The Position

MCA Denver is looking for a dynamic curatorial voice to produce innovative contemporary art exhibitions. The ideal candidate is highly organized, has prior experience organizing art exhibitions, enjoys communicating with donors and the public, and is passionate about collaborating with a small but mighty team on an exhibition program grounded in excellence, inclusion, and adventurousness. The Associate Curator at MCA prioritizes the pursuit of equity and thinks expansively about how art can make an impact within our Colorado community and on the national scene. This person is responsible for organizing exhibitions, providing support to the curatorial team, producing publications, and collaborating with other departments on the development of public programs, marketing content, and support towards fundraising efforts.

The position is full-time with benefits and during most weeks requires a minimum of two days per week onsite to connect with the larger team and provide tours, while planning may productively occur remotely.  In the weeks leading up to and during exhibition turnovers, this position is expected to be on-site five days a week. We are headquartered, and this position is based, in the downtown Denver area.

About You

• You have a developed curatorial voice and perspective.
• You are experienced in utilizing art historical research tools.
• You have an existing network of artist and gallery contacts.
• The desire to work with a dynamic, diverse, and collaborative team, during regular museum operating hours including some nights and weekends supporting our epic programs and events.

A Day in the Life

Exhibitions

• Develop and deliver compelling modern and contemporary exhibitions.
• Provide research and organizational support to the Senior Curator and the Executive Director as needed.
• Oversee the planning and installation of traveling exhibitions from other organizations at MCA Denver.
• Organize and provide all informational materials needed for traveling MCA-generated exhibitions to other organizations.
• Project manage all departmental publications.
• Draft text for tombstone and extended labels.
• Conduct visitor tours.
• Travel to conduct curatorial research at least three times per year. This includes attending at least one relevant conference or art fair per year to generate exhibitions.
• Create and manage exhibition workflow (project timelines, schedules, and departmental calendar.
• Manage departmental interns.
• Demonstrate a commitment to including local and regional artists in studio visit schedule and exhibition program.

Collaboration

• Collaborate with the Exhibitions Manager on the logistical planning of exhibitions, including by providing all necessary information for scheduling, floorplans, shipments, and production.
• Serve as an ambassador for the Museum by attending openings and lectures, conducting studio visits, and connecting with other arts administrators in the Front Range and around the country.
• Collaborate with the Programs Department on the development of exhibition-related programs.
• Collaborate with the Marketing Department on the development of press releases and exhibition-related digital content.
• Collaborate with the Visitor Services Department on the creation of gallery tours, the assessment of security needs, and the ongoing evaluation of exhibition safety and audience reception.
• Represent the curatorial team in interdepartmental meetings as needed.  Serve as liaison for other internal departments.

Finance & Development

• Work with the Senior Curator to establish and adhere to departmental and exhibit budgets.
• Participate in the cultivation of museum patrons and donors through activities including providing tours and attending fundraising events.
• Contribute to the writing and research for grant applications.
• Assist in the organization of donor trips and attend donor trips when needed.

What You Bring to Us

1. 4-year degree in Art History, Theory or Practice required, or any equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
2. Requires minimum of 5 years of experience in an exhibitions or curatorial department art museum or similar arts organization.
3. Requires a minimum of 2 years of experience organizing exhibitions that focus on the work of living contemporary artists.
4. Applied knowledge of professional museum practices, including the care and handling of artworks.
5. Experience with print and/or online production and publishing is strongly preferred.
6. Minimum of 3 years of demonstrated experience organizing or directly supporting exhibitions that have dealt with international shipping, insurance, and customs also preferred.

Physical Requirements

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by a staff member to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Ability to speak, understand, and communicate in English effectively, in person and in writing. Ability to hear adequately in person and by phone, in personal and group settings.
• You need to be able to sit or stand for up to 6 hours per day. Ability to reach for, move and/or lift up to 25 pounds and use your hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls, mobility to access a wide variety of meeting and museum settings, and to perform a variety of tasks that involve standing, walking, sitting, stooping, kneeling, bending, and twisting, climbing stairs or using an elevator, possibly reaching chest high and overhead for materials, with reasonable accommodation.

About Us

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA Denver) is a nonprofit organization providing an innovative forum for contemporary art that inspires and challenges, creating understanding and dialog about the art of our time. MCA Denver is paving a new path for a 21st century museum that is Both/And: We are both advancing the field of contemporary art and providing a platform for creative expression, in the broadest sense of the term.  We present both world-class exhibitions and quirky events, serious lectures and epic parties.  We are both sophisticated and unpretentious. We welcome all audiences, celebrate all voices, and share all stories to provide one-of-a-kind experiences for our community.

Our Core Values

We are:

Adventurous – We are risk-takers. We are creative, open, curious, and sometimes weird.

Excellent – We strive to be the best in our field, we have high expectations, we believe in being resilient, creative problem-solvers, and professionals.

Human Centric – We are collaborative. We strive for emotional intelligence, and we value relationships.

Inclusive – We are welcoming to all audiences, voices, and stories. We believe in being authentic and inclusive.  We actively seek and engage with diverse perspectives.

MCA Denver is committed in policy, principle, and practice to maintaining an environment that prohibits discriminatory behavior and provides equal opportunity for all persons. MCA Denver affirms its commitment to provide a welcoming and respectful work and educational environment, in which all individuals within the museum community may benefit from each other’s experiences and foster mutual respect and appreciation of divergent views.

All employment decisions at MCA Denver are based on business needs, job requirements and individual applicant qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, or belief, ancestry, age, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), family or parental status, or any other status protected by law. MCA Denver will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

Our History

MCA Denver was founded in 1996 by philanthropist Sue Cannon and a group of committed volunteers and artists who responded to the community’s need for a contemporary art museum in Denver. In 2007, we opened our new, 27,000-square foot, environmentally sustainable facility in the Riverfront neighborhood of lodo Denver. Our building has five galleries on two floors as well as dedicated education spaces, a gift shop, an innovative art lending library, and a rooftop bar and café.  In 2021, MCA Denver will be opening a satellite location at the Holiday Theater in Denver’s Northside.  This 380-seat auditorium will be the site of some of the museum’s programming and events beginning the Spring of 2022.
Visit us at https://mcadenver.org to learn more.

Application Process

• This is an exempt, salary position. The salary range is $60,000 to $64,000 commensurate with experience and includes our standard benefits package, including a medical plan, dental plan, basic term life insurance, short term disability, 403b retirement, holiday pay and generous paid time off.
• Please submit your interest via our applicant portal https://mcadenver.org/associate-curator
• Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but priority consideration will be given to those received by May 31, 2022.