Assistant/Associate Curator
ASSISTANT or ASSOCIATE CURATOR
The Job
At a time of remarkable growth, the Brandywine Museum of Art seeks an Assistant (or Associate) Curator that will steward, present, and interpret Brandywine’s permanent collection and exhibitions through research, exhibition development, cataloguing, and related projects. Reporting to the Director, the Assistant Curator must be highly knowledgeable of American Art and excited by the prospect of working with the full range of Brandywine’s collection spanning the nineteenth century through the present. Savvy with social media, the Assistant Curator will bring a national perspective but demonstrate a commitment to building relationships in the greater Philadelphia community.
Essential Functions
Collection Interpretation:
- Interpret the museum’s collections of American Art through innovative gallery displays and presentations.
- In collaboration with the Senior Curator, refine and develop plans for the installation of the collection.
- Assist members of the registration team in maintaining accurate and expansive information on works in the collection.
- Assist in responding to requests for information on the collection from the public and scholars.
Collection Care:
- Contribute to refining the collection, both proposing works of art that would expand and deepen its holdings and identifying and processing works for deaccessioning.
- Cultivate long-term relationships with donors, collectors, scholars, artists and art dealers to attract and secure donations of works of art, collections and acquisition funds.
- Make recommendations for conservation.
- Maintain and expand information on the collection in The Museum System (TMS) database.
- Assist in identifying funds for research and collections care, collaborating with development staff on applications
Exhibition Development:
- Conceptualize and implement dynamic and scholarly temporary exhibitions (both multi-loan or collection-based projects) in the field of American Art. Brandywine’s exhibitions program strives to promote embody diverse approaches to artistic practices, themes, and media.
- Maintain close contact with museum colleagues to explore ideas for collaborative projects and learn about exhibition opportunities.
- Collaborate across departments on all aspects of exhibitions, including loan requests, securing venues for travel tours, assisting with securing grants and sponsorship and in the creation of exhibition-related educational programs, writing interpretive texts, and partner with Communications staff on public relations activities to support exhibition projects or initiatives.
- Serve as the coordinating curator and primary liaison for exhibitions organized by another museum or with a guest curator.
Research
- Conduct and publish scholarly research of the collection, exhibitions and topics in American art through Brandywine publications and other museum catalogues, conferences and symposia, journals, and interpretive texts.
- Lecture and lead tours of the collection and exhibitions.
- Collaborate with education staff on fresh interpretive strategies for the collection and exhibitions, training docents where appropriate.
- Give presentations or participate in panel discussions organized by museums, academic institutions, art-focused organizations and auction houses.
Qualifications and Qualities
- MA in Art History; PhD preferred
- At least 2-3 years of curatorial and collections experience in a museum setting.
- Fluency with collection databases.
- Excellent writing skills and a proven commitment to scholarship.
- Outstanding communication skills.
- Strong collaboration skills and knowledge of current best curatorial practices.
- Excellent organizational skills and ability to advance numerous projects simultaneously.
- Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively and positively with staff, trustees, and all other internal and external contacts.
- Savvy and engaging social media presence
- Strong commitment to values of diversity, equity, access, and inclusion.
Salary
$62,000-$72,000
NOTE: Candidates that have additional professional experience are encouraged to apply, and if appropriate will be considered at the Associate Curator level with additional compensation
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