Curator, Visual Arts

Position Title: Curator, Visual Arts
Position Type: Full-time
FLSA Classification: Exempt
Branch: Art and Education 
Department: Curatorial
Reports to: Director, the Momentary

Position Summary

The Curator, Visual Arts, the Momentary will be the strategic team leader for the contemporary visual arts program at the Momentary and lead our engagement with visual artists.

In partnership with the Curator, Performing Arts at the Momentary and with all counterparts at Crystal Bridges Museum, this position will serve a key role in cultivating and creating relationships, strategies, outreach, and programs related to exhibitions and projects featuring visual artists. We are looking for someone who is both visionary and dynamic, who will guide the presentation, publication, and interpretation of contemporary visual arts at the Momentary, with a strong focus on multi-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary work. In furthering the goals of collaboration and cooperation among arts organizations, the Curator, Visual Art will help to expand interest in and support for the Momentary and its contemporary arts programs.

The Curator, Visual Arts will also work closely with the Curator, Contemporary Art at Crystal Bridges on the contemporary art program as presented across the museum sites and on the institution’s projects with living artists. The ideal candidate is creative, experimental, and flexible, with a collaborative spirit; someone who embraces innovative ideas and has a passion for connecting to our diverse guests and communities. Experience in creating spaces, programs, exhibitions, and acquisitions is critically important as are excellent speaking, writing, and research abilities.

Primary Responsibilities

The Curator, Visual Arts at the Momentary is charged with developing and managing all activities related to the contemporary visual arts program at the Momentary.

Key areas of this work include:

• Encourage programmatic innovation to increase the impact of contemporary art for our visitors.
• Enable living artists to be able to provide transformative experiences to our guests.
• Maintain positive long-term relationships with exhibited artists and their representatives.
• Create opportunities for audiences of all ages, levels of interest and abilities to understand, appreciate and question contemporary art and artists.
• Develop and sustain key stakeholder relationships, including with members of the Momentary council and Crystal Bridges board and donors

Principal Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

• Contribute to a long-term vision for the Momentary with a focus on contemporary art and living artists.
• Oversee and lead the contemporary visual arts team including an assistant curator, curatorial assistant, lead install manager and Artist in Residency (AIR) programs coordinator.
• Provide leadership and vision for the Momentary’s AIR programs
• Propose and develop creative and engaging exhibitions of various scale and content. Oversee the visual arts exhibition calendar and planning for the Momentary, partnering with Exhibitions and Interpretation and Collections Management colleagues at Crystal Bridges to integrate the Momentary exhibition calendar with Crystal Bridges’ overall exhibition and installation planning.
• Assist in exhibition and residency related fundraising by providing necessary project and object information and participating in grant writing and personal solicitations to potential donors including corporations, foundations and individuals.
• Serve as an ambassador for the Momentary locally, nationally, and internationally, being an active member in the field as well as with the general public.

Minimum Qualifications

Education, Training, and Traits:

• Extensive knowledge of American art post-1960.
• B.A. art history (M.A. preferred) or equivalent as evidenced by publication of significant writing and the organization of distinguished exhibitions.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including public speaking and writing
• Excellent working relationships with collectors, artists, the art market, and scholars.
• Self-directed and motivated.
• Extensive experience working with living artists.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of ten (10) years prior curatorial experience
• Must have experience managing others, projects, and budgets

Licenses and Certifications:

• Valid Driver’s License
• Ability to obtain Passport for International Travel

Skills and Abilities:

• Proficiency with standard office equipment including basic computer literacy (word processing, spread sheets, e-mail, etc.) telephone, fax and copy machines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to interpret temporary exhibitions, and to communicate relevant knowledge in a manner which is understandable to the general public
• Strong research skills, ability to perform scholarly research in the field
• Ability to meet deadlines and handle multiple tasks simultaneously
• Demonstrated project management skills.
• Ability to interact respectfully, collegially, and professionally with all employees and volunteers at all levels of responsibility
• Ability and willingness to be a team player within the department and entire organization
• Ability to maintain the highest ethics as they relate to all aspects of curatorial endeavor, and to understand and maintain the highest levels of confidentiality

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands:  The position requires verbal and written conversation with others. Vision abilities required by the job include close vision and color perception.
• Work Environment:  Work will be performed in an office environment, museum spaces, and in communities served. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate. Position requires some independent overnight travel for research, professional meetings, couriering art works to venues nationally and internationally and other travel as necessary to fulfill responsibilities of the position.
• Flexibility: Position requires ongoing flexibility in work hours due to events, staffing needs and other factors.

About the Momentary

The Momentary is a new contemporary art space that opened to the public on February 22, 2020, in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. A satellite to Crystal Bridges, the Momentary presents visual, performing, and culinary arts and hosts residencies. The mission of the Momentary is to champion contemporary art’s role in everyday life, and to explore the unfolding story of contemporary American arts in an international context by actively commissioning and exhibiting outstanding works that explore new ideas and inspire action. The Momentary was founded by the Walton family, based on the vision of Tom, Olivia, and Steuart Walton. The Walton Family Foundation is supporting this project as a way to enhance the quality of life in Northwest Arkansas. The Momentary welcomes all with free general admission. Additional offerings include an artist-in residence program, culinary experiences including an Onyx Coffee Lab, indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, an outdoor festival space, and a gift store. For more information, visit www.theMomentary.org The Momentary is located at 507 SE E Street, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712.