Curator of Visual Arts

The Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans (CAC) seeks a permanent, full-time, benefits-eligible Curator of Visual Arts, reporting to the Director and CEO.

WHO WE ARE

The Contemporary Arts Center (CAC)is a multi-disciplinary contemporary arts center, financially stable and professionally managed, which is dedicated to the presentation, production, and promotion of the art of our time. It expresses its mission by organizing world class curated exhibitions; through a multi-disciplinary schedule of live performances and public programs; and by educating and enlarging audiences for the arts while encouraging collaboration among diverse stakeholders composed of artists, institutions, communities, and supporters throughout the world.

The CAC was formed in the fall of 1976 as a non-collecting organization by a passionate group of artists when the prescient movement to tear down the aesthetic barriers between the performing and visual arts was active nationwide. Housed in a four-story, 80,000 square foot building with two adjacent 10,000 square foot warehouses the CAC boasts among its many physical assets a 210 seat flexible theater as well as 11,000 square feet of exhibition spaces.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. In consultation with the Director and CEO, curates a compelling program of visual arts exhibitions, selecting and/or creating the exhibitions as required;
2. Supervises all technical aspects of the installation and de-installation of works of art at the CAC;
3. Ensures the integration of a robust visual arts exhibition program within the multi-disciplinary vision and mission of the CAC;
4. Oversees the administration of the visual arts program and its attendant activities, functioning as a liaison with CAC departments as well as with the public, other institutions, organizations and scholarly communities;
5. Works with the CAC’s External Affairs department to develop exciting brochures, programs and scholarly texts in order to cultivate new and existing patrons for a world-class visual arts program in partnership with the CAC’s department of Education and Public Programs;
6. Generates and supervises the management of program-specific and departmental budgets;
7. Routinely attends visual arts festivals and programs of sister organizations to remain current with and conduct research into current practice in the visual arts field;
8. Maintains regular contact with artists, patrons, and various constituent groups for fundraising and cultivation;
9. Manages relationships with an established network of colleagues at other sister institutions worldwide.

RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports to the Director and CEO
• Serves as an integral part of the CAC’s senior management team, which includes department heads in Performing Arts, Education and Public Programs, External Affairs, Finance, and Rental/Hospitality Services.
• Supervises the Visual Arts Manager, Visual Arts Coordinator/Preparator, and all visual arts-related technical personnel.

REQUIREMENTS

• BA or BFA in art, art history or a related field or significant directly-related professional experience as a curator, gallery director or visual arts administrator is required.
• A master’s degree or PhD in a visual arts related discipline is preferred.
• Five or more years of experience as a curator working in the visual arts with demonstrable evidence of curatorial abilities as well as administrative and managerial skills.
• Strong working knowledge of contemporary art practice across disciplines.
• Significant skill in writing, speaking, and oratory. (A writing sample may be required of finalists.)

HOW TO APPLY

Priority consideration will be given to applications received on or before June 30, 2014. However, the position will remain open until a suitable pool of qualified applications is received.

Interested candidates are asked to please send a resume and cover letter outlining their interest and qualifications with salary requirements to hr@cacno.org. Please put the title of the position: “Curator of Visual Arts” in the subject heading of your electronic submission.

No phone inquiries regarding this position will be accepted. The CAC is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants without regard to ethnicity, gender, age or sexual orientation