies.
Participate in Department Heads, programming and other staff meetings; serve on search committees for key staff.
Lead museums Programming Committee meetings.
Stand in for Director at bi weekly staff meetings and other key meetings, as needed.
Attend AAMD and other professional meetings, as needed.
Create and organize exhibitions, conduct research.
Research, write and edit exhibition catalogues.
Produce brochures for exhibitions or collection.
Negotiate loans for exhibitions and requests for loans from collection.
Research, write, edit wall texts and labels or supervise production in collaboration with curatorial and education staff.
Act as coordinating curator for guest curated or other temporary exhibitions, or supervise coordinating curator.
Assist in planning exhibition design, installation, programming, and marketing strategy.
Advise education department, work with education and curatorial departments to help train gallery guides.
Assist in identifying and securing exhibition venues for traveling exhibitions.
Oversee installation of permanent collection galleries.
Develop strategy for building the collection and recommend acquisitions, justify and present to Collections Committee of Board of Advisors; oversee artist commissions.
Solicit funds for acquisitions in conjunction with Director and Development Director.
Oversee deaccessioning projects.
Conduct public lectures on exhibitions and collection; build outreach to local, regional, national and international communities for audience development.
Oversee or supervise coordination of artist residencies, including facilitating with Duke classes across disciplines, in consultation with academic initiatives and curatorial staff.
Build and maintain relationships with artists, dealers, curators, directors, critics and writers.
Work with Director and Director of Development to develop fundraising strategy.
Develop and maintain relationships with collectors, donors, private funders and foundations.
Meet with individual donors, private funders, foundations and corporate representatives to raise funds for museum.
Communicate directly with National Board of Advisors regarding collection, exhibitions, publications, programs.
Steward National Board of Advisors regarding strategic gifts to the museum.
Represent the museum at national and international art fairs, biennials, exhibition openings and other contemporary art world events.
Visit private art collections.
Create development reports.
Assist Development Director and direct staff in writing grants for curatorial projects.
Participate in donor and Duke Alumni events, and travel and museum membership activities, as needed.
Attend and present at Friends Board meetings, as needed.
Guest lecture in University classes.
Lecture, and/or participate in Concentration in Museum Theory and Practice (ARTHIST 220 & ARTHIST 726).
Lecture or present to internship classes (ARTHIST 310 & 311).
Oversee student interns with curatorial department.
Assist interns pursuing jobs in outside museums and galleries.
Advise students interested in museum careers.
Participate in Faculty Advisory Board meetings.
Attend important University events, as needed.
Attend Council of the Arts meetings, as needed.
With the Director, attend bi monthly meetings with the Provost, as needed.
With the Director, represent the museum in meetings regarding Sculpture Park planning with Duke's Executive Vice President Office and Landscape Architects.
Serve on the Campus Public Art Committee.
Work with Vice Provost for the Arts on collaborations and joint programming.
Serve on President or Provost appointed committees, when invited.
Required Qualifications at this Level
Education/Training
Master's Required; PhD Preferred
Experience
5 years experience working as a curator in a large museum.
Skills
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
Essential Physical Job Functions
Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.
