Association of Academic Museums and Galleries

Position Summary:

Since its establishment in 1941, the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University (IU) has grown from a small university teaching collection into one of the foremost university art museums in the country. A preeminent teaching museum, the museum’s internationally acclaimed collection includes more than 45,000 objects representing nearly every art-producing culture throughout history.

The Eskenazi Museum of Art just completed a $30 million renovation of its acclaimed I. M. Pei–designed building, which now features seven new galleries, four new centers (Education, Conservation, Curatorial Studies, and Prints, Drawings, and Photographs), and three art study rooms. The newly renovated museum will be an enhanced teaching resource for IU and southern Indiana. Positioning the institution as a premier teaching museum requires breakthrough research and programming that advance its mission in powerful ways. To this end, the museum seeks a creative, dynamic individual to serve as Director of Curatorial Affairs. The Director of Curatorial Affairs is a non-tenured faculty appointment.

The Director of Curatorial Affairs leads the museum’s exhibitions and collections-focused initiatives and activities, and provides leadership and managerial oversight for a team of approximately 19 full-time staff, including curators (8), conservators (2), registrars (2), art handlers (3), and campus art collection (4) staff.  The successful candidate must be able to foster a sense of teamwork that enables staff to work across disciplines to develop and implement gallery and exhibition experiences that engage diverse audiences, and help the museum achieve its mission and education goals. This position also administers the Eskenazi Museum’s art collecting activities, working closely with the executive director to establish priorities and plans for collection care, research, documentation, and access.

The Director of Curatorial Affairs also serves as a member of the museum’s senior leadership team, collaborating on the execution of administrative and budgetary matters, the establishment of policies and procedures, and long-range planning for exhibitions and programming. The successful individual must be a team player and must have demonstrated experience building and leading effective teams to reach ambitious, long-range institutional goals.

Although candidates with curatorial backgrounds will be given preference, candidates with strong backgrounds in exhibition planning and development in art museums and art conservation are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will have a significant record of publications and scholarship that will enable them to participate in the teaching mission of the museum.

Major Job Responsibilities

1. Provides leadership and direction of the curatorial, registrar, conservation, installation and campus art collection departments, including coaching, and performance management.
2. Supervise and support curatorial participation throughout the process of exhibition, publication, research, and programming proposal development and implementation.
3. Play a critical role in launching the museum’s new Center for Curatorial Studies, collaborating with IU faculty members and the museum’s educational and curatorial staff to develop courses that support degree offerings in the field.
4. Oversee research in the collection and collaborate with museum colleagues to develop appropriate methods for disseminating research to the widest possible audiences.
5. Collaborates with the Executive Director and other colleagues to conceive and shape a distinctive and dynamic exhibition program that is well-researched, exciting, and advances the museum’s visibility and reputation.
6. Develop and implement exhibition budgets and schedules, collaborating closely with museum staff.
7. Collaborate with creative services department to conceive and plan publications that expand collections strengths and assist in the implementation of a digital strategy for collections and exhibitions online.
8. Partner with education department to develop interpretative programs in support of the museum’s teaching mission.
9. Provides direction for the growth of collections, through acquisitions and gifts, as well as long-term planning and priorities for the management and conservation of works in the collection.
10. In partnership with the Executive Director and development department, helps to build relationships with existing donors and potential donors, foundations, collectors, dealers, artists, university administrators, and alumni; in addition to helping to identify, engage, inspire, and solicit potential funders of needs related to curatorial affairs.
11. Builds and maintains a network of professional relationships with artists, dealers, curators, collectors, and other specialists locally, nationally, and globally.
12. Contribute to the development, writing, implementation, and reporting of major grants.

Skills and Knowledge

• Strong administrative, fiscal, and staff management skills, with a clear record of leading and managing museum projects, including exhibitions
• Advanced knowledge of museum curating, research, and collections development
• Knowledge and understanding of museum ethics and principles, especially with regard to issues of provenance
• Must be articulate, with excellent presentation and writing skills, and effective communication, organizational, and time-management skills
• Ability to work as a member of a team-based environment with strong collaborative skills
• Willingness to build positive and effective relationships with museum colleagues, donors, and the broader IU and Bloomington communities
• Demonstrated leadership in museum field specifically related to curatorial, collections, and exhibition development work
• Demonstrated ability to direct, coach, and motivate direct reports

Basic Qualifications:

MA degree in relevant field such as museum studies, art, art history, cultural studies, art conservation, or equivalent work experience required; PhD preferred. 7–10 years of related experience required. 4+ years leadership experience required.

Salary Range: $80,000–$85,000

Application Instructions:

Interested candidates should submit their application at https://indiana.peopleadmin.com. Applications must be received by March 9, 2020 for full consideration.

Required Documents:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Letter of Application

Department Contact for Questions:

Questions about the position should be directed to Maggie Kroh at 812-855-0608 or mkroh@indiana.edu.

* Indiana University is an equal employment and affirmative action employer and a provider of ADA services. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ethnicity, color, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status.