Director Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum

ABOUT THE MARSHALL M. FREDERICKS SCULPTURE MUSEUM

The Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum is a free and open-to-the-public art museum featuring a unique collection of more than two thousand objects that span the 70-year career of Detroit-based public sculptor Marshall M. Fredericks (1908-1998). He is known nationally and internationally for his impressive monumental figurative sculpture, public memorials, fountains, portraits, and medals.

The mission of the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum is to celebrate the artistic legacy of Marshall M. Fredericks through collecting, preserving, presenting, and interpreting his life's work for the educational and cultural enrichment of Saginaw Valley State University and the broadest possible audience. Through the Marshall Fredericks objects collection and archives, temporary exhibitions, publications, and education programs, the Museum contributes to scholarly discourse and serves diverse audiences.

More information on the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum can be found at marshallfredericks.org.

JOB SUMMARY

The Director of the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum exercises overall responsibility for planning, organizing, supervising, and controlling operations of the Museum, the Jo Anne and Donald Petersen Sculpture Garden, and the Spirit of Detroit Sculpture Studio initiative, with the advice and counsel of the Museum Board of Advisors in consultation with university administration.

The director reports to the Vice President for Development of Saginaw Valley State University and maintains a close working relationship with the Museum Board, providing support for the functions of the Board as outlined in the Museum by-laws, and implementing policies and procedures established in accordance with the provisions in the by-laws and in accordance with American Alliance of Museums (AAM) National Standards and Best Practices. The Museum Board reports to the University President.

The director of the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum serves as part of the SVSU Development leadership team, making advancements toward the SVSU's strategic plan and the Museum's strategic plan.

Supervisory responsibility includes leading a staff that includes a senior secretary, art education curator, marketing and community relations manager, curator of collections and exhibitions, and part-time student staff, ensuring operations within the AAM Code of Ethics and Professional Practices.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Collections and Exhibitions

• Supervise day-to-day operations of the Museum to maintain high standards of collections care and visitor satisfaction. This includes long-term care, appropriate display, storage and transport, installation/deinstallation, oversight for descriptive signage, interpretive labels, and/or other written or printed materials, and as appropriate, the arrangement of qualified conservators to restore or recondition sculptures, drawings, and photographs.
• Create policies that ensure appropriate care of the Museum collection and archives, and that govern researching, cataloging, and interpreting the collection and archives.
• Supervise the digitization of the Museum collection and archives.
• Maintain and implement procedures essential to safeguarding the quality and condition of the Museum collections, including those in the Jo Anne and Donald Petersen Sculpture Garden and on campus in collaboration with SVSU public safety, grounds, and museum staff.
• Provide the vision for and facilitate all aspects of temporary exhibitions in accordance with national museum standards, including the creation of an exhibition schedule two years in advance, occasionally curating temporary exhibitions, and seeking out national traveling art and humanities exhibitions appropriate for the Museum.
• Oversee the publication of Museum-produced catalogs for exhibitions, such as the Regional Biennial Juried Sculpture Exhibition.
• Maintain AAM Accreditation and submit the updated reaccreditation documents every ten years.

Budget and Fundraising

• Serve as the lead fundraiser for the museum, working in collaboration with SVSU Development staff to identify, cultivate and solicit annual, major and planned gifts for the museum.
• Participate and/or oversee grant-writing by museum, SVSU, or contract staff.
• Work with the SVSU Controller's office and the Museum secretary to oversee preparation of an annual financial plan for the Museum Board of Advisors' approval at the Spring board meeting.
• Serve as account manager for the assigned operating budget for the Museum
• Foster donor support and oversee fundraising efforts in coordination with the SVSU Foundation, including the successful execution of annual fundraising events.

Marketing and Public Relations

• Oversee development of appropriate informational brochures and materials about the museum, programs, and tours for in-house use and for public distribution in collaboration with SVSU's Communications Department. This includes web-based materials as well as the promotion of events and programs connecting SVSU and the Museum with Metro Detroit where Fredericks lived and worked from 1931-1998.
• Work with the SVSU staff to document temporary exhibitions and conduct artists' interviews for inclusion on the museum's website.
• Represent the Museum and SVSU through lectures and presentations to various community groups and academic organizations.
• Oversee development of author press releases regarding temporary exhibitions, board members, events, and special projects.
• Supervise the selection and marketing of merchandise in the Museum Store.
• Serve as liaison between the Fredericks family, Museum Board and staff, and the SVSU Foundation and Administration.
• Serve as the liaison between the Museum and the SVSU offices of Controller, Communications and External Affairs, Campus Facilities, Foundation, Campus Police, and Information Technology Services.
• Participate in University committee work as assigned or requested.

Research and Education

• Expand youth and adult audiences through increased educational programming and marketing efforts.
• Promote research, education, and publications about the collection and about the artistic legacy of Marshall M. Fredericks. Relatedly, serve on the selection committee and oversee the Fredericks fellow (Fredericks-Follet-Roethke Graduate Fellowship in the Arts and Humanities at SVSU), when in residence.
• Oversee the production of educational and historical materials concerning the collection and the life and work of Marshall Fredericks.
• Regularly assess the Museum's role in the Great Lakes Bay Region and broader museum field via in-person visitor experience surveys and online survey tools, including the AAM Museum-goers survey.
• Continue to maintain and enhance educational training partnerships with SVSU departments.
• Other related duties and responsibilities may be assigned.