Association of Academic Museums and Galleries

Academic Curator—Mulvane Art Museum, Washburn University, Topeka, KS

Position Title: Academic Curator

This position will remain open until filled.

Apply online at:

https://washburn.peopleadmin.com/postings/4017

Position Summary:

The Academic Curator is a one-year NEH grant-funded position that will work closely with museum staff to utilize the permanent collection to develop and implement sustainable academic programs which expand upon and initiate thoughtful and cutting-edge interpretive programs that create a foundation for interdisciplinary discourse with social justice and other culturally relevant themes that are represented by the Mulvane Art Museum’s collection, exhibitions, and programs. The Academic Curator must possess an openness for experimentation and a demonstrated commitment to diversity, accessibility, inclusion, collaboration, and working with interdisciplinary artists and academic units.

The Mulvane Art Museum is looking for a candidate that will create and implement partnerships in conjunction with the Museum’s exhibitions and programs for and with Washburn University’s academic community, the city of Topeka, the Greater Kansas City Region, and the state of Kansas.

The successful candidate will also:

• Create partnerships to develop sustainable programs with academic units within the College of Arts and Sciences to develop exhibitions, curriculum, and multi-media presentations that utilize the Museum’s permanent collection and galleries as a resource while strengthening existing ones. Engage students and faculty within those programs in developing and implementing interpretive material and creating new exhibitions that can be experienced in the galleries, online, and through print.
• Create and implement Diversity in the Arts programming that integrates music, theater, and the visual arts. Lead planning efforts between music, theater, and art to engage students in the planning and selecting visiting artists in diverse media.

Essential Functions of the Position:

• Collaborate with the University’s Diversity and Inclusion program to develop and integrate the Museum’s collections and exhibitions into diversity programs that serve the campus and community embedded in social justice practices.
• Develop and implement projects designed with artists and community, including residencies and artist commissions that activate the Museum’s collections and gallery spaces. Research and develop partnerships that integrate the Museum’s collection with artists working across performing and visual arts.
• Conceive, develop, co-create, supervise, and/or facilitate community-led and community-generated exhibitions, performances, artist residencies and commissions, public programs, and scholarly projects of relevance locally and globally.
• Mentor students and museum interns from diverse disciplines.
• Assist with identifying and developing funding requests to support sustaining diversity in arts programming.
• Perform additional job-related duties as assigned or as appropriate.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledge of and experience with developing digital curatorial and educational projects.
• Demonstrated effective communication skills.

Education and Experience:

• A master’s degree in Art.
• Two years of relevant Arts or Museum experience.

Special Instructions to Applicant:

• Submit a portfolio with a sample of writing and academic curatorial project.
• Required documents include Resume, Cover Letter, and Portfolio.
• Position is a 12 month grant funded position.

Advertised Pay:

Lower $50,000’s upon experience.

Washburn University is an EOE. Washburn University provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, veteran status, or marital or parental status.