Curator

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Whitney Museum of American Art

The Whitney Museum seeks a visionary curator with an extraordinary record of exhibitions, publications, and innovative ways of working with art, artists, and audiences. The incumbent will report directly to the Senior Deputy Director and Nancy and Steve Crown Family Chief Curator and join the museum’s highly collaborative curatorial team. This position requires strong expertise in 20th- and 21st-century American art with a specialty in the period from the 1960s to the present. In addition, the incumbent should have a broad knowledge of international artistic discourse and, ideally, an awareness of emerging digital trends as they relate to artists, audiences, and programs.

Responsibilities Include:

Propose and organize collection displays and loan exhibitions (in any medium), including the writing and preparation of related scholarly catalogues, brochures, and didactic texts, and online resources.
Participate in advancing the Museum’s collection strategy and display methodology in consultation with the Chief Curator and Director of the Collection.
Collaboratively shape the artistic vision and direction of the museum in dialogue with the Chief Curator and other members of the department.
Perform fundraising and cultivation duties with trustees and patron groups, while expanding the museum’s community of supporters.
Foster external relationships with members of the press, digital constituencies, and colleagues at other institutions.
Work closely with other curatorial staff and departments in the museum, in particular Conservation, Education, Exhibitions and Collections Management, Communications, Publications, Advancement, and Research Resources.
Undertake special research projects for the collection, review gifts, and steward acquisitions.
Represent the Museum within the scholarly community through participation in panels, symposia, and other forums.
Serve on inter-departmental working groups and undertake special initiatives at the request of the Chief Curator.
Supervise administrative matters related to the above activities.

Requirements:

M.A. in art history or equivalent experience in the field.
10+ years of experience, including a distinguished record of exhibitions, publications, acquisitions, and patron and press cultivation.
Excellence in public speaking to a wide range of audiences—whether in person or via digital channels—including students, patrons, colleagues, and general visitors.

Compensation & Benefits:

Compensation of $125,000 per annum
Medical, Dental, Vision, 403(B) elections
Generous PTO benefits
Commuter benefits – parking and mass transit
Admission to world-renowned museums across the city and nationally
Pet insurance and discounted membership for Citibike

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet, women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you’re new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest and what you hope to bring to this role.

About the Whitney:
The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.