Apply at https://careers.colgate.edu/postings/3543
Department Statement
Picker Art Gallery, Colgate University’s art museum, is seeking a curatorial assistant dedicated to creating opportunities for critical inquiry, interdisciplinary dialogue, and creative thinking that foster understanding of how art intersects with people and ideas.
Picker Art Gallery (PAG) forms one-half of the University Museums at Colgate, along with the Longyear Museum of Anthropology (LMA). While this position reports to the co-director and curator of PAG, he/she/they will work alongside colleagues whose roles span the two museums and their collections. PAG is at an exciting point in its history. As a key component of Colgate’s ambitious Middle Campus Plan for Arts, Creativity, and Innovation, our team is currently reenvisioning and redefining how an academic art museum fits into the contemporary liberal arts experience and into the cultural fabric of the regional communities into which the campus is embedded. Our strategic plan prioritizes implementing decolonizing practices across museum operations, creating a more inclusive and accessible program, increasing student and faculty engagement, enhancing collaborations on and off campus, and developing collections that represent a wider range of identities and experiences.
We’d love to hear from you – even if you do not meet 100% of the preferred/desired qualifications. The starting salary will be in the high $40k’s.
Accountabilities
The Picker Art Gallery curatorial assistant provides key support in advancing the museum’s exhibition program, collections-based research agenda, student and faculty engagement, and other strategic initiatives. The person filling the position will accountable for the following:
Providing oversight for and coordination of the museum’s exhibition program and maintaining steady progress on multiple exhibition projects, managing production schedules, writing exhibition texts and promotional material, managing budgets, assisting with installation, and giving curatorial tours.
Enhancing knowledge about and access to the museum’s collections, including conducting rigorous, independent, object-based, and archival research, working to establish provenance, liaising with specialists, fielding queries, maintaining accurate data, and assisting with movement, packing, and documentation.
Coordinating and preparing for class visits, liaising with student and community groups on special projects, and supervising student employees and interns.
Conceptualizing, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating academic and community programs in collaboration with museum staff and other stakeholders.
Providing editorial and administrative oversight for print and digital museum publications, including writing and editing content, managing publication timelines, coordinating team members and other contributors, and ensuring accessibility standards are met.
Developing and implementing effective communications strategies to various target audiences, including social media management, and communications to students, faculty, staff, and the general public.
Establishing or strengthening DEAI and decolonizing practices across museum operations, especially in exhibitions, interpretation, and collections.
Providing key support with grant writing, reporting, and administration as well as donor and alumni relations.
Performing other duties as assigned.
Technical Competencies
Academic
– Demonstrated ability to conduct object-based research on museum collections.
– Demonstrated knowledge of search techniques and sources sufficient to independently conduct research as assigned.
– Demonstrated strength in writing and editing for multiple audiences and in a variety of formats (e.g. label text, catalogue essays, news releases).
– Demonstrated familiarity with current museological and curatorial theory.
Administrative
– Demonstrated ability to complete routine administrative tasks independently with attention to detail.
– Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and coordinate tasks for multiple projects.
Technology
– Demonstrated ability to efficiently use office productivity software.
– Demonstrated ability to use key museum collection software systems to query and enter data.
– Demonstrated experience in developing and managing digital projects.
– Demonstrated ability to identify and develop opportunities for digital engagement.
Collaboration
– Demonstrated ability to work collegially within a team and to provide limited supervision of the work of others.
– Demonstrated ability to give talks, train students, work with docents, give presentations to various constituencies.
– Demonstrated willingness to consult widely with diverse stakeholders in the development of exhibitions and programs.
Museum Security
– Demonstrated ability to follow safety procedures and security protocols.
– Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to follow specific security and safety guidelines, including the safe handling of museum objects.
Requirements
Professional experience/qualifications
- Minimum one (1) year experience in a museum or other arts or cultural institution, or demonstrable equivalent experience.
- Familiarity working with databases and/or demonstration of understanding of database concepts.
- Strong writing and editing skills.
- Experience conducting object-based research.
- Ability to work collegially with a diverse group of faculty, staff, and students on a daily basis.
- Flexibility and the ability to think creatively.
- Knowledge of relevant computer programs (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Google applications).
Preferred qualifications
- Additional experience (more than 1 year) in a curatorial role in a museum or other arts or cultural institution, or demonstrable equivalent experience preferred.
- Knowledge of contemporary museological and curatorial debates.
- Previous experience working with museum collections, including knowledge of safe handling and movement practices.
- Previous experience working on exhibitions.
- Previous experience coordinating publications.
- Sound knowledge of contemporary art and artists, especially BIPOC, LGBTQ+, women, and other underrepresented artists.
- Solid understanding of and commitment to decolonizing, equity, and inclusion practices, preferably in a museum context.
- Previous supervisory experience, such as overseeing undergraduate student employees or interns.
- Experience engaging audiences through marketing and/or social media.
- Experience working on digital and multimedia projects such as online exhibitions, websites, or videos.
- Working knowledge of The Museum System (TMS) or TMS Collections.
Education
- Master’s degree in art history, museum studies, or related field, or demonstrable equivalent experience preferred.
Requisition Number
2021S073Posting
Work Schedule
Weekdays, with occasional evenings and weekends.
Job Open Date
08/04/2021
Special Instructions Summary
Colgate has a diverse student, faculty, staff, and alumni population representing a variety of races, gender identities, social economic status, sexual orientations, languages, national origins, etc. Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Plan presents a framework for continuing the creation of an inclusive campus and engaging the Colgate community in this effort in the years ahead.
Please describe how you would connect and work with a diverse community. You can upload the statement under the Diversity Statement document heading. For information on how to write a diversity statement, see our Guidance on Crafting Diversity Statements.
EEO Statement
It is the policy of Colgate University not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of their race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, pregnancy, national origin, marital status, disability, protected Veterans status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, being or having been victims of domestic violence or stalking, familial status, or any other categories covered by law. Colgate is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Candidates from historically underrepresented groups, women, persons with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.
Clery Act
CAMPUS CRIME REPORTING AND STATISTICS
The Campus Safety Department will provide upon request a copy of Colgate’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. This report includes statistics as reported to the United States Department of Education for the previous three years concerning reported: 1. crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Colgate University; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus and 2. fires that occurred in student housing facilities. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security and fire safety, such as policies concerning sexual assault, life safety systems, and other related matters. To obtain a copy, contact the Campus Safety Compliance Manager via e-mail at cusafety@colgate.edu. You may also access the report from the Campus Safety web page at: www.colgate.edu/offices/support/campussafety
Categories: Job Postings