Curator

Company:

University of Oklahoma

Job Location:

Category:

Arts and Museum Administration

Type:

Full-Time

Pay Range: Targeted salary up to $55,000 annually, depending on experience

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday Standard / Fixed Schedule

Travel: Not required

Position Introduction:

The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art is looking for a dynamic Curator to be an ambassador for the museum, its collections, and curatorial practices. As a bridge between objects and visitors, you'll curate exhibits and engage communities with compelling narratives. This role requires expertise, creativity, collaboration, and a passion for cultural stewardship.

The Curator will work within the Division of Museum Experiences to develop a coherent intellectual and organizational approach to the Museum's collections, and to bring a depth and breadth of curatorial expertise and collections knowledge to our audiences. These include OU students, adult and family visitors from Norman, Oklahoma City, and beyond, and state-wide school-age students. This role organizes, presents, and stewards the collections to make a leading contribution to the Museum's Program, and expand the impact and influence of the Museum's collections.

Reporting to the Head of Museum Experiences, the Curator will work alongside museum educators, interpretation specialists, and visitor services staff as part of a team that delivers the whole Museum Experience. The Curator will contribute to the presentation of permanent gallery spaces, to the development of leading exhibitions, and to the broad Program design as a contributing member of The Program team. They will work closely with the Division of Exhibitions and Collections Services to ensure excellent stewardship of collections, galleries, and loaned artworks. They will work with colleagues in External Affairs, Marketing and Communications as well as the Museum's Director to support the broad mission of positioning and promoting the Museum. The Curator will network actively with other curators and museum professionals across the State and nation, and where relevant beyond the U.S. They will support the Museum's aims as an ambassador for our work, not least by cultivating relationships with artists, designers, collectors, foundations, and donors, among others, to support collection development, audience engagement, financial sustainability, and special projects.

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Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree.
• 36 months of curatorial, librarian, museum registration, or academic experience working with historic or literary collections, manuscripts, artifacts, or memorabilia in a library, museum, educational, archives, or similar public institution.

Equivalency/Substitution: Will accept 48 months of related experience in lieu of the Bachelor's degree for a total of 84 months of related experience.

Required Certifications and Licenses:

• Valid Driver's License.

Department Preferences:

• Graduate degree in Art History in an area of strength aligned with our collections (or a qualification in Museum Studies), plus curatorial expertise, enthusiasm, and a passion for all areas of museum work.
• Curatorial experience in looking after a permanent collection, managing gallery spaces, writing gallery and online texts and other forms of communication, and maintaining and improving curatorial records.
• Excellent literacy skills, outstanding verbal communication; able to write and speak in academic environments as well as in accessible language and formats that all visitors can access.
• Proven experience of working in teams and partnering with colleagues and external bodies to achieve shared goals and navigate challenges; your current co-workers are likely to describe you as an excellent colleague and collaborator.
• Demonstrate honesty, pragmatism, and diligence in management of resources, both financial and human.
• Ability to work efficiently and productively within budget, within brief and within timeframes.

Hiring Contingent Upon a Background Check: Yes

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