Association of Academic Museums and Galleries

Title: Associate Curator of Academic Programs and Latin American Art
Department: Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art
Reports to: Senior Curator of Western Art
Term: 1.0 FTE for 12 months (renewable annually)
Annual salary: $40,000–$50,000, commensurate with experience
Expected starting date: Flexible

The University of Oregon, founded in 1876, is the state’s flagship institution. With a student body of almost 25,000 undergraduate and graduate students and over 260 academic programs, the university offers an energetic and robust academic environment in the welcoming college town of Eugene, Oregon. The UO is a world-class teaching and research institution, and a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU). The AAU is an organization made up of the 61 leading public and private research institutions in the United States and Canada, and the UO is one of only two members in the Pacific Northwest.

The University of Oregon’s Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (JSMA) is a premier Pacific Northwest museum for exhibitions and collections of historic and contemporary art based in a major university setting. The mission of the museum is to enhance the University of Oregon’s academic mission and to further the appreciation and enjoyment of the visual arts for the general public. The JSMA features significant collections galleries devoted to art from China, Japan, Korea, America and elsewhere as well as changing special exhibition galleries. The JSMA is one of six museums in Oregon and the only academic museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

General Description
Reporting to the Senior Curator of Western Art, the Associate Curator of Academic Programs and Latin American Art supports the museum’s mission by 1) strengthening the museum’s teaching role, working with faculty and students across campus; 2) building engagement among Latino constituents on and off campus; and 3) developing the collections and special exhibitions in support of faculty research and teaching, with a focus on modern and contemporary Latin American art. The position manages the JSMA Academic Support budget of $30,000, recommends acquisitions, and organizes special events (including Día de los Muertos) and exhibitions that have budgets ranging from $10,000–$150,000, including international loans.

Description of Duties

JSMA Academic Support (50%)

• Identify faculty and center directors whose work/interests align with JSMA exhibitions, programs, and other goals, and conduct outreach to encourage use of the JSMA’s collections and exhibitions for teaching and research. Outreach can include a quarterly faculty e-newsletter, individual meetings, and departmental presentations.

• Schedule and facilitate class visits and work with faculty to create tour agendas and curricula.
• Lead tours and class visits in the galleries and study room.
• Manage Academic Support Grant program, including marketing of program to faculty, intake of applications, oversight of budgets, and evaluation.
• Work with faculty to curate curricular rotations or larger exhibitions that tie in to curricular needs, with a focus on Latin American art.
• Serve with the director of education as JSMA’s point person for the museum’s Latino Engagement Plan. Tasks include building relationships with faculty, students, staff, administrators, and community members, development of seminars and courses, and program management, including the annual Día de los Muertos program.
• Create and implement workshops for faculty and graduate students to strengthen their use of the museum for teaching and research, working with colleges, schools, centers, departments, programs, and teaching-resource areas on campus.
• Gather statistics on class visits and faculty feedback (via survey or other instruments) at the end of each term.
• Create and schedule academic programs (lectures, symposia, performances, etc.) that support faculty engagement. Includes managing program budget, developing effective outreach to academics, and liaising with artists, lecturers, and other guests to arrange travel, honoraria, and other needs.
• Manage museum facility and technology use for courses and programs, including scheduling, budgeting, and collections access.
• Write and manage grants that further academic use and innovative practices for academic collaboration.
• Publish and present at conferences to create greater visibility for the JSMA’s academic and Latino engagement initiatives.
• Occasionally, teach courses for the university.
• Other duties as assigned.

JSMA Collections Support (25%)

• Research and interpret a growing collection of modern and contemporary Latin American art.
• Supervise student interns and faculty members in research and exhibition of Latin American art and Academic Support grants, as appropriate.

• Serve as a curatorial representative on the Collections Committee.
• Refine Latin American collections development plan and identify acquisitions, organize exhibitions, secure loans, and develop collaborative programs with Latin American studies faculty.
• Develop relationships with collectors, artists, and gallerists who can advance collections goals, with a focus on Latin American art.
• Other duties as assigned.

JSMA Exhibitions Support (25%)

• Develop and present exhibitions of modern and contemporary Latin American art (on loan and from collection), including contemporary artists in the Artist Project Space.

• Work collaboratively with curatorial team on all aspects of exhibitions organization, as needed, both for collection rotations and special exhibitions, including curation, research, logistical planning, preparation of checklists and interpretative materials, and documentation.
• Serve as in-house curator or manager, as appropriate, for special exhibitions organized by faculty or guest curators focusing on Latin American art and JSMA Academic Support Grants.
• Support education of staff and volunteers regarding curatorial activities and exhibition content.
• Draft exhibition materials for collateral and PR.
• Write grants and other fundraising proposals in support of exhibitions.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum and Preferred Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• MA in art history, with a focus on modern or contemporary Latin American art.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience working in an academic museum on curatorial projects.
• 1-2 years’ experience writing grants.
• 1-2 years’ experience supervising student workers and/or volunteers.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English): essential for communicating with artists, galleries, museums, and collectors in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Spain to support collections research development, exhibitions,  programs, and fundraising and to further the JSMA’s Latin American strategic plan.
• Demonstrated ability to work collegially and collaboratively with diverse internal and external constituents.
• Minimum 1 year experience working with faculty and students on curricular projects in the museum.

Professional Competencies

• Experience creating and conducting workshops.
• Experience researching and presenting Latin American art for museum acquisition and exhibition.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent computer skills, including MS Office and Outlook Exchange.

Preferred Qualification:

• PhD in art history, with a focus on modern or contemporary Latin American art.
• Experience working with community organizations, especially those serving Latino audiences.

The successful candidate will have the ability to work effectively with faculty, staff and students from a variety of diverse backgrounds.

Position is subject to criminal background check.

Application Procedure

To apply, applicants should submit a cover letter, summarizing your qualifications and interest in the position; current résumé or curriculum vitae that includes dates of employment; and the names, phone numbers, and addresses of three professional references. University Advancement prefers email submissions with all materials packaged as a single PDF attachment and “Search 16007” in the subject line. Please submit applications to:

Email:            advancementjobs@uoregon.edu

USPS:            Search Committee, Curator of Academic Programs JSMA
University Advancement
University of Oregon
1720 E. 13th Avenue, Suite 312
Eugene, OR  97403

Deadline for receipt of all materials is February 26, 2016.

The University of Oregon is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the ADA. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply, and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status.