POSITION:                Chief Curator

REPORTS TO:         Director

STATUS:                   Full-time, Exempt

Job Summary

The Chief Curator at the Mississippi Museum of Art is a seasoned art curator and member of the leadership team. They are an integral part of shaping the artistic vision, strategic priorities, and mission of the organization. Through leadership and collaboration, the Chief Curator supports acquisitions and develops exhibitions that center artists’ voices and explores new narratives. With a strong connection to the local community as well as the state, they lead MMA’s exhibition development plan with a focus on the visitor experience. They support MMA’s continued efforts to foster meaningful relationships and open dialogue with our diverse community, bringing relevant exhibitions to Mississippians that enable us to be a place for conversation, connection, and wonder. In addition, the Chief Curator works with the Director, their colleagues, and other partners to develop high-quality exhibitions that travel from MMA and across the nation, putting MMA and Mississippi on a national platform.

A list of essential job functions is below. This list is not designed to be a comprehensive itemization of every activity, duty, or responsibility that may be encountered. Activities, duties, and responsibilities may be changed, added, or eliminated at any time with or without notice.

Essential Functions

Role #1: Leadership, Management, Accountability

• Lead a high performing curatorial department that collaborates effectively with other departments
• Guide team members’ growth and development, set clear priorities, and foster an inclusive work environment that fulfills the Museum’s mission, vision, and values
• Model the Museum’s values by following and enforcing systems, policies, and procedures 
• Represent the Museum’s mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities with internal and external stakeholders
• Cultivate relationships across all levels of the Museum, serving as a thought leader on the Leadership Team
• Provide organizational leadership aimed at a forward-focused vision that is agile, innovative, and aligns with strategic priorities

Role #2: Exhibition Development

• Oversee cross-departmental processes to create a consistent system that drives exhibition planning with colleagues from other departments, including development, visitor services, marketing, programs, interpretation, operations, and retail
• Manage and lead the exhibition development plan to align with strategic goals while considering visitor data and community issues to increase attendance and local ownership
• Mange exhibition planning and budgets for the Barksdale Galleries, Icon Galleries, and Trustmark Grand Hall
• Oversee the permanent collection exhibition New Symphony of Time by developing a system of rotating gallery sections with co-curators to boost local ownership of and participation in the permanent collection
• Support the curatorial department’s planning and coordination of the Affiliate Program, including program evaluation, structure, and implementation 

Role #3: Collections Development

• Staff liaison for the Acquisitions Committee
• Work closely with the Director of Collections Management and Registration to manage the digitized collection through TMS (collection database system)
• Develop and implement a Collections Develop Plan that aligns with strategic priorities

Role #4: Artist Relations

• Build relationships with artists, both state-wide and on a national level, to further strategic priorities, including national and local relevance  

Role #5: Community Relevance

• Work closely with colleagues from all departments to develop a relevant, meaningful experience for all visitors to Museum galleries and programs 
• Prioritize community feedback in determining exhibition planning and themes, layout, and interpretation, ensuring exhibitions and their supporting programs reflect the diverse cultures represented in Mississippi communities  

Role #5: Publishing: Exhibitions and Collections

• Oversee the execution of publications, including collaboration of authors, the budget, and the timeframe
• Create publications that directly relate to exhibitions and the Museum’s collection

Role #8: Interpretation

·         Collaborate with education colleagues to establish exhibition interpretation strategies that connect with strategic priorities and relate to diverse communities

·         Collaborate with public programs and community engagement colleagues to develop exhibition-related programs with participation from scholars and artists that explore exhibition themes and attract a local and at times a regional audience

 

Competency

·         M.A. in Art History or related field, Ph. D., or relevant experience

·         10+ years of experience in the curatorial and art museum field, including publishing catalogues and scholarly articles, acquisitions, exhibitions, and installation

·         Direct experience with successfully managing a diverse team 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to write for a public and scholarly audience
• Ability to successfully lead a curatorial team and collaborate with a range of departments, colleagues, partners, and museum supporters
• Proven track record in museum administration, leadership, and the production of high-quality work
• Collaborative, flexible, and supportive
• Excellent written, verbal, listening, and communication skills
• Strong public speaking skills
• Strong management skills
• Adapt at building meaningful professional relationships
• Innovative, agile, and adaptable

Expected Hours of Work

Exempt - This is a 40-hour a week job, primarily between Monday through Friday. Some evenings and weekends may be necessary to support Museum events and programs. 

Travel

National and state-wide travel may be required

Salary Range

$100,000 - $120,000

Physical Demands and Work Environment

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

• Some duties may require long periods of movement
• Work may be performed both indoors and outdoors in different weather conditions.

 About the Mississippi Museum of Art

The Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating a diverse environment. The Museum is a private not-for-profit and is not a department or agency of the state or federal government.

The Mississippi Museum of Art is more than an art museum in Jackson, Mississippi. It is a museum of Mississippi – a museum that connects Mississippians to our culture, our history, our communities, and to each other. It is a museum informed by the legacy of our past and emboldened by a vision of a future without division.

We believe it is our responsibility to the community to explore and examine every facet of the Mississippi story. The Mississippi Museum of Art is committed to curating a shared space for every Mississippian – a brave space where we can all find wonder, peace, and a voice. 

We pride ourselves in being a visitor and community-focused art museum and garden in downtown Jackson, Mississippi. The Museum employs a collaborative staff that works to ensure the exhibitions, programs, operations, and community outreach fulfill the mission, vision, and core values of the institution. We are committed to building a culture of inclusivity that includes continued professional development opportunities at all levels of the Museum. 

Mission

The Mississippi Museum of Art connects Mississippi to the world, and the power of art to the power of community.

Vision

Committed to honesty, equity, and inclusion, the Mississippi Museum of Art is a leader in engaging art, artists, and participants in the critical work of reckoning with the past, connecting with each other in the present, and thinking how museums will work with their communities in the future.  

Core Values

• Artworks + Artists: Museum programs recognize artworks as primary sources of meaning and explore them in the context of their creation and creators; the Museum builds relationships with artists, amplifies their voices through exhibitions, and engages them with new audiences. 

• Warm Welcome + Inclusion: The Museum models gratitude and hospitality for all people and demonstrates inclusiveness at all levels of its operations and programs; everything, from the exhibitions to the gardens, is thoughtfully designed to prioritize accessibility, ensuring that everyone can participate fully. The Museum will model open hospitality for all people and will demonstrate inclusiveness at all levels of its operations and programs.  

• Excellence + Equity: Museum programs, exhibitions, and collections place artistic value as central and simultaneously challenge traditional hierarchies of genre and style. 

• Local Relevance + National Importance: The Museum facilitates investigations into Mississippi’s cultural histories that resonate with Jacksonians and Mississippians; the resulting programs hold up a mirror to the world, attracting local and national partners who seek to explore our shared histories. 

• Honesty + Diversity: Honoring diverse viewpoints, histories, and lived experiences, the Museum is a place for honest conversations that explore power and privilege in services of learning, understanding, and empathy. 

• Trust + Exchange: The Museum believes accurate interpretation of artworks depends on lived experience as well as scholarship. The Museum invites intellectual exchange between the audiences, staff, and artists who create exhibitions and deepen their meaning through their exploration. 

• Resilience + Sustainability: Museum operations and facilities are designed with attention to the present and future needs of visitors and environment alike; recognizing the increasing need for adaptability in the face of uncertainty, the Museum prioritizes strength, adaptability, and growth. 

To apply for an opportunity to be a part of our dynamic team, please send your cover letter and CV or resume to careers@msmuseumart.org.