Associate Curator, Permanent Collection

The Mississippi Museum of Art has been a community-supported institution for more than 100 years. The Museum boasts a seasoned staff of professionals that works to ensure that the Museum’s exhibitions, programs, operations, and community outreach are of the highest quality and relevance to the people of Mississippi. The Associate Curator will oversee a permanent collection of more than 5800 works of art dating from approximately 1200 BCE to the present, comprising paintings, works on paper, photography, sculpture, textile, and videos. The Associate Curator will be responsible for the development of exhibitions, publications, lectures, and other content related to the Museum’s permanent collection. The Associate Curator will also play a key role in determining the direction of the MMA’s permanent collection program, including acquisitions, loans, traveling exhibitions, and community partnerships. The position represents the Museum locally, nationally, and internationally. The Associate Curator will engage with and strengthen the collection with a focus on acquisitions of BIPOC artists and women. Additionally, this position will lead the Affiliate program, an exhibition-lending partnership with 32 non-profit organizations throughout the state.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Associate Curator will work closely with the Chief Curator to:

• Provide curatorial leadership and work collaboratively with the Interpretation team to develop and curate rigorous exhibitions using works of art from the MMA’s collection, as well as loaned objects that will engage existing and targeted audiences.
• Conduct original research and produce scholarship related to the MMA’s collections and related exhibitions.
• Encourage and facilitate the use of MMA’s resources and collaborative programming with the Department of Academic Affairs, as well as community partners.
• In concert with the Director, Deputy Director, and Chief Curator, assist in the development of a Collections Development Plan and fully participate in the Acquisitions and Collections Committee.
• Cultivate gift funds to support acquisitions and direct donations of artworks. Work with the Curatorial team and Acquisitions and Collections Committee and make recommendations on new acquisitions for the MMA’s permanent collection, including undertaking research for attribution, provenance, interpretation, conservation, etc.
• Collaborate with Museum staff in the creation and management of interpretive strategies, marketing materials, and public programs for a variety of audiences.
• Maintain active relationships with artists, community members, lenders, donors, and professional colleagues.
• Lecture on and lead tours of MMA’s exhibitions and collections.
• Actively participate in the Teaching Fellows program.
• Actively participate in the Department of Academic Affairs.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Some oversight over Museum interns and fellows

COMPETENCY

• A master’s degree in Art History, or a related field; Ph.D. preferred
• Background 20th and 21st Century American Art preferred
• At least three years of museum experience with progressively responsible curatorial experience and demonstrated experience in acquisitions, exhibitions, installation, and scholarly publications
• Experience in Contemporary art, and prior experience with ambitious exhibition and publication programs in a museum

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Ability to write for a public and scholarly audience, and the ability to work on teams with fellow curators, educators and a range of museum staff, professional colleagues, and museum supporters
• Strong public speaking and communication skills
• Experience with deaccessioning procedures and protocols
• Efficient at multitasking, with a strong ability to manage multiple, concurrent projects and assignments
• Facility with collections database management

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Essential duties require long periods of standing and walking as well as frequent reaching and kneeling, pushing, pulling, carrying, lifting and moving objects 5 pounds or more.
• Work may be performed both indoors and outdoors throughout the facility and grounds.
• Position may require standing for prolonged periods, walking, bending and stretching, and enough physical strength to lift and carry a minimum of 10 pounds unassisted.
• Exterior exposure to seasonal temperatures and sound levels commensurate with live or amplified entertainment.

The Mississippi Museum of Art is an equal opportunity employer.

To apply, please send your cover letter and résumé to careers@msmuseumart.org