Open call for emerging curator

The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art seeks a talented emerging curator for the position of Kress Interpretive Fellow, a one-year full-time position. Reporting to the Chief Curator, the Fellow will work with the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art’s Kress holdings of European art that spans the thirteenth to the eighteenth centuries.

The Fellow will conduct research and contribute to the interpretation of this collection in preparation for the museum’s major capital project – relocating to a purpose-built, new building designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects Herzog & de Meuron. The Fellow will have the opportunity to work on an exhibition that will explore the ways in which historic works of art can be used to reflect on the practice of decolonization in museums.

This Fellowship position is designed to help prepare candidates for a successful career within the museum field. The Fellow will be a key member of the Curatorial team who will support and learn from curators and work closely with other departments across the museum. The Fellow will receive peer support from the museum’s two additional fellows.

Founded in 1916 and located in historic Overton Park, the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art is the oldest and largest art museum in Tennessee and a cultural anchor for the tri-State area that includes Arkansas and Mississippi. The museum holds over 10,000 works spanning 5,000 years of global human history with strengths in European, American, African diaspora, and global contemporary art with a particular strength in photography.

Responsibilities:

– Contribute to the curatorial vision, planning, research, and interpretation for the museum’s new facility Downtown for the museum’s Kress holdings

– Assist the Chief Curator in curating a temporary exhibition

– Support and learn from the Curatorial team in their curatorial duties, particularly pertaining to the care, interpretation, and display of the museum’s growing collection

– Participate in activities pertaining to Curatorial committees, advisory groups, docent training, and donor groups

– Participate in public programs and other events

– Ensure that diversity, equity, access, and inclusion are primary considerations across all work

Requirements:

– MA in Art History or related field, with a focus on a field that relates to the museum’s Kress holdings, or that can be used to examine the Kress holdings in a new light

– Museum experience preferred

– Demonstrable interest in creating a more equitable museum and/or interest in social justice and/or knowledge of critical theories including but not limited to race, class, ability, gender, and sexuality

– Strong research skills

– Focused, with keen attention to detail

– Excellent written and spoken communication, with the ability to adapt to multiple types of audience

– The ability to work independently and collaboratively across departments
Openness to engage with a variety of stakeholders including but not limited to staff, visitors, trustees, artists, community partners, donors, funders, and academic institutions
Ability and willingness to attend out-of-hours functions as necessary

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Recent studies show that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, yet women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds.

Salary: $50,000

Benefits: (i) A cafeteria plan that includes optional health, dental, vision, additional life insurance and supplemental policies, and a flexible spending account. The museum contributes toward the employee portion of premiums related to your choice of benefit options. (ii) A 403(b) retirement plan. The museum matches up to 4% of your salary annually. (iii) Employment category, combined with years of service to the museum, determines the amount of time off (OPTO) that each employee receives in addition to regular paid holidays.

The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or marital or veteran status. We actively encourage minority candidates to apply for open positions.

Qualified candidates are invited to apply by emailing a cover letter and a CV to rosamund.garrett@brooksmuseum.org with “Kress Interpretive Fellow” as the subject line.