Milwaukee Art Museum Job Description

Job Title: Chief Curator

Job: Full Time/Salaried/Exempt

Supervisor: Director

Updated: 3/2017

General Purpose:

Home to a rich collection of more than 30,000 works of art, the Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM) is located on the shore of Lake Michigan, in the heart of downtown Milwaukee. Its campus includes the Santiago Calatrava–designed Quadracci Pavilion, Eero Saarinen–designed Milwaukee County War Memorial Center, and David Kahler‒designed addition. The Museum recently reopened its Collection Galleries after a major renovation-reinstallation project, debuting dramatically transformed galleries and a new lakefront entrance. MAM’s far-reaching collection spans antiquity to the present day, including European and American paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, decorative arts and design, photographs, and folk and self-taught art. Its holdings of American decorative arts, German Expressionism, Haitian art, and post-1960 American art are among the best in the nation, and the Museum features one of the largest collections of works by Wisconsin native Georgia O’Keeffe. The Milwaukee Art Museum welcomes 400,000 visitors a year.

The Chief Curator is a member of the Museum’s senior management team, actively participating in shaping the organization’s vision and mission, while directing its artistic program. This position leads the efforts to build, present, care for, and conserve the Museum’s collections, and is responsible for the support and content of the exhibitions and related efforts. The Chief Curator manages the Curatorial Department and all aspects of its operations, working in a collegial manner to build trust and respect in a team-centric department and throughout the Museum.

The Chief Curator is the lead spokesperson for the art in the Museum’s collection and the exhibitions and must be at ease in a highly visible and public position. The incumbent must cultivate relationships with donors, collectors, and the broader art world, building support for MAM’s artistic program through gifts, purchases, and exhibition fundraising efforts. And as a community ambassador for MAM, the Chief Curator must develop civic, cultural, philanthropic, and governmental relationships, advancing the Museum’s mission in tandem with the strategic success of its operations, fundraising, and revenue plans.

Education/Experience Requirements:

• At least 10 to 15 years of progressively responsible curatorial and art museum management experience;
• An MA in art history (PhD preferred), supported by significant scholarship in the field including exhibitions, publications, and acquisitions;
• A strong professional track record in museum administration, strategic planning, and building collaborative relationships, with demonstrable results, is of paramount importance; and
• Specialization in European Modern art is highly desired.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Management of Curatorial Department staff*, policies, procedures, and budgets
• Management of the collection galleries, including layout and design, planning, display, and upkeep;
• Management of the collection, including accessioning and deaccessioning, storage, conservation, and loans;
• Development and implementation of a comprehensive, long-range collection plan;
• Development and implementation of an exhibitions program strategy, and management of exhibition planning;
• Management of interpretation, scholarship, and archive planning; and
• Fundraising for the collection and exhibitions.

*The Curatorial Department is one of the largest at MAM and includes registration, the Museum library and archive, conservation, and art preparation.

The Milwaukee Art Museum’s next Chief Curator will be a respected and seasoned leader with a record of achievement in curatorial work and museum management, and a high degree of financial acumen.

• Works with the Director of the Museum to set the direction and master calendar for exhibitions;
• Serves as content authority for the exhibitions, ensuring balance of schedule, scholarship, and value for audiences in the community and the art world;
• Works with the senior management team to ensure commitment to and support of the Museum’s exhibitions;
• Serves as a key member of the fundraising team to develop support for the collection, exhibitions, and other programs;
• Leads the effort to build the collection through gifts and financial support; and
• Serves on the executive team (with the Director, Director of Development, and Chief Financial Officer) to ensure the success of the Museum’s operations, fundraising, and revenue plans.

The Chief Curator leads the collection acquisition and deaccession process. As such, the Chief Curator plays a key role in working with the Board of Trustees (specifically the Acquisition and Collection Committee), the various support groups of the Museum, and other art supporters in the community to execute that plan. The collection is a diverse, living experience and its presentations must be kept fresh and relevant to add value to the community. The Chief Curator is the principal architect of that experience and is responsible for developing and implementing the evolution of the collection installation over time.

• Plans and coordinates the collection plan with the curators, setting funding strategies and building external support;
• Works with the Acquisition and Collection Committee chair to set agendas, develop acquisition strategies, educate members, and enlist support for the collection plan;
• Coordinates, educates, and manages the support groups and their art acquisition efforts;
• Develops and implements a deaccession program to build funds for acquisition and to provide space for an upgraded collection; and
• Leads and works cross-departmentally to develop and implement a master plan for the presentation of the collection that speaks to a new generation of visitors while serving the needs of traditional audiences.

The Chief Curator is responsible for the content of the art displays and the interpretation of the art. The Chief Curator directs scholarship efforts, as well as the archiving of information associated with the art for future generations. The Chief Curator’s role includes the digital realm, where the stream of information must be organized, presented, and archived in a meaningful way. Publications and catalogues in both print and digital formats are important aspects of the Museum’s presentation of art.

• Coordinates the gathering of information, records, and other archival material associated with the collection and the library and archives of the Museum;
• Manages the registrar and library departments’ efforts to digitize the records and archives of the collection;
• Works cross-departmentally to develop and implement a digital information strategy, including online experiences, for the Museum and its visitors;
• Works cross-departmentally to implement a Museum Experience Initiative that incorporates the digital archives of the Museum, new technologies, and other visitor experience best practices;
• Develops and oversees the scholarly content of publications for the Museum; and
• Works cross-departmentally to develop and produce the Museum’s publications associated with the collection and the exhibitions.

The Chief Curator is the content authority for the art of the Museum. In that role, the Chief Curator works closely with the Education Department and other departments to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the information disseminated about the art.

• Works with the Director of Education to develop and deliver docent and volunteer education;
• Coordinates with the Director of Marketing to develop and ensure the accuracy of all art-related information delivered to the public; and
• Works cross-departmentally to ensure the relevance and accuracy of the education content.

Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Interested applicants, please contact: hr@mam.org