Associate Curator of Contemporary Art

Deadline: October 15, 2012

The Columbus Museum of Art (Ohio) seeks a dynamic, knowledgeable, and highly-motivated individual to lead its contemporary art program. The Associate Curator of Contemporary Art will be responsible for advancing the Museum’s vision of contemporary art as practice in dialogue with the world today through expanding its collections, exhibitions and programs.

This position offers an extraordinary opportunity to shape CMA’s contemporary program.

The Museum is in the final phase of a multi-year expansion that will culminate with 50,000 square feet of new public space, providing for the first time dedicated galleries to showcase the Museum’s contemporary collection from 1970 to the present. CMA is actively engaged in becoming a model 21st century museum, which the institution defines as—transformative, active, participatory, and committed to impacting the health and growth of the community.

The ideal candidate should be prepared to create, articulate, and implement a vision for an ongoing contemporary art program. Past work should demonstrate creativity in curatorial approach. This should include developing and presenting exhibitions as well as dynamic ways of working with a collection. A proven talent for developing relationships is paramount—these include living artists with established reputations, emerging and under-recognized mid-career artists as well as a diverse network of art world colleagues. The curator will also be responsible for cultivating the local creative community of artists, collectors and donors as well as leading the Museum’s collecting and advocacy group, the Contemporaries.

Equally important is:

• Commitment to building the collection strategically through acquisitions.
• Willingness to develop intentional strategies to engage visitors and the wider community.
• Desire to work collaboratively with a cross-disciplinary team.
• Interest in expanding the dialogue around socially engaged art

Qualified candidates will have an MA in art history, art criticism, or similar field of study plus three to five years of experience working in an advanced curatorial capacity with a record of exhibitions, acquisitions, and publications in the field of post-war and contemporary art. Preference will be given to candidates with a compelling body of curatorial projects and strong interpersonal and communications skills.

This is a full-time position. Compensation is commensurate with experience. Benefits package includes health, vision, dental, life, short and long-term disability, and 403(b) retirement plan. Generous paid time off and holidays.

To apply, e-mail employment@cmaohio.org or mail to: Human Resources, Columbus Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215. Application should include cover letter, complete curriculum vitae of education, employment, honors, awards and publications, a published paper or writing sample, as well as the names and contact information of three professional references. Applications must be received by October 15, 2012. Only those applicants considered for interview will be contacted.

The Columbus Museum of Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

 Website: http://www.columbusmuseum.org/