Associate Curator of Photography

William and Sarah Ross Soter (associate) curator of photography
Columbus Museum of Art

The Columbus Museum of Art (Columbus, Ohio) seeks a dynamic, knowledgeable, and highly-motivated individual to lead its photography program. The successful candidate for this endowed William and Sarah Ross Soter (Associate) Curatorship of Photography will be responsible for building, utilizing and advancing the Museum’s collection of historic through contemporary photography with relevant exhibitions, programming, and scholarly publications.

This position offers an important opportunity to work with and build upon the Museum’s historic strength in American and European Modernism and already significant holdings, especially its Photo League collection and works by established and emerging photographers. 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 photography 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.

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 historic, modern, and/or contemporary photography. 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 commensurate with qualifications and 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 1,2014. Only those applicants considered for interview will be contacted.

The Columbus Museum of Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer.