Assistant Curator of Art after 1950
Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, Florida
Job Description
The Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida, seeks applicants with a strong background in art from 1950 to the present. The Assistant Curator of Art after 1950 will work within a small but productive Curatorial Department. He or she will contribute to the development and implementation of the Museum’s diverse collection and exhibition programs, and will advance interest in art and visual culture after 1950 within the institution and the community.
This recently created position participates in all aspects of the Curatorial Department’s activities, including curating and organizing exhibitions within the Museum, serving as in-house curator for exhibitions organized by fellow institutions, research and publications on the collection, cultivation and stewardship of donors, and building relationships within the community. He or she is able to engage diverse audiences—from the specialist to the non-specialist—can manage a diverse and challenging workload, and can interact with living artists of national and international reputation. The position is full time with benefits and reports to the Museum’s Chief Curator. Salary is commensurate with education and experience. Review of applications will begin August 31 until the position is filled.
The Museum of Fine Arts is at the center of St. Petersburg’s impressive arts community and the steward of the only collection of world art in our region. Founded in 1962, the Museum is a non-profit, AAM accredited institution, in a handsome facility on the downtown waterfront, completed in 1965 and expanded in 1989. The $20 million Hazel Hough Wing was added in 2008, doubling the size of the Museum, which at present covers nearly 80,000 square feet. The collection contains over 16,000 artworks dating from antiquity to the present, considerably enhanced thanks to the recent donation of 12,000 photographs from The Dandrew-Drapkin Collection.
The Museum of Fine Arts organizes and hosts approximately 8 to 10 temporary exhibitions annually, ranging from those of international standing (as in Ancient Egypt—Art and Magic: Treasures from the Fondation Gandur pour l’Art, Geneva, Switzerland of 2011) to those drawn from the collection (e. g., Sitter and Subject in Nineteenth-Century Photography and Contemporary Prints by American Women: A Selection from the Gift of Martha and Jim Sweeny). The MFA also presents a comprehensive schedule of public and educational programs, with a dedicatedExplore More gallery for young visitors; lectures, travel, and educational opportunities are organized, some in conjunction with membership support groups.
Job Requirements:
The successful candidate will be personable, an excellent communicator, and have an ability to work collaboratively. He or she can also manage a varied workload, and will have strong writing, speaking, and computer skills, an advanced degree in art history (M. A. or Ph. D.), familiarity with standard museum practice, and two years of experience in a related position. Preference will be given to applicants with scholarly publications in the field, broad interests across media, demonstrable knowledge of the art market, as well as fluency in one or more foreign languages.
Primary responsibilities of the Assistant Curator of Art after 1950 include:
• Research and writing on the collection and on exhibitions, including catalogues, brochures, and website texts.
• Engages museum visitors and members.
• Participates in the cultivation and stewardship of collectors, donors, and museum members.
• Works with the Chief Curator and the Curator of Public Programs to develop and schedule programming that accompanies exhibitions and those based on the collection.
• Speaks to the public and makes presentations to staff, board, support groups, and docents.
• Works closely with all members of the Curatorial Department, especially the Chief Curator, Registrar, and Curatorial Assistant, and collaborates effectively with those outside the Department, especially Education, Public Relations, Marketing, and Development staff.
• Generates and answers correspondence related to collection and exhibition projects.
• Participates in the coordination and production of collection and exhibition publications.
• Interacts with living artists of national and international standing.
Review of complete applications begin August 31, 2012 and continue until position is filled.
Phone calls are discouraged and incomplete applications may not be reviewed.
Please submit the following materials to hr@fine-arts.org
Letter of interest in the position
Curriculum vitae
Writing sample that also indicates scholarship in the field
Contact information for three professional references
Salary requirements
