Curator of Exhibition Programming at the Art + Water

Location: Pier 29, San Francisco, California, US
Contract: Full-time, permanent; exempt
Salary: $90,000–$100,000 per year
Start date: Late November 2026
Application deadline: 14 September 2026
Working pattern: Primarily onsite, with regular evening and weekend work around exhibitions and public programmes
Reports to: Co-Directors

Art + Water is seeking a Curator of Exhibition Programming to lead the artistic vision of its exhibitions and related programmes as the organisation opens a new home for artists at Pier 29.

The Curator will shape what Art + Water presents and why it matters while overseeing the practical delivery of its exhibitions. The programme will include two major exhibitions each year and four smaller quarterly exhibitions in the South Gallery.

Two South Gallery exhibitions will draw from Art + Water’s community of mentor artists and residents. The remaining two will create opportunities for guest curators, arts organisations and invited artists from the wider field.

The successful candidate will also establish and oversee a paid ten-month Curatorial Fellowship supporting an emerging curator through practical experience, professional development and mentorship.

About the Role

The Curator of Exhibition Programming will lead exhibitions from initial concept through installation and evaluation, balancing long-term artistic strategy with budgets, schedules, logistics and daily production.

The exhibitions should be accessible and relevant to broad audiences while maintaining artistic and critical ambition. The Curator will work with artists, residents, guest curators and partner organisations to develop programmes that strengthen the Bay Area’s cultural ecosystem.

As a member of the leadership team, the Curator will also contribute to fundraising, donor engagement, partnership development and organisational strategy. They will serve as a public representative and advocate for Art + Water and its belief that artists should be supported as part of essential public infrastructure.

Curatorial Leadership

The Curator of Exhibition Programming will:

• Lead the artistic direction of exhibitions and related programming;
• Develop and oversee two major exhibitions annually;
• Facilitate the selection and delivery of the quarterly South Gallery programme;
• Work with the Head of Residency on exhibitions and projects that create professional-development opportunities for resident artists;
• Develop relationships with emerging and established artists, guest curators, galleries, collectors and cultural organisations;
• Oversee exhibition publications and ensure that their content reflects the curatorial vision; and
• Support the artistic selection and curation of items for the Art + Water shop.

Exhibition Operations and Planning

Responsibilities include:

• Managing exhibitions from concept through production, installation and evaluation;
• Developing and maintaining exhibition budgets, schedules, project plans and resource allocations;
• Coordinating loans, shipping, installation, insurance, valuation and condition reporting;
• Researching, negotiating and managing vendor contracts;
• Monitoring deadlines, deliverables and project responsibilities;
• Advising on the creative aspects of exhibition design and gallery construction;
• Creating and overseeing a volunteer docent programme; and
• Ensuring exhibitions are delivered safely, effectively and to a high standard.

Funding and Partnerships

The Curator will:

• Produce exhibition descriptions, budgets and other content for funding applications;
• Support grant development, reporting and budget management;
• Cultivate relationships with donors and sponsors; and
• Develop partnerships supporting individual exhibitions and the wider curatorial programme.

Curatorial Fellowship

The Curator will establish and manage Art + Water’s new paid ten-month Curatorial Fellowship.

Responsibilities will include:

• Developing the programme’s framework and curriculum;
• Promoting the fellowship and overseeing its application, interview and selection processes;
• Managing the Fellow’s daily work and professional development;
• Providing training in exhibition development, research and interpretive writing;
• Connecting the Fellow’s work with Art + Water’s visual arts residency;
• Mentoring the Fellow and introducing them to professional networks; and
• Supporting the Fellow in completing at least one exhibition and developing a professional portfolio.

Team and Organisational Culture

The Curator will:

• Foster an inclusive, equitable and collaborative working environment;
• Mentor and support colleagues involved in the exhibitions programme;
• Coordinate exhibition planning and communications across departments;
• Work with the Co-Directors to align curatorial activity with Art + Water’s mission and strategic priorities;
• Support staff wellbeing and retention within a small, ambitious team; and
• Uphold the organisation’s values in internal and external relationships.

Required Qualifications

Applicants should have:

• At least five to seven years of progressive experience within museums, cultural organisations, academic institutions or non-profits;
• At least two years of supervisory experience, including managing or mentoring junior colleagues;
• A demonstrable record of curating and producing exhibitions from concept through installation;
• A distinctive curatorial perspective supported by a portfolio of previous exhibitions;
• Experience with artist selection, exhibition narratives, loan agreements and installation;
• Working knowledge of exhibition budgets, shipping, art handling, condition reporting, insurance and valuation;
• Established relationships with artists, galleries, collectors and peer institutions within contemporary art;
• The ability to develop new artistic and institutional partnerships;
• Experience supporting grant applications, sponsorship or donor engagement connected to exhibitions;
• Strong writing skills and experience producing exhibition texts, catalogue essays or artist statements for public audiences;
• A bachelor’s degree; and
• A commitment to equitable and community-responsive programming across diverse artist and audience communities.

Preferred Qualifications

The following would be advantageous:

• An advanced degree in Art History, Curatorial Studies, Museum Studies or a related field;
• Knowledge of the Bay Area’s artists, institutions and audiences;
• Experience developing a new programme rather than inheriting an established one; and
• Experience working with artists in residency or educational settings.

Benefits

Benefits include:

• Medical, dental and vision insurance;
• Two weeks of paid annual leave;
• Nine company holidays;
• Two floating holidays; and
• An organisational closure between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Art + Water is an equal-opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of colour, women, LGBTQIA+ people, disabled people, veterans and candidates from other historically underrepresented backgrounds.