The Art Institute of Chicago, founded in 1879, is a world-renowned art museum housing one of the largest permanent collections in the United States. An encyclopedic museum, the Art Institute collects, preserves, and interprets works in every medium from all cultures and historical periods. With a collection of approximately 300,000 art works and artifacts, the museum has particularly strong holdings in Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting, contemporary art, early 20th century European painting and sculpture, Japanese prints, and photography. The museum’s 2009 addition, the Modern Wing, features the latest in green museum technology and 264,000 square feet dedicated to modern and contemporary art, photography, architecture and design, and new museum education facilities. In addition to displaying its permanent collection, the Art Institute mounts more than 30 special exhibitions per year and features lectures, gallery tours, and special performances on a daily basis.

The Searle Associate Curator at the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC) is responsible, in consultation with Department Chair, for planning and implementing the growth, management and display of the permanent collection of late 18th century art and earlier 19th century painting and sculpture and for organizing special exhibitions. Ensures that curatorial records, labels, and website information in these areas remains current. In consultation with Department chair, organizes, selects and implements in-house and traveling exhibitions, particularly in field of specialization and in other areas as assigned.  Takes responsibility for assessing collection and for recommending acquisitions in area of expertise. Develops support for acquisitions and other projects in specialist field in conjunction with the Committee on European Painting and Sculpture, the Old Masters Society, and individuals in the community.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1.     Under the direction of the Department Chair and in conjunction with Collections Manager, organizes, selects, and implements departmental exhibitions as well as rotating installations of late 18th and earlier 19th century art in the galleries, including labels and didactic material.
2.     Organizes occasional special exhibitions working closely with Exhibitions Manager.  Selects artwork, writes labels and didactic materials, and oversees installation.  Make recommendations about possible exhibitions in area of specialty.
3.     Researches and writes about paintings and sculpture in the collection, particularly in area of expertise. Such publications may include museum and scholarly publications, such as exhibition catalogues, art-historical journals, press releases, AIC Member Magazine, as well as online cataloguing and full critical catalogues of areas of the collection.
4.     Documents collection in area of expertise, assesses strengths and weaknesses, keeps abreast of the market and current scholarship, works with dealers, recommends and researches new acquisitions. In consultation with Department Chair and curators, determines priorities for acquisition, suggesting possible purchases to departmental curators. Undertakes research and assessment of validity and importance for the collection. Prepares and delivers acquisition presentation to Committee on European Painting and Sculpture.
5.     Maintains knowledge of current art market through contacts with dealer and auction houses. Researches new acquisitions in the area of expertise and, on occasion, on acquisitions in other areas. Develops sources of funding in the community where necessary, and aids in guiding proposed acquisitions through committee and trustee approval.
6.     Takes primary responsibility for late 18th and earlier 19th century European painting and sculpture in the permanent collection. Assumes co-responsibility, along with other departmental curators, for the safekeeping of objects and the installation of the permanent collection in the departmental galleries, including the safe storage of works not on view. Working in consultation with other curators and conservation, is responsible for reviewing the general physical condition of works of art in area of specialization, and for suggesting priorities for conservation treatment in this area, actively consulting with conservators during the course of treatment.
7.     Develops contacts with patrons and collectors in the community, including members of the Old Masters Society, to build support for programs, acquisitions, travel, and other departmental activities.
8.     Maintains professional knowledge and contacts with colleagues by attending conferences and symposia, and by visiting other institutions to view collections and exhibitions.  Keeps abreast of recent theoretical, scholarly, and museological trends in art history, including symposia, lectures, and published writings.  Works with Collections Manager and Research Associate to ensure that curatorial records and online information on relevant portions of the collection are up-to-date.
9.     Supervises interns, volunteers, special projects research assistants, and occasionally Mellon Fellows, for collection-related projects in area of specialization.
10.     Makes museum resources available to historians, scholars, universities, and other museums. Occasionally lectures to classes and museum groups.
11.     Responds to research correspondence and telephone inquiries from scholars, curators, dealers, collectors, museum members, the general public, and other museum departments.
12.     Travels in the United States and abroad to perform art historical research and to escort works of art from the permanent collection on loan.
13.     Performs other related duties in alignment with the mission of the department and museum.

Qualifications

•     Advanced degree in Art History required, PhD strongly preferred.
•     Minimum of two years’ professional museum experience desirable.
•     Demonstrated scholarship in 18th and 19th century European painting and sculpture.
•     Facility in French and/or German preferred.
•     Very strong oral and written communication skills.  Written samples and references should be included with all applications.

For fullest consideration please apply at: https://hrweb.artic.edu/recruit/applyjob.html

The Art Institute of Chicago is an equal opportunity, equal access employer fully committed to achieving a diverse and inclusive workplace.