As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.
UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.
The University of Washington School of Art + Art History + Design has a unique opportunity for Director + Curator of the Jacob Lawrence Gallery. The Gallery Director reports to the School Director and consults with the School’s Gallery Committee.
The Jacob Lawrence Gallery is a space devoted to education, social justice, and experimentation that honors the legacy of one of the 20th century’s greatest artists, Jacob Lawrence, who taught at the University of Washington from 1970–1985 and served as Professor Emeritus until the end of his life in 2000. The gallery is a tangible, living legacy of Lawrence’s exemplary life and practice.
The Gallery’s primary mission is to showcase the work of faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students, rounding out this programming with an ambitious program of unique exhibitions, lectures, performances, screenings, and discussions. Situated in the University of Washington’s Art Building, the Gallery is a diverse site of knowledge production that serves over 8,000 visitors each year.
As part of its commitments as a training ground for future arts workers, the Gallery has been W.A.G.E. certified since 2017. The Gallery’s internship program offers students the opportunity to learn about curatorial practice and gallery practice, and they gain hands-on skills in developing, installing, and programming exhibitions. The gallery routinely partners with on- and off-campus entities, including The Black Embodiments Studio, Northwest Film Forum, SOIL Gallery and the Seattle Art Fair.
The Director provides curatorial, operational, and administrative leadership for the gallery, along with publicity and installation oversight. Gallery programming can involve the production of publications. The Director will supervise student appointments including a 50% FTE graduate student fellow, student assistant curators, interns and monitors. This position has a significant outreach role to enhance the profile of the School of Art + Art History + Design by liaising with other campus partners and institutions on both the local and national level.
The gallery will move into a newly created, state-of-the-art exhibition space in March 2023, significantly raising its profile on campus and allowing it to better realize its mission.
Responsibilities
Jacob Lawrence Gallery (85%)
- Organize the annual program of exhibitions in consultation with the School’s Gallery Committee and the Director of the SoA+AH+D.
- Manage all curatorial aspects of the Gallery. Plan, prepare, design, install, and publicize approximately 16 exhibitions annually. These include BA and B.Des graduation exhibitions: a MFA work in progress show: faculty promotion shows, juried shows: special exhibitions: and the Jacob Lawrence Legacy Residency.
- Develop and oversee the gallery budget, procure supplies and services, and seek additional funding opportunities through writing grants and coordinating with the UW Advancement team.
- Train, mentor and supervise the graduate fellows and graduate and undergraduate gallery assistants, interns, and monitors.
- Establish and maintain a system to record and archive information about and images of all exhibitions.
- Coordinate as appropriate with other SoA+AH+D galleries with scheduling, advertising, supplies, etc.
- Ensure that the gallery’s physical space, equipment, and exhibition props are maintained and well organized.
- Help coordinate publicity for exhibitions and events, and work to raise the visibility of the gallery.
- Coordinate tours, special events and outside exhibitions.
Campus Engagement (10%)
- Coordinate, curate, and oversee occasional installation of student and faculty work at selected sites across campus
- Act as liaison between the School, the UW campus and the broader art and design communities, including other art galleries, schools, organizations, foundations, and businesses.
- Serve on the Gallery Committee, Art Advisory Board, and other School and UW committees as appropriate.
- Explore innovative ways in which the gallery can reinforce the educational mission of the School.
The School’s Art Collection (5%)
- The School’s collection of art, which includes approximately 1000 pieces, has grown mainly through donations of work from students, plus the estates of former faculty and friends. The gallery Director is involved with maintaining and managing this collection.
Minimum Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in art, art history or related field with a minimum of 4 years of arts administration and curatorial experience.
Additional Requirements
- Two years managing an art gallery or equivalent experience.
- Excellent organizational, communication, social media, budgetary and writing skills.
- Knowledge of and on-going interest in contemporary, international, national, and regional art
- A keen interest in the experimental nature of student creative development, balanced with an understanding of the need to represent the highest standards and academic mission of the UW
- Availability for some weekend and evening work.
Desired Qualifications
- Teaching experience or equivalent work with undergraduate and graduate students
- Familiarity with northwest contemporary art and artists
- Experience working in a college or university gallery setting
Conditions of Employment
This is a permanent, year round, 100% FTE position.
Although open until filled, priority application date is February 13, 2023.
