Director and Curator of Lamont Gallery

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The Lamont Gallery, located in the Frederick R. Mayer Art Center, is a dynamic exhibition and teaching space that celebrates the arts through showcasing the work of regional, national, and international artists in thematic exhibitions. Classes from Phillips Exeter Academy, groups from other schools and organizations, and visitors of all ages can experience and learn about the arts in a welcoming setting. Informed by the Harkness teaching philosophy, the Lamont Gallery’s programs are characterized by inquiry, engagement, and dialogue.

A commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism informs our work.

Director and Curator, Lamont Gallery

The Director and Curator will provide leadership and administration of the gallery’s current offerings, contribute to the development of scheduled and tentative programs, represent the Lamont Gallery in campus settings including Department Chairs and Faculty Meeting, interface with alumni and families, work with students, and collaborate with partners on and off campus. The Director should have extensive experience in arts and cultural production, a broad, multidisciplinary perspective on arts education and knowledge of teaching, experience with managing staff, operations, budgets, and facilities, a commitment to collaboration, and the ability to work with a diverse constituency.

Key Accountabilities

Administrative:

Oversees daily activities and departmental operations.
Provides leadership and planning in guiding and implementing departmental priorities in consultation with the dean of faculty.
Integrate principals of diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultural competency into operational and curricular elements of Gallery day-to-day and strategic activities.
Supervises and mentors staff, freelancers, and consultants. Determines schedules and workflow/prioritization.
Engages a team of student gallery proctors and curators and student arts/cultural producers in the work of the gallery and in support of campus-wide cultural projects. Contributes to Harkness discussions and
Harkness-based learning activities in collaboration with students and other adults.
Manages departmental and program budgets.
Creates and signs exhibition loan agreements. Oversees successful implementation of exhibition contract requirements.
Guides marketing strategy in conjunction with Communications Department and gallery staff.
Manages Lamont Gallery facilities projects and capital requests.
Represents Lamont Gallery at department heads meetings, faculty meetings, and other campus-wide activities.
This position is not involved in collections acquisition, as the Lamont Gallery is a non-collecting entity.

Curatorial/Programmatic:

Oversees the implementation of scheduled exhibitions and programs, including researching additional works, refining and/or expanding on exhibition content and themes, orchestrating exhibition layout, producing didactics or other materials, and designing exhibition layout and related components.
Manages aspects of future programs as needed.
Contributes to the development of new curatorial and educational projects where relevant.
Establishes and coordinates contact with artists, lending agencies, and donors.
Acts as project developer for collaborative projects.
Integrates principals of diversity, equity, and inclusion into departmental programs and practices.
Assists with training gallery attendants.
Continues to connect the Lamont Gallery to local, regional, national, and international initiatives in the arts; represents the Lamont Gallery and Phillips Exeter Academy in off-site professional exchanges.

Gallery Education:

Oversees the implementation of a broad offering of ongoing gallery education and community engagement programs that serve students, faculty, staff, and regional visitors.
Guides the student proctor/curatorial program. In conjunction with gallery staff, hire, train, and supervise student proctors.
Supports collections staff in providing compelling object-based learning opportunities for learners.

Institutional:

Serves as department chair and attends department heads meetings. Attends faculty meetings and participates in faculty professional development programs.
Attends PEA events, student programs, games, and other campus presentations when possible.
May serve on other departmental or institutional committees as needed.

Other:

Assumes other duties as assigned.

Computer & Other Qualifications for Position

Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint, email/internet, video, museum and arts databases, and other new media applications.

Knowledge of museum/gallery field. Proficiency in art installation.

Degree of Independent Action Performed

The director and curator is expected to work with a high level of independence and autonomy, and exercise initiative, influence, and judgment in decisions impacting students, employees, and the general public.

Direct/Indirect Reports

Will supervise gallery staff and student proctors, as well as manage freelancers and consultants.

Internal & External Contacts

Frequent contact with students, faculty, staff, dean of faculty, PEA administrative and academic offices including Institutional Advancement. External contacts include artists, museums/lending institutions, alumni, parents, donors, outside organizations, and the general public.

Position Requirements

Education

Master’s degree in fields such as fine arts, museum studies, or cultural studies preferred.
Additional training in liberal arts or other non-arts disciplines desirable.
Bachelor’s degree required.

Experience

7+ years of professional experience in developing, managing, and evaluating innovative arts/cultural public and educational programs for audiences of all ages.
Familiarity with museum and gallery field (academic gallery experience especially helpful). The interim may provide evidence of high-level skills from adjacent cultural setting as demonstration of equivalent knowledge.
Broad knowledge of the arts, including visual, literary, and performing arts disciplines, and how those disciplines intersect with a liberal arts curriculum.
Demonstrated experience with addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the arts.
Experience in developing and facilitating programs and activities to support the academic and social enrichment of students (adolescents/young adults).

Skills & Knowledge

Demonstrated ability to manage arts and cultural programs for academic and non-academic audiences.
Capacity in academic arts writing and/or curriculum development; research skills in art, art history, art theory, or critical theory.
Excellent communication and presentation skills; facility with presenting in public.
Demonstrate respect for diversity of identities and experiences, an orientation toward equity and inclusion, and cultural competency in all aspects of Academy life.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team. Ability to develop and maintain collegial relationships.
Facility with handling multiple priorities and deadlines.
Fluency with technology including office and fine arts applications (MS Office, digital imaging, video/film, social media and other arts-related technologies.)
Ability and willingness to travel (by car, air, train or bus) domestically and internationally as needed.

Experience

7+ years of professional experience in developing, managing, and evaluating innovative arts/cultural public and educational programs for audiences of all ages.
Familiarity with museum and gallery field (academic gallery experience especially helpful). The interim may provide evidence of high-level skills from adjacent cultural setting as demonstration of equivalent knowledge.
Broad knowledge of the arts, including visual, literary, and performing arts disciplines, and how those disciplines intersect with a liberal arts curriculum.
Demonstrated experience with addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the arts.
Experience in developing and facilitating programs and activities to support the academic and social enrichment of students (adolescents/young adults).