The Institute of Contemporary Art
Full Time Position
Position Title: Mannion Family Curator
Department: Curatorial
Reports to: Barbara Lee Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs
Position Status: Full Time, Salaried, Exempt, At Will
Position Overview: The Mannion Family Curator plays a pivotal role in implementing the ICA‘s mission to inspire artists and audiences through inventive exhibitions of contemporary art. Working closely with the Barbara Lee Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs, curatorial colleagues, and other key staff, the Curator conceives and organizes exhibitions that highlight a range of artistic practices and ideas, contributes to the field of contemporary art, and connects our audiences to the most compelling art of our time.
WORKING AT THE ICA:
- All ICA employees are required to reside in Massachusetts and within a reasonable commuting distance from our Seaport location as of their first day of work.
- The ICA offers the flexibility of a hybrid work week, which averages two to three days a week onsite for employees who are eligible to work remotely (subject to change, and at managers discretion).
Primary Responsibilities:
- Foster new research, acquisitions, and exhibitions that embody ICA’s vision of a radical welcome; serve artists and museum audiences; and prioritize diversity, equity, and access
- Curate exemplary exhibitions of all sizes and scope that are original in content and form
- Identify the best emerging and established artists for the ICA’s program and work collaboratively to support their visions and facilitate their work with the ICA
- Produce exhibitions texts, including publications with original research and accessible essays and labels to support public access to curatorial ideas
- Work closely with curatorial colleagues to assure the successful completion of projects, including meeting project deadlines; managing budgets; coordinating with artists, galleries, and lending institutions; and participating in installations
- Act as coordinating Curator on travelling exhibitions from other venues, overseeing onsite logistics and work with outside curators and ICA staff to ensure successful presentations
- Build relationships with colleagues throughout the museum to facilitate curatorial work and advance interdepartmental collaboration and projects
- Develop and maintain meaningful connections with artists, galleries, critics, curatorial colleagues, and contemporary art scholarship
- Present public lectures and tours in conjunction with exhibitions
- Support the growth and public presence of the ICA permanent collection, including working with curatorial staff to research potential and confirmed acquisitions, correspond with donors, galleries, and artists; write and edit acquisition justifications; and participate in the Exhibition and Collections Committee meetings and Acquisitions Circle meetings as needed
- Supervise junior curatorial titles as assigned
Qualifications:
- Master’s (or Higher) Degree in Art History, with a focus on contemporary art
- 5-7 years of experience in a curatorial setting working with living artists, building collections, organizing exhibitions, and working on publications
- Expansive knowledge of contemporary art and culture, including expertise in practices outside of the U.S.
- Exceptional written and oral communication skills that demonstrate intellectual rigor and accessibility; strong public speaking skills for group and individual presentations
- Experience with innovative interpretative strategies and programs to facilitate community engagement
- Prior experience supervising and mentoring staff preferred
- Ability to engage in spirited discussions while maintaining perspective, a professional demeanor, and a sense of humor
- Strong organizational and interpersonal skills that center collaboration and honesty
- Ability and willingness to travel nationally and internationally
- Ability and willingness to work nights and weekends as needed for events, openings, and exhibition installation
Physical Requirements:
- Possess mobility to work in an office setting and use office equipment; move about throughout the museum, and travel offsite to different locations
- Ability to see, listen and talk for extended periods in person, over the telephone and computer, and understand printed materials
- Visual acuity: color perception, close vision, accurate depth perception and distance vision
- Very frequent sitting, standing and walking for extended periods
- Ability to lift up to 15 pounds, pushing and pulling, keyboarding and gripping
This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions. While the above is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.
The ICA offers an excellent benefit package that includes health, dental and vision insurance, disability/life insurance, flexible spending accounts, 403(b) retirement plan, and paid time off.
Starting Salary: $95,000.00 Annual
Starting compensation is based on meeting minimum qualifications.
ICA Compensation
Each ICA position has a job grade based on the position’s evaluated job responsibilities, required education and experience, needed skills to perform the job, and professional knowledge.
The position’s grade and respective compensation range is determined by the position’s overall responsibilities, including decision making, supervisory/management requirements, resource management and budgeting duties.
Compensation is ultimately determined by the scope of the position and responsibilities, the candidate’s relevant experience, and internal equity, with starting salaries typically falling in the lower half of the compensation range.
We will begin reviewing submissions starting January 15, 2024.
Interested candidates should send a resume and letter of interest to jobs@icaboston.org. When applying, please include “Mannion Family Curator” in the subject line.
The ICA is located at 25 Harbor Shore Drive, Boston, and is accessible by public transportation Red and Silver Line.
Other Locations:
Seaport Studio ICA Watershed
100 Pier 4 Blvd, Second Floor 256 Marginal Street
Boston, MA 02210 East Boston, MA 02128
The ICA is dedicated to building a culturally diverse and pluralistic workforce committed to working in a multicultural environment. Qualified candidates from groups historically underrepresented in the museum profession are strongly encouraged to apply.
The ICA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are an EOE/AA employer dedicated to fair and inclusive employment practices for all individuals. The ICA is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact HR-EOE@icaboston.org or 617-478-3171.
