Curator of Modern Art

Position Description

General Summary

The Curator of Modern Art is a dynamic, ambitious, and resourceful curatorial professional who plays a leadership role in formulating Artis—Naples, The Baker Museum’s strategy for the display, research and growth of its collection of modern art. The Curator of Modern Art is responsible for mounting nationally-recognized, engaging exhibitions and for serving as a visible senior representative of the museum to the public, board members, donors and the media. The Curator of Modern Art fosters collaborative interdepartmental relationships, building mutual trust and respect and demonstrating flexibility and collegiality, to maximize the impact and visibility of the museum’s modern art exhibitions and related programming.

Supervises

Seasonal museum interns (as necessary)

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Reporting to the Museum Director and Chief Curator, develops and guides the focus of Artis—Naples, The Baker Museum’s modern art program.
• Proactively conceive, organize, and coordinate nationally-recognized, engaging exhibitions and installations composed of works from the museum’s permanent collection and/or loaned works, requiring minimal supervision.
• Develop and oversee the strategy for the management and growth of the museum’s collection of modern art.
• Organize touring exhibitions drawn from the museum’s collection.
• In conjunction with organizational leadership, manage the cultivation of modern art collectors and donors, playing a leadership role in development and public relations, and proactively fostering relationships both regionally and nationally.
• Oversee the creation of programming and the development of strategic relationships to enhance the museum’s visibility among non-traditional museum audiences.
• Serve as a passionate advocate for modern art and the museum’s collection in particular, seeking out speaking engagements ranging from scholarly lectures to community group talks.
• Maintain a reputation as an expert in the field, proactively seeking to present work at professional conferences and to publish work in peer-reviewed journals, recognized online platforms, and scholarly publications.
• Work with Development colleagues to identify and write grants to support the museum’s modern art exhibitions, collections, and publications.
• Support and mentor other museum team members.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Experience, Competencies and Core Values

Education/Experience

• M.A. in Art History, Museum studies or related discipline, with a specialization in Modern Art of the United States, Mexico, and/or Europe.
• Five to eight years of progressively responsible and relevant curatorial experience in a museum setting, with a demonstrated history of organizing and managing ambitious exhibitions, installations, and publications.

Other Skills and Abilities

• Strategic and innovative thinker who can leverage the unique strengths of Artis—Naples to advance the goals of the modern art program.
• Exceptional judgment, organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Professional demeanor and diplomatic skills with a high degree of flexibility.
• Ability to prioritize and achieve goals, set and meet deadlines, and work independently while showing initiative with a high degree of accuracy.
• Ability to efficiently manage multiple exhibitions and projects simultaneously.
• Ability to form and maintain successful working relationships with team members, exhibition lenders, colleagues in the museum field and other external contacts.
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively and persuasively with a broad range of constituents.
• Proficiency in Spanish desired.