Chief Curator

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The Chief Curator is a member of the Mint Museums senior management team and will actively participate in shaping the mission and vision of the organization while directing the Mints artistic program at both locations in the greater Charlotte area. This position requires a talented curator skilled in collaboration across departments and able to lead the development and growth of the permanent collection and exhibition schedule that engages a diverse community and advances artistic/cultural discourse. The Chief Curator manages the curatorial department (currently 4 full-time curators) as well as the library and archives, and all aspects of its operations, in a collegial manner that fosters trust and respect within the department and throughout the institution. The candidate must bring strong management experience and a proven desire to create innovative and distinctive artistic projects that form a dynamic and rich museum environment.

The Chief Curator is the lead voice for the Museums collection and exhibition strategy and must be comfortable in a highly visible and public position that requires active participation in the local and regional arts community as well as national and international networks. Working with the President and CEO, the Chief Curator will cultivate relationships with donors and collectors, building support for the Mints artistic program through purchases, gifts, and exhibition fundraising efforts. As a community ambassador, the Chief Curator must develop civic, cultural, philanthropic, and governmental relationships that advance the strategic success of the Mints mission to the community. The Chief Curator must possess a collaborative spirit and be a leader in promoting innovative partnerships with other regional arts organizations.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Create, manage, and direct the ongoing strategic direction and plan for the Curatorial Department, ensuring alignment with the strategic plan of the institution as a whole.
Management of curatorial department staff, policies, procedures, and budgets
Development and implementation of a comprehensive, long-range collection plan
Development and implementation of an exhibitions program strategy, ensuring balance of schedule, scholarship, and value for audiences in the community and art world
Works with CEO to set the direction and master calendar for exhibitions
Participate in the production of publications on the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions. Conduct research and write exhibition labels, didactics, and catalogs, and contribute articles to scholarly and popular journals when appropriate
Work closely with Learning & Engagement team to develop appropriate educational content strategies for exhibitions and permanent collection galleries to ensure engagement of diverse audiences
Work closely with the Advancement team to shepherd collectors and secure donations of works of art and funding for acquisitions
Work with CEO and Advancement team to develop, and participate in, active travel program
Be an active and visible member of the local and regional arts scene
Lead the effort to grow a collectors group to strategically build the collection
Work closely with Collections & Exhibitions team in planning, display, design, and upkeep of galleries
Serves on the Senior Leadership team to ensure the success of the Museums operations, fundraising, and revenue plans.
Provide leadership in evaluating and proposing acquisitions and gifts, deaccessions, conservation, and loans by providing research and justifications.
Represent the institutions curatorial goals at art committee and board meetings
Identify, recruit, hire, train, manage, supervise, and evaluate staff members to achieve the goals of the department and museum
Collaborate with the Director of Library & Archives in the long-term development and refinement of the library to serve the needs of the staff, scholars, volunteers, students, and the general public
Actively develop relationships with peer institutions and professional organizations regionally, nationally, and Internationally

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION:

EDUCATION: Masters degree in art history, Ph.D. or equivalent preferred. Specialization in Contemporary Art is highly desired

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: At least 5 years progressively responsible curatorial and museum experience

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES: Proven management experience of a substantial department, projects, and budgets. Strong professional track record in exhibition development and scholarship. Exemplary written and verbal skills based on thorough and solid scholarly research. Proven abilities in collection development, donor stewardship, strategic planning/thinking, and building collaborative relationships within and outside the institution. Self-directed and motivated with an applied knowledge of professional museum principles, practices, and procedures. Proven ability to convey complex ideas to a variety of audiences clearly and enthusiastically.