The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, an AAM accredited institution and active member of the American Public Gardens Association, is recognized as a premier cultural institution in Northeast Florida. The Museum’s mission is to engage and inspire through the arts, gardens, and education. More than 60 years ago, Ninah Cummer established the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens as a center of beauty for all of Jacksonville. Her focus remains the bedrock of our efforts today. Surprise, fun, and the unexpected enlivens the experiences of our visitors and motivates them to return again and again.

Located on the St. Johns River, the Museum offers 2.5 acres of historically significant gardens, listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Educational programs are presented through our nationally recognized interactive learning center, Art Connections, winner of the prestigious IMLS Museum Services Award.

The Cummer Museum maintains one of the most significant collections of European and American art in the Southeast, consisting of approximately 5,000 objects with dates of origin ranging from 2000 B.C. to the present. The strength of the collection is European (1300-1920) and American (1800-1940) paintings, but representative examples of ancient Mediterranean art, Japanese art, and 20th century American art are included in the collection. The Museum also features one of the three finest collections of early manufacture (1710-1750) Meissen porcelain in the world.

In recent years, the Cummer Museum has worked to ensure that its operations better reflect the growth and diversity of Jacksonville by diversifying its staff and Board; expanding Cummer in the Community, a collective umbrella for our outreach efforts and the conduit through which we work collaboratively with community-based organizations to co-create interactive programs that are relevant to their lived experiences; growing our permanent collection, which includes five generations of Black artists, as well as works by artists of other racial backgrounds; and actively pursuing loans by artists of African, Latin American, Native American, Haitian, Iranian, Moroccan, and Korean descent, among others.

The Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole Curator, named for the internationally regarded educator, museum director, college president, champion of race equity, and native of Jacksonville who considers the Cummer Museum her hometown museum, will advance our efforts to improve our institutional practices, promote greater understanding, and inspire community, regional, and national participation. The Museum is currently in a year-long strategic planning process. The Dr. Cole Curator will be an active participant in this future-defining responsibility.

This role is supported by a grant from the Leadership in Art Museums (LAM) initiative, a partnership between the Ford Foundation, Mellon Foundation, Pilot House Philanthropy, and Alice L. Walton Foundation.

Essential Function:

Reporting to the J. Wayne & Delores Barr Weaver Chief Curator, the Dr. Cole Curator will help drive the reinterpretation of the Museum's permanent collection via a range of in person and digital channels. With visitor experience in mind, this will involve acquiring strategic loans and curating thematic gallery installations that delve into significant and relevant subjects. They will collaborate with various departments and be involved in creating innovative programming and brand awareness. Additionally, the Dr. Cole Curator will contribute to our goal to ignite community, regional, and national engagement.

This position may be hired at the Assistant Curator | Associate Curator | Curator level, depending on the qualifications and experience of selected candidate. Compensation will be in line with the level of the position.

• Support the Cummer Museum mission, vision, and values by exhibiting the following behaviors: excellence and competence, collaboration, innovation, respect for the individual, commitment to our community, and accountability/ownership.

• Develop temporary longer-term collection installations that will engage existing and target audiences.

• Collaborate across departments to seamlessly integrate collection research and the educational mission into various mediums, such as gallery didactics, lectures, public programs, and articles, catering to both internal and external audiences. Additionally, represent the Museum effectively through engaging gallery talks, public lectures, and media/public interviews to enhance visibility and outreach efforts.

• Assist Chief Curator with development and achievement of curatorial budget and multi-year calendar.

• Partner with Curatorial team members in the preparation of exhibition schedule and collection displays.

• Work collaboratively with other departments to ensure Museum goals and objectives are met.

• Cultivate and sustain dynamic connections with artists, community members, lenders, donors, and professional colleagues. Infuse the Museum's collection with innovative perspectives through thorough research and creative installations. Foster deeper relationships with supporters and collectors, engaging constituents through a variety of programs and leveraging social media platforms to enhance interaction.

• Keep abreast of loan opportunities from institutional colleagues.

• Conduct special tours or lectures for the Advancement department and other events as needed.

• Using the Board-approved Collecting Priorities Document as a guide, conduct in-depth research to recommend acquisitions that enhance and diversify the permanent collection, while also proposing deaccessions to refine and strengthen the collection.

• Other job-related duties as assigned

Knowledge and skills:

• Master’s degree in art history (Ph.D. preferred) or a related field, with a principal focus on 19th/20th century American art but interests that reach across countries and chronologies.

• For Curator role: Five plus years of professional work experience in a museum developing projects with community relevance and appeal in addition to art historical merit.

• For Associate Curator role: Three to five years of professional work experience in a museum

• For Assistant Curator role: At least two years of professional work experience in a museum.

• Must possess advanced research skills, including, but not limited to, primary and secondary research on artworks and artists, historical exhibitions and events, and key figures.

• Knowledge of the methods, techniques, and procedures involved in the interpretation and exhibition of art for diverse audiences.

• Strong written/oral communication skills and public speaking abilities.

• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of people.

• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, visitors, volunteers, donors, collectors, professional colleagues, and other members of the museum community.

• Demonstrated ability to conduct original research that results in published scholarly materials.

• Strong organizational, planning, and research skills.

• Must have excellent work habits, including a willingness to work the hours necessary to get the job done especially when important deadlines cause greater than normal departmental pressures.

• Willingness to work flexible hours including mornings, evenings, and weekends.

• Valid Florida driver's license

Physical Demands/Work Environment:

Work in an office environment in a publicly accessible building

Why us?

• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, parental leave, telemedicine, short-term and long-term disability coverages.
• 403b retirement plan with match up to 5%
• Generous Paid Time Off and Holiday Structure
• Emphasis on Diversity and Inclusion throughout our organization
• Early Access to exhibitions before public access
• Museum membership with North America Reciprocal Museum (NARM) access
• Discounts in café and shop
• Competitive compensation with opportunity for professional development.
• Did we mention this is a museum and historical gardens? We’re surrounded by beauty.

Our Mission: To engage and inspire through the arts, gardens, and education.

Remote work: Occasional

Direct Reports: None

Compensation: Curator $63,125 - $81,600, Associate Curator $57,700 - $69,275, Assistant Curator $44,075 - $55,675 dependent on experience.

Required Items:

Cover letter, writing sample and/or list of publications, and current resume. Qualified applicants send required items to the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, Attn: Human Resources Department, 829 Riverside Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32204 or jobs@cummermuseum.org

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY POLICY

The Cummer Museum's policy is to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, service in the military, or any other protected status as required by federal, state, or local law. The Museum's intent and desire is that equal employment opportunities will be provided in employment recruitment, selection, compensation, benefits, promotion, demotion, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

The Museum is committed to creating and maintaining a workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to contribute to the success of the institution and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives. In addition to being an important principle of sound business management, this commitment is embodied in Museum policy and the way it does business