Director of Exhibitions

Salary: $125,000 – $140,000 annually
Location: New York, NY
Job Type: Full-Time Staff
Department: Exhibitions
Closing Date: Continuous

 

About Pratt

Pratt Institute provides the creative leaders of tomorrow the professional knowledge and experience to make a better world. A world-class and internationally ranked college with programs in art, design, architecture, liberal arts and sciences, and information studies, Pratt offers nearly 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

The Institute’s impact expands beyond its 25-acre residential campus in Brooklyn to cutting-edge facilities throughout the borough, a landmark building and public gallery in Manhattan, as well as an extension campus, Pratt Munson College of Art and Design in Utica, New York. On Governors Island, Pratt is a core partner on the Stony Brook University team selected to develop the New York Climate Exchange, a research and educational hub poised to establish New York City as the global leader for the most pressing issue of our time: climate change. Another extension of Pratt’s campus is the Research Yard, a 20,000-square-foot facility that brings together the research activities of Pratt Institute under one roof in the Brooklyn Navy Yard (BNY).

Description

Pratt Institute, an international leader in art and design education, seeks its next Director of Exhibitions who will collaboratively develop and implement a vision for the series of galleries and related spaces on both the Manhattan and Brooklyn campuses. The Director will work in collaboration with a small staff, partners across campus, and invited guest curators. This is an extraordinary opportunity to build on the strong work of the outgoing Director, ensuring that Pratt’s galleries and exhibitions contribute in vital ways to the Institute’s educational mission as well as to the museum and gallery world of New York City and beyond.

The Director will be based in Pratt’s landmark Manhattan building, but will have responsibilities that engage them across both campuses. Spaces currently overseen by the Department of Exhibitions include the Pratt Manhattan Gallery, the Rubelle and Norman Schafler Gallery, the President’s Office Gallery, and the Hiroko Nakamoto Pratt Manhattan Lobby. The next Director will also supervise the Sculpture Park (spread across the Brooklyn campus); additional spaces may be added following appropriate consultation.

Examples of Duties

Reporting to the Associate Provost for Interdisciplinary and Integrative Learning, the Director will:

• Guide the vision and mission for the Department of Exhibitions in alignment with the Institute’s mission and strategic plan, with attention to representing a diversity of voices in Pratt’s exhibitions and programs, integration of programming with the Institute’s educational mission, and its connection to New York City’s art and design community and the broader public.

• Shape the Exhibitions Committee and work with the committee to initiate, develop, review and select exhibition proposals.

• Schedule, plan and support production of exhibitions and related programming for all galleries that the department oversees.

• Organize and manage programming and maintenance of the Sculpture Park on the Brooklyn campus.

• Collaborate with others to integrate student involvement and academic programming into the department.

• Develop connections with potential funding partners and foster relationships along with leadership in Institutional Advancement. Initiate grant proposals to support exhibition programming for the Department.

• Lead a multi-pronged communications effort that includes:

  • Collaborating with Pratt’s Communications and Marketing Department to guide the visual identity of the Department of Exhibitions and its programming.

  • Creating and overseeing a dynamic website that presents current and future programming along with an accessible archive of past exhibitions and programs

  • Working with Communications and guest curators to develop and execute communication strategies in support of exhibits and programming

  • Leading and supervising a regular schedule of the design, publication and distribution of printed and digital materials and catalogues, including social media, to accompany the exhibitions and programs

• Develop and oversee the exhibition budget for general department operation, installations and community programs.

• Supervise staff in the management of galleries and the care of the art and design objects that come through the installations and occasionally to the Institute.

• Hire, and train permanent and temporary staff as needed.

• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education:
Master’s degree in history of art and/or design, curatorial studies, studio art, or other relevant field required, PhD preferred.

Experience:
7+ years of experience in all facets of exhibition/gallery management including curatorial, budget, marketing, special events, and fundraising. Experience in a college, academic or non-profit setting preferred.

Skills:

• Knowledge of all aspects of curatorial and museum/gallery work including conception, exhibition design, installation, conservation, publication, loans, budgets, programming, fund-raising, communications and current gallery/museum standards.

• Knowledge of the global contemporary art and design world.

• Demonstrated ability to work creatively and collaboratively with diverse groups and individuals.

• Ability to write, edit and oversee production of gallery publications.

• Ability to work with a range of office software platforms (Word, Excel, etc.)