Director and Curator of Public Art

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The Greenway Conservancy, the non-profit responsible for managing all aspects of the public park, seeks a visionary leader for its award-winning Public Art Program. This Curator will take the reins from the founding Director and Curator of Public Art, under whose leadership the program has won six awards from Americans for the Arts, become a core component of the Conservancy’s mission and reputation, and led a cross-sector movement to reinvigorate art in public spaces throughout Greater Boston.

The Conservancy has built an internationally-recognized contemporary public art program. Each year the program presents multiple new artworks, most of which are site-specific commissions. Acclaimed murals on the prominent 70’ x 76’ wall on The Greenway across from the South Station transit hub have become a focal point of the program. The program has garnered competitive grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, ArtPlace America, Mass Cultural Council, New England Foundation for the Arts, The Boston Foundation, and Barr Foundation. Greenway artworks have ranged from Janet Echelman’s monumental aerial fiber sculpture, As If It Were Already Here, to Mehdi Ghadyanloo’s first ever US mural commission Spaces of Hope, and Yu Wen Wu’s community-based lantern artwork Lantern Stories in Chin Park; all projects can be seen here.

The Director and Curator is responsible for overseeing the Public Art Program, giving the public access to the work of world-renowned artists as well as local artists with rising reputations, in spaces that thousands of people pass through during the course of their day. Artworks represent a diverse range of modalities, cultures, and perspectives.

The Director and Curator is a critical member of the Leadership management team, helping to shape the Conservancy. The Director and Curator’s vision must align with and further the Conservancy’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to our values of transparency, excellence, and innovation.

Responsibilities

Strategy (45%)
Conceptualize, curate, plan, develop and oversee the implementation of complex public art projects, including artist selection processes, design development, and project review.
Develop strategic partnerships with institutions and artists, incorporating inclusive practices to ensure diverse representation.
Research and conduct studio visits with artists, both through in-person and online communication.
Leverage the diverse expertise and perspectives of the Greenway Public Art Advisory Group members to advance programmatic excellence.
Execution (35%)
Supervise Public Art Project Manager, who coordinates installation, de-installation, and care for all Greenway art projects.
Coordinate and collaborate across Conservancy Departments to ensure public art is conceived and installed as part of a comprehensively outstanding visitor experience.
Develop, negotiate, and monitor Public Art contracts (e.g., with artists, insurance carriers, arts organizations, contractors).
Develop, maintain, and track Public Art Department budget and departmental goals.
Assist in the installation and deinstallation of all artworks.
Implement national best operating practices and strategies in the field of public art.
Outreach (20%)
Present program and project reports at Board of Directors meetings.
Support art-related philanthropic efforts by collaborating with the Development Department on corporate, foundation, and donor relations, as well as proposals, events, and appeals.
Coordinate with the Outreach Department on art-related earned and owned media opportunities, as well as project photography and other documentation.
Coordinate with the Programs Department on art-related events and art-related volunteer opportunities.
Represent the Program externally by attending openings and events; speaking at conferences and panels, both locally and nationally; and liaising with other public art programs. Serve as a liaison between City, State, and/or business organizations relative to the Greenway Public Art Program.

Skills and Qualifications

The Director and Curator must be knowledgeable of and experienced with installation and management of art projects executed in the public realm, with an ability to communicate artistic relevance to a broad audience while focusing on both long-term strategic goals and fine grained operational details.

BA in Art History, Arts Administration, Museum Studies or a directly related degree; a graduate and/or advanced degree in these fields is strongly preferred
Minimum 5-8 years of directly related curatorial, management, and/or implementation experience or the equivalent in the field of Public Art.
Experience preferred with a commissioning non-profit or governmental agency, such as a park operator, municipal public art program, sculpture park, or museum
A thorough working knowledge of contemporary art executed in a variety of modalities (sculpture/mural/video/social/interactive/etc.)
Working relationships with and knowledge of a broad range of local, national and international artists and arts organizations

Proven track record of:

Success implementing art installations in outdoor venues
Good judgment and professional initiative
Ensuring results within complex and dynamic circumstances
Planning, project management, budgeting, and collaborating with cross functional teams
A collaborative approach to ensuring results
Supervision of staff
Superior demonstrated skills in:
Oral and written communications, especially in public settings
Working productively and professionally with a diverse range of constituents including artists, curators, patrons, community organizations, boards, and public agencies
Positive, high energy, and calm under pressure
Bilingual skills preferred, particularly in Chinese language/s
Familiarity with Boston and the Rose Kennedy Greenway, a plus
Able to lift up to 50 pounds and stand or walk for extended periods of time

Logistics

Work will take place indoors and outdoors
Occasional nights and weekend work will be required
Some travel required
Ideally, the successful candidate will begin work in June or July 2021

Application process

Please email the following materials to jobs(at)RoseKennedyGreenway.org with the job title in the subject line. Each file name should begin with the applicant’s last name.

one-page cover letter
resume
3 references
brief writing sample based on an artist’s project (for example didactic text, press release and/or grant proposal language, no more than 2 pages)
3 examples of past curatorial projects (links to projects and or press releases; full portfolio not required)

No phone calls, please.

About The Greenway and the Conservancy

The Greenway is the contemporary public park in the heart of Boston. The Greenway welcomes millions of visitors annually to gather, play, unwind, and explore. The Greenway Conservancy is the non-profit responsible for the management and care of The Greenway. The majority of the public park’s annual budget is generously provided by private sources.
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The Greenway Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression (including transgender) or any other characteristic protected by law.