Connect The Arts is hiring: Phillip and Edith Leonian Curator of Photography - B

Phillip and Edith Leonian Curator of Photography - Brooklyn Museum

Posted 6 months ago

Description

The Brooklyn Museum seeks a specialist in the history of photography to fill the position of Phillip and Edith Leonian Curator of Photography, strengthening the development, research, presentation, interpretation, and renown of the Museum’s collection of photographic art. Through exhibitions, collection installations, public programs, publications, and digital and social media, candidates will cultivate a range of photographic mediums within the collection, including new media. Their work will engage and amplify the voices, narratives, and perspectives of Museum audiences; present diverse beliefs, cultures, and experiences; and support the Museum's goal of becoming a conduit for open sharing and learning, and a place for courageous conversations.

The candidate will join our team in building community stakeholders to create connections that inform the Museum’s programs and support its mission. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrable commitment to groundbreaking exhibitions and publications that expand the art-historical canon and celebrate artists of great import. They will also have a passion for photographic art, including examples that represent our local communities.

The Phillip and Edith Leonian Curator of Photography will work collaboratively with others on the curatorial team and report to the Director of Curatorial Affairs. They will also work with the Director, Deputy Director for Art, Director of Curatorial Affairs, curators, and Board of Trustees to pursue acquisitions to strengthen the Museum’s collections. The candidate will have demonstrated success in cultivating donor support for a broad range of departmental initiatives beyond exhibitions. They will have a track record of championing the principles of DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access) in their curatorial practice.

Minimum Requirements:

• Three to five years of relevant work experience as a curator with established arts organizations, with a robust record of important exhibitions and publications
• Demonstrable success conceptualizing, designing, and implementing curatorial strategies, as well as an understanding of collection stewardship
• General knowledge of photography and new media and a minimum of one year of specialized experience
• Knowledge of critical histories and theories of race, class, ability, and gender in the production, reception, and institutionalization of art
• Ability to be a strong communicator (verbal and written), collaborator, and strategic thinker who can engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including staff, donors, Trustees, community members, and other partners
• Ability to make connections across collections and build effective cross-departmental relationships
• Understanding of, and demonstrable commitment to, diverse communities—locally, nationally, and internationally
• High-level cultivation and grant development experience at arts organizations, with demonstrable success in generating support for acquisition, exhibition, and collection projects
• Demonstrable commitment to DEIA in the field

Preferred Skills:

MA or PhD in relevant field

Responsibilities:

• Propose, organize, and coordinate innovative, canon-expanding exhibitions of photography that draw from the Brooklyn Museum’s holdings, as well as those of other institutions and private collections, for exhibitions at the Museum and other venues
• Coordinate with the departments of Exhibitions; Publications, Interpretation, and Editorial Services; Conservation; Registration and Collections Management; and Engagement to meet exhibition deadlines
• Participate in the reinterpretation of the collection
• Expand and deepen the Museum’s photography collection through the acquisition of works of art of the highest quality, cultural significance, and relevance to the Museum
• Work with Development and the Director, Deputy Director for Art, and Director of Curatorial Affairs to develop the collection by identifying potential donors and soliciting gifts
• Collaborate with colleagues in Museum curatorial departments on acquisitions
• Collaborate with Engagement, Public Programs, Learning and Social Impact, and Development staff to develop and promote programming to increase visibility of the collection and generate public interest
• Engage with the public through tours and talks, and participate in social and digital outreach to increase media attention and audience engagement
• Perform advanced art-historical scholarly research on the collection and on prospective acquisitions and loans
• Pursue broader research in areas of expertise for inclusion in studies, scholarly journals, lectures, symposia and colloquia, or exhibitions; consult sources in multiple languages
• Participate in the management of collections owned by and on loan to the Museum
• Work with Conservation on collection care and display
• Provide accurate and informative responses to inquiries from outside scholars, colleagues, and the public concerning works in the collection or other areas of expertise
• Supervise and mentor the Curatorial Assistant and interns
• Execute administrative responsibilities as needed

Start Date: Immediately
Department: Art Division
Reports To: Director of Curatorial Affairs
Position Type: Full-time
Grade and Salary: E - $99,960
Union Status: Nonunion
FLSA Status: Exempt
Schedule: 35 hours per week, Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm

At the Brooklyn Museum, we value all types of experience. For us, a successful candidate has many of the qualities listed in our job postings, and the desire and capacity to learn the rest on the job. If much, but not all, of a job posting describes you, then we welcome your application.