Title: Frances B. Bunzl Family Curator or Associate Curator of European Art (Regular/Full-time)

Department:                          Curatorial 

Reports To:                            Chief Curator

FLSA:                                    Exempt

Employment Status:             Regular/Full-time

POSITION SUMMARY: 

The High Museum of Art seeks an experienced and innovative curator/associate curator with expertise in European art from 1800-1960. Title and supervisory responsibilities will be commensurate with experience.

Under the supervision of the Chief Curator, the Frances B. Bunzl Family Curator/Associate Curator of European Art will oversee all aspects of the Museum’s curatorial program for European art including a collection of over 1,100 paintings, sculpture, and works on paper spanning the fourteenth through the mid-twentieth centuries. The holdings of early European paintings and sculpture were formed through gifts from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation in the late 1950s. In the ensuing decades, particular emphasis has been placed upon drawings and prints as well as the work of nineteenth and twentieth century artists including those associated with French and northern European Impressionism as featured in the Museum’s Stein and Shaheen Collections. The ideal candidate will be committed to working creatively and collaboratively with a diverse group of High staff, patrons, and their own network of national and international peers to develop exhibitions, scholarship, and new opportunities of focus for collection growth.

Work Schedule:

• ·         Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

 ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

• ·         Coordinating with the Chief Curator, plan and manage the development of the European art collections, exhibitions, and related initiatives in keeping with the High’s newly adopted Strategic Framework and connections to its communities.
• ·         Develop and manage meaningful, creative exhibition projects in the field, including the organization of major collaborative projects with national and international partners;
• ·         Research information pertinent to the identification, documentation, or authentication of works of art and develop appropriate object records in accordance with current professional standards;
• ·         Maintain current knowledge of the art market and identify priorities for growth; working in collaboration with Development staff, pursue strategic objectives of gifts, bequests, and purchases to both provide resources and to develop new areas of distinction to the European art holdings;
• ·         Conceive, develop, and publish exhibition catalogues, scholarly articles, and related works, including via digital formats including LiNK, the High’s online forum;
• ·         Regularly and effectively communicate and work with museum staff, trustees, colleagues, and others to enrich, expand, and otherwise facilitate the program of European art and to ensure that related content is accurately represented;
• ·         Work with collections staff and the Atlanta Art Conservation Center to anticipate collections care and conservation needs for respective holdings;
• ·         Work collaboratively with Learning and Civic Engagement staff to develop and produce related interpretive strategies and accompanying materials, as well as conduct training for docents and provide new opportunities for community outreach;
• ·         Propose and lead programs for the museum’s Friends of the Collections support group and otherwise foster and maintain good working relationships with existing and potential patrons, trustees, and museum colleagues across the country and abroad, as well as with the academic community, art dealers, and collectors;
• ·         As required, serve as a mentor to fellows, assistants, and interns;
• ·         Respond to scholarly and public inquiries related to the collection;
• ·         Represent the museum in professional associations and at symposia and other scholarly meetings and events;
• ·         Meet all responsibilities with the highest ethical and professional standards.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience:

• ·         M.A. required; Ph.D. in art history with specialization in European Art preferred (full curator);
• ·         Minimum of three (associate) to five (full curator) years of relevant experience and knowledge of museum practices;
• ·         Expertise with exhibition development and organization, including both national and international collaborations;
• ·         Strong record of research, scholarship, and public speaking, with proven experience in organizing significant exhibitions and scholarly publications;
• ·         Familiarity with new technologies and their impact upon the field;
• ·         Must be resourceful, creative, flexible, and have the ability to work effectively and positively with other professional staff across multiple divisions in a highly collaborative environment.

Skills and Abilities:

• ·         Exhibits effective communication, organizational and time-management skills.
• ·         Must be resourceful, creative, flexible, and have the ability to work effectively and positively with other professional staff in a highly collaborative environment.

Physical Demands/Work Environment:

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• ·         Some standing, walking, bending, frequent use of hands, stooping and light lifting (at least 10 pounds) is needed.