CURATOR OF COLLECTIONS (OPEN RANK), PICKER ART GALLERY
Colgate University, a highly-selective residential liberal arts university located in the picturesque central New York village of Hamilton, announces its search for a Curator of Collections (Open Rank), Picker Art Gallery. Considered one of the nation’s most beautiful campuses, Colgate takes pride in the active engagement of its students and faculty in local, national and global communities. With an enrollment of approximately 2,850 undergraduates, Colgate offers 53 possible majors to its students.
Currently located on Colgate University’s beautiful campus, the collection of the Picker Art Gallery features approximately 11,000 objects from antiquity to the present, including approximately 8,000 works on paper, 1,400 photographs, 900 paintings, and 300 sculptures. Colgate University is one of the country’s leading liberal arts colleges, with a student population of about 2,900 and a faculty of 300. This is an exciting time in Colgate’s history, as the newly conceived Center for Art and Culture will become home to two university museums: the Picker Art Gallery and the Longyear Museum of Anthropology. These distinguished university museums play a significant role in Colgate’s teaching mission and reputation, a relationship that will be deepened with the development of a new Museum Studies track in the Department of Art and Art History. Reporting to the Director of University Museums, the curator of collections (open rank) of the Picker Art Gallery is responsible for, but not limited to, the study, care, use, interpretation, scholarship, publication, and management of the Picker Art Gallery’s collection in its current facility, and will help oversee the transition to the envisioned Center for Art and Culture (CAC).
The level of the appointment will be based on the years of experience and capabilities of the successful candidate.
Please visit the Museum’s website at: http://www.colgate.edu/campus-life/arts-on-campus/picker-art-gallery.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
-In collaboration with the director of university museums and staff members, implement best practice in the areas of curatorship, collection development, exhibitions, and research. Direct and support the museum’s daily curatorial programs, maintain contacts with scholars, museum professionals, and collecting institutions. -Research and publish the Picker Art Gallery collection; develop a vision for the collection, evaluate current standards of collection care, assess preventive conservation goals for the museum, maintain collection records, and be responsible for proposing acquisitions and deaccessions. -Develop an active exhibition and public educational program in conjunction with major stakeholders. -To support the teaching mission of the university and the museum, work closely with faculty of the Department of Art and Art History, other related academic units and across disciplines to facilitate access to the collections and the use of objects in teaching. -Represent the museum at professional organizations. Assist and work with the director, Colgate students, faculty, and Hamilton constituencies.
-Develop and implement strategic goals, policies, and objectives related to collection and exhibition management, adhering to the highest museum standards and best practices. -Supervise the curatorial assistant (Picker Art Gallery/Longyear Museum of Anthropology) who also reports to the LMA assistant curator. In coordination with the Director of University Museums, supervise the Picker Art Gallery’s collection management (registrar), installation (preparator), students (work-study; interns), and interact with museum staff, students, faculty, collectors, donors, volunteers, and the public.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
QUALIFICATIONS: EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
-Master’s degree in art history or related field with expertise in at least one of the Picker Art Gallery’s current collecting areas (such as, American Art, Ancient Art, Asian Art, European Art, and Modern/Contemporary Art). -All candidates must have a minimum of five (5) years museum and curatorial experience. -Must have strong research skills (ability to perform scholarly research and provenance research), experience managing others, projects, and budgets. -Must have excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills; the ability to work effectively in a leadership position within a collaborative environment; and proven experience in grant writing. -Must be capable of working collegially with a diverse group of faculty, staff and students on a daily basis.
ADDITIONAL PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS -Experience in a university museum setting preferred. -PhD or equivalent preferred. -Previous administrative experience preferred. -The successful candidate’s experience will ideally include a track record of collection building, exhibitions, and publications as well as knowledge in collections management software. -Potential opportunity to teach in future Museum Studies Program.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO THE APPLICANTS Applicants are required to provide a brief writing sample (e.g. published essay or brochure text) along with a cover letter, CV and list of professional references. Please view the full job description as well as application instructions at https://careers.colgate.edu.
ABOUT COLGATE AND THE AREA Colgate takes great pride in sustaining a collaborative work environment that provides a comprehensive total rewards benefit package. Colgate is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to attracting and retaining a diverse faculty, staff, and student population. We strive to be an inclusive community, one that embraces and explores difference in an environment of mutual respect, communication and engagement. Women and candidates from historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply.
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