Curator | USA

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Assistant, Associate or Full Curator

The DIA seeks an Assistant, Associate or Full Curator to serve as a full-time member of the Prints, Drawings and Photographs Department (PDP). The ideal candidate will have expertise and breadth of knowledge in Western art on paper from the Middle Ages through the present day. The DIA’s collection of prints and drawings comprises more than 20,000 objects, with strength in European and American works. It includes historically significant drawings, such as Michelangelo’s Studies for the Sistine Chapel; over 2,500 drawings by Thomas Cole; and rare drawings and watercolors by Mary Cassatt, Paul Cézanne, Charles Demuth, Emil Nolde, Pablo Picasso, Peter Paul Rubens and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. The DIA’s print collection has in-depth holdings by renowned European artists Albrecht Dürer, Édouard Manet, Odilon Redon and Rembrandt van Rijn, as well as rare works by Edgar Degas, including his monotype Russet Landscape. The collection of prints by American artists is equally impressive, with extensive holdings by Martin Lewis, John Sloan and James Abbott McNeill Whistler, as well as Jacob Lawrence’s rare gouache series The Legend of John Brown. Prints representing major artists of the twentieth century include those by Käthe Kollwitz, Helen Frankenthaler, Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol among its highlights.

Under the supervision of the Head of PDP, the Curator will oversee all aspects of the collection of works on paper, including prints, drawings, posters and artists’ books. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, organizing and overseeing permanent collection and traveling exhibitions; recommending new works for acquisition; and serving as co-liaison to the DIA’s Friends of Prints, Drawings and Photographs (FPDP), the department’s main auxiliary group.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Conduct research on and assess condition of the collection toward the development of exhibitions, permanent gallery rotations and potential loans
Maintain current knowledge of the art market to recommend objects for the permanent collection and develop acquisition proposals
Compile information pertinent to the identification and documentation of works of art and maintain appropriate object records in the TMS collections database in accordance with DIA data and archival standards
Collaborate with the Collections Management staff in installing artworks
Work in close collaboration with the Conservation Department to regularly assess the conservation needs of the collection
Develop familiarity with the DIA’s Collections Management Policy and assist the Registration Department in producing supporting documentation for accessioning and deaccessioning works of art
Conduct original research on the museum’s art collection and publish in scholarly journals, catalogues and books
Act as staff liaison to the FPDP and assist with organizing its activities and programs
Develop enrichments, including presentations and tours for members, volunteers and museum visitors, to facilitate community outreach
Foster and maintain good working relationships with existing and potential patrons, trustees and museum colleagues across the country and abroad, as well as with the academic community, art dealers and collectors
Work effectively with various museum departments to ensure that content related to the art under his/her purview is accurately represented in all museum print publications and other media
Work collaboratively with educators in Learning and Audience Engagement to develop interpretive strategies and accompanying materials for permanent gallery projects and special exhibitions, as well as conduct training for gallery teachers and docents to support DIA’s school and related programs
Collaborate across curatorial departments on exhibitions and acquisitions
Participate in the day-to-day administration of the department, which includes responding to scholarly and public inquiries related to the collection and scheduling study-room visits
Represent the museum in professional organizations and at symposia and other scholarly meetings and events

QUALIFICATIONS

M.A. in Art History and demonstrated expertise with works on paper; Ph.D. preferred
Minimum three years of experience working in a museum
Familiarity with the activities and operations of a large art museum
Record of research and scholarship, with experience in organizing exhibitions and producing publications of high quality
Commitment to engaging a varied public audience
Exceptional writing skills and public-speaking ability across diverse audiences
Proven ability to work effectively and positively with other professional staff in a highly collaborative environment
Proficiency in at least one foreign language

For more information please visit: http://www.dia.org/employment/1990/Assistant-Associate-or-Full-Curator.aspx

Detroit Institute of Arts
5200 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, Michigan 48202. USA
http://www.dia.org/