Denver Art Museum
The Department of European and American Art Before 1900 is currently seeking a sharp-witted Assistant/Associate Curator who will bring creative and intellectually nuanced ideas to fruition. The curator will have profound knowledge of European and American art before 1900 and will support the departments distinguished work, bringing it to a higher level of regional, national, and international prominence. They will bring research experience and networks to build a multi-faceted set of activities that extend beyond the department and raise the profile of the museum as a whole. The Assistant/Associate Curator will be open to historical interpretations that incorporate erased or neglected stories and will realize thoughtful interpretations of art objects to appeal to new and diverse audiences. The Assistant/Associate Curator will collaborate with the head of department in the research, interpretation, and presentation of its pre-1900 art collection that includes more than 3,000 artworks and comprises paintings, sculptures, and works on paper, with strengths in early Italian Renaissance, 19th-century French Painting, and British art from 1400-1900.
The successful candidate will bring attention to the European and American art collections, helping to develop dynamic exhibitions and learning and engagement programs for broad audiences. They will support the technical examination of works in both European and American Art before 1900 and contribute to national and international research, through lectures, symposia and, occasionally, publications. Finally, they will help develop the European and American Art before 1900 collections through strategic acquisitions and forward-looking relationships with donors, patrons, collectors, artists and others.
The Assistant/Associate Curator, European and American Art Before 1900, must have leadership qualities and excellent communication skills. They will communicate the value and excitement of the collections to the many constituencies of the DAM community. Much of the work at DAM is cross-departmental and team oriented, and often exhibitions are developed through advisory committees that invite external perspectives. The successful candidate will be someone who enjoys collaboration, welcomes input from other museum staff and from external constituencies.
The candidate will come with active national and international networks that include a variety of individuals and organizations in the art and museum sectors. The curator must enjoy working with donors, collectors, and patrons and will welcome wide audiences, including families and students.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under the direction of the Head of the Department, the Assistant/Associate Curator is expected to:
- Study, care, display, publish, and conduct provenance research on the European and American art collections.
- Build and refine the collections and collaborate with collectors, patrons, curatorial colleagues, and cultural organizations to generate important exhibitions, publications, and public programs.
- Prepare and give lectures, tours, and workshops to the public, professional colleagues, and other groups.
- Maintain professional affiliations in scholarly organizations, professional societies, and relevant committees.
- Help create and coordinate departmental publications and presentations, press materials, and written information pertaining to departmental projects; conduct research when requested.
- Supervise other department support staff, volunteers, and contract workers, as necessary.
- Assist with the organization of department exhibitions and coordination of traveling exhibits.
- Work collaboratively with interpretive specialists and designers in the development, creation, interpretation, and installation of permanent galleries and special exhibitions organized or booked by the museum.
- Work with Learning and Engagement colleagues to use evaluation tools for ongoing assessment and refinement of interpretive strategies and audience engagement.
- Work actively with support groups and Friends of the Museum.
- Actively cultivate funding, in collaboration with the development department, for acquisitions, exhibitions, research grants, and fellowships through association with professional organizations, foundations, and patrons on regional, national, and international levels.
- Prove a commitment to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion through respectful communication and cooperation.
- As a member of the Denver Art Museum staff, use the Racial Equity Lens in day-to-day operations and set goals that support Racial Equity Roadmap initiatives.
- As an institutional member of the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD), and International Council of Museums (ICOM), the Denver Art Museum is committed to following the AAMD Report on the Acquisition of Archaeological Materials and Ancient Art and the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. All curators are required to abide by the above guidelines and are expected to comply with and conduct appropriate provenance research on all objects in their collections.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Thorough knowledge of European and/or American art before 1900.
- Passionate interest in European and American culture, history, religions, and traditions.
- National and international network of professional colleagues, collectors, dealers, and artists; must be willing to travel.
- A record of exhibitions and publications.
- Experience fundraising and solid public-speaking abilities.
- Must have excellent command of spoken and written English, able to generate content in English for broad audiences. Proficiency in another European language and research capability in French and German desirable.
EDUCATION:
- MA required (minimum), preferably in a related field.
EXPERIENCE:
- Three or more years as a curator, or equivalent professional experience.
- Experience in museum installations and collaborative projects.
- Experience in publication editing.
Qualified candidates are expected to exemplify the DAMs internal values, which include being dynamic, respectful, inclusive, creative, and curious. The ability to maintain effective and positive working relationships with visitors, employees, volunteers, representatives of public and private entities, policy-making bodies, and contractors is critical to the success of this position.
Compensation
The hiring salary for the position is:
- Assistant Curator: $58,000 $66,000
- Associate Curator: $72,000 $81,000
- A comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision coverage; 100% paid life insurance; short- and long-term disability insurance; paid time-off for vacation, sickness and holidays; 403(b) Retirement Plan with immediate eligibility to contribute and, after one year of employment, an employer contribution and match; a free RTD Eco pass and additional benefits.
