Current Opportunities

OPPORTUNITY:
A vital member of Dallas Contemporary’s Senior Staff, the Senior Curator is the driving force behind the identity of the museum’s curatorial programming, as well as the overall identity of Dallas Contemporary at large. As head of the curatorial department, the Senior Curator significantly contributes to Dallas Contemporary’s vision and ongoing growth.

This dynamic leadership position includes national and international travel, speaking engagements acting as a representative of the institution, supervision and guidance of curatorial staff, close involvement with exhibition realization, ongoing collaboration with development and education teams, and multifaceted interaction with the community. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Exhibitions
● Develop and manage exhibitions and installations in four galleries as well as satellite projects outside the building/in the community
○ Curate exhibitions and produce supporting content for publications
○ Foster ongoing collaborative relationships with artists for existing and future exhibitions
○ Alongside Executive Director, approve final schedule of forthcoming exhibitions
○ Oversee installation and de-installation of exhibitions, including staff responsible for arranging crating, shipping, insurance, contracts, travel policies, and artwork loan agreements
○ Formulate and maintain budgets for exhibitions
○ Work with a variety of vendors and companies during the production process of exhibitions (fabricators, custom framers, painters, etc.)
○ Collaborate with Director of Learning to coordinate complementary materials including wall text, brochure content, and artist talks

Directorial Duties/Community Outreach
● Help shape the institution’s creative vision through innovative programming and operational ideas
● Attend senior staff meetings and help make key decisions regarding planning and budgets
● Serve as a spokesperson for Dallas Contemporary in the community and beyond
● Moderate and facilitate artist panels and discussions
● Initiate new forms of artist and museum engagement with the public

External Affairs/PR/Development
● Provide interviews to local, national, and international media contacts
● Collaborate with development team for grant and sponsorship proposals
● Cultivate relationships with museum sponsors
● Contribute to press releases on exhibitions

Supervisor
● Supervise 2 adjunct curators; 1-2 curatorial assistants; project-based installers/art handlers; conservators

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
● Natural command for approaching exhibition-making in a critical, innovative capacity
● Highly motivated, ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and to work independently as well as in a team environment
● Maintains highest standards of integrity, including confidentiality of privileged information
● Excellent writing and public speaking abilities
● Knowledge of museum management, collections/exhibitions management, curatorial principles and practices
● High level of attention to detail, accuracy, and ability to set and meet deadlines
● Personable demeanor

Qualifying Education and Experience:
● Master’s degree in Art History, Fine Arts, arts administration, or related field required
● Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in a museum or commercial gallery environment

ABOUT DALLAS CONTEMPORARY

Situated within the heart of the city’s burgeoning Design District, Dallas Contemporary is a non-profit, non-collecting museum that functions in the vein of a traditional kunsthalle; the programme focuses on exhibiting new and recent multidisciplinary works by both emerging and established local, national, and international artists, as well as commissioning site-specific works.

Such presentations are further enhanced by the institution’s setting within a 37,000 square foot industrial building, providing a wholly unique context for each individual exhibition. Dallas Contemporary is one of two bilingual contemporary art institutions in the United States, with a strong focus on expanding audience engagement through temporary exhibitions, artist lectures, and extensive learning programmes.

Seminal exhibitions include David Salle, Pia Camil, Julian Schnabel, Bruce Weber, Mary Katrantzou, Eric Fischl, and 2016’s “Black Sheep Feminism,” which was the most-ever-written-about group exhibition to be organized by a Dallas museum. Public interventions include the installation of Richard Phillips’s Playboy Marfa on Riverfront Drive, a busy Dallas thoroughfare; French photographer JR’s activation of the city in his massive participatory project, “Inside Out”; and the creation of Shepard Fairey’s series of murals throughout West Dallas.

The DC staff works collaboratively and interdepartmentally to produce world-class shows and educational programming each year.  Dallas Contemporary’s supporter base is extremely dedicated and believes in the museum’s bold curatorial choices.  The Board includes art advisors, art collectors, lawyers, finance professionals, philanthropists, marketing/PR specialists and artists.   

ABOUT THE CITY OF DALLAS

A rapidly growing city in an expanding metroplex, Dallas is home to major corporations, hospitals, universities, and world-class restaurants and attractions.  A flood of real estate and business development adds to the excitement; apartment construction in Dallas is second only to New York City.  Dallas’ arts scene is growing and changing, with Dallas Contemporary as an integral part of the landscape.  In 2019, the Dallas Art Fair will mark its 10th anniversary, celebrating the 85,000+ local, national, and international attendees the fair has attracted since its 2009 inception.  Museums, galleries, and private collections are also plentiful in the area, including the Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, The Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University, Crow Collection of Asian Art, The Warehouse of the Rachofsky Collection, and Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.