"Assistant Professor of Curatorial Practice and Director of Galleries"

The University of Hawai'i seeks a full-time, tenure track 11-month Assistant Professor of Curatorial Practice and Director of Galleries to begin Fall 2026, pending position clearance and availability of funds. This vital role combines academic instruction with the strategic leadership and comprehensive oversight of the department's significant exhibition spaces. The successful candidate will be expected to make substantial contributions to the scholarly mission of the department through engaged teaching, the rigorous management of its galleries, and the execution of high-quality, original research and exhibition projects. The position also offers opportunities for active partnerships with university faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, artists and scholars, and the greater community. Located in one of the country's most multi-cultural urban centers, we especially welcome applicants interested in expanded notions of art, identity, locality, and culture, inclusive of regional and international research across media. The gallery system consists of three dedicated formal spaces. The Art Gallery (TAG) is the university’s largest exhibition space (4,400 square feet). The Commons Gallery has a smaller footprint and usually features exhibitions of shorter duration. The John Young Museum of Art (JYMA) is a 2,000 square foot complex that includes a main exhibition gallery and dedicated curatorial workshop space.

The University of Hawaii at Mānoa, a Carnegie I research university, is located in a lush tropical valley within a primarily residential neighborhood of Honolulu. The Mānoa campus is the flagship of the ten-campus University of Hawai'i system, and enrolls about one-third of the system's over 50,000 students. The Department of Art and Art History (DAAH) is a comprehensive center in the Asia/Pacific region for the study of visual art, art history and critical theory. The department combines seasoned faculty expertise with state-of-the-art facilities to provide an outstanding locus for undergraduate and graduate study in the visual arts. DAAH is committed to researching and teaching the visual arts in a way that emphasizes the university’s position in the Asia-Pacific region while cultivating international critically, technically and historically informed scholars, practitioners and audiences of the visual arts.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Teach two (2) courses a year on exhibition design, museum/gallery, and/or other courses in relevant area of specialization;
• Advise and mentor undergraduate and graduate students of the department;
• Be responsible for all aspects of the department’s gallery spaces (Art Gallery, Commons Gallery, John Young Museum of Art), including scheduling and execution of exhibitions; planning and execution of gallery-related public programming; overseeing and upkeep of facilities and equipment; public relations and event promotion; fundraising, budgeting and business management; and supervision of staff and student workers;
• Conceive, research, and deliver original, high-quality exhibitions as a core component of the faculty research agenda, overseeing all stages from initial concept development and grant writing through installation and public programming;
• Participate in the governance of the department and provide service to the college, university, and community;
• Perform other duties assigned by the Department Chair.

Minimum Qualifications

• Terminal degree (Ph.D, M.F.A or equivalent) in Curatorial Practice, Art History, Studio Art or closely related field from a college or university of recognized standing (degree must be completed by August 2026);
• College-level teaching experience;
• Ability to develop and teach courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels;
• Minimum of three (3) years of professional work experience in museum/gallery management, including demonstrated professional experience in art curation and exhibition design;
• Demonstrated expertise in leading and mentoring professional staff, including a history of effective team supervision, internal communication, and fostering an equitable, positive work environment.
• Proven experience in cultivating and sustaining key external partnerships, including funders and potential donors;
• Demonstrated professional expertise in fiscal stewardship encompassing comprehensive financial planning, budgeting, and successful fundraising specific to arts or non-profit organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collegially with students, faculty, staff and administrators from various backgrounds.
• Professionalism in meeting and conferring with others.

Desirable Qualifications

• MEd in Arts Education, MBA in Arts Management, Certificate in Museum Studies or Historic Preservation, or a cognate area;
• Demonstrated professional expertise in public promotion and public relations, including but not limited to mass and social media interfacing, community outreach, and public profile development
• Experience with design and production of exhibition catalogs

Review of applications will begin January 30, 2026 and continue until the position is filled.

For more information and to apply, follow this link: https://go.hawaii.edu/m7s