Chief Curator at The Baltimore Museum of Art

Job Title: Chief Curator

Job Status: Full-time

Location: Baltimore, MD

Description

Eddie C. and C. Sylvia Brown Chief Curator

Head of the Curatorial Division

The Baltimore Museum of Art seeks a visionary and highly motivated Chief Curator to lead the Curatorial Division in cultivating a dynamic civic and cultural identity for the Museum as a leader in exploring global and local art histories. We envision the BMA as a vibrant institution embraced as an indispensable element of community life, a vital educational resource for a broad and diverse audience, and a leader in the revitalization of the city that surrounds it.

The Chief Curator reports to the Dorothy Wagner Wallis Director and serves as a member of the Senior Leadership Team. In partnership with the Director, the Chief Curator shapes and implements the Museum’s curatorial objectives that advance the BMA’s mission to be the most relevant publicly engaged museum in the United States and a dynamic model for all others.

Through collecting, researching, presenting, and interpreting the Museum’s rich and varied collection, and by listening to the needs of our audience, the BMA strives to embody its commitment to excellence, fairness, relevance, and social justice. The Chief Curator will be encouraged to champion fresh thinking and approaches to art, seizing opportunities to be socially relevant, experimental, and innovative through cutting-edge acquisitions, exhibitions, and programs.

This is a highly attractive opportunity to work in a senior position at a renowned and rapidly transforming museum to be a national and international leader in innovation around the role of art and creativity and establishing a museum platform in our society and in communities like Baltimore.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Chief Curator must be a flexible leader and astute manager with a collaborative spirit. S/he will be comfortable working within a nontraditional organizational structure that values cross-departmental collaboration, teamwork, and seeking new ideas from unconventional sources. The Chief Curator provides a strong curatorial vision to conceptualize and develop exhibitions and programming and is committed to exploring the evolving relationships between art institutions and their audiences, with an emphasis on art experiences in service to visitors.

Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to:

  • In partnership with the Director and in collaboration with the Chief Education Officer, Chief Innovation Officer, and Senior Director of Exhibitions, lead the Curatorial Division in presenting a dynamic program of exhibitions and collection installations, educational experiences, and publications and digital resources acknowledged broadly for their excellence.
  • Manage the strategic direction of the Curatorial Division, ensuring alignment with the institutional strategic plan.
  • Galvanize the Curatorial Division in conjunction with the Exhibition and Program Planning Team to create innovative exhibition content and exhibition programming.
  • Hire, train, manage, mentor and inspire staff members to achieve the goals of the division and the Museum.
  • Provide collection-plan strategies, evaluating and proposing acquisitions and gifts, and overseeing the acquisition process
  • Oversee collection growth, research, and care; develop an exciting collection exhibition program in collaboration with the Director and Senior Director of Exhibitions & Program Alignment.
  • In collaboration with the Advancement Office, play a key role in donor cultivation to secure works of art and funding for the exhibitions, publications, and other programs.
  • In collaboration with Chief Innovation Officer, actively participate in visitor assessment to ensure community engagement.
  • Plan, develop and oversee division/departmental budgets.
  • Participate in the production of publications. Conduct research and write exhibition labels, didactics, and catalogues and articles in journals as time permits.
  • Oversee the Departments of Conservation and Registration in their work to implement best available standards of care and protection for both collections and loans.
  • Oversee the Library to ensure that the staff has regular access to research and archival materials and that the institution’s digital and paper records are preserved according to best practices.
  • The Chief Curator can also create his/her own curatorial projects as time permits

REQUIREMENTS

  • Minimum: Master’s degree in art history or related field; Ph. D preferred
  • Applied knowledge of professional museum principles, practices, and procedures
  • Knowledge of research tools and methodology
  • Self-directed and motivated
  • Collaborative by nature, flexible and helpful
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, and in an atmosphere of continual growth and rapid change
  • Entrepreneurial, creative risk-taker, out-of-the-box thinker
  • Non-hierarchal style of leadership
  • Minimum of 4-years management-level museum or comparable experience required
  • Minimum of 5-years applied curatorial experience.
  • Demonstrated experience managing substantial department, project and/or program budgets
  • Other experience that demonstrates ability to lead and achieve within nontraditional structures, creative enterprises, and cultural initiatives.
  • Excellent written, verbal, and listening communication skills
  • Strong staff management and mentoring skills
  • Demonstrated organizational planning, problem-solving and collaboration skills.
  • Effective interpersonal skills, tactful, and diplomatic
  • Proficient computer skills: database and software knowledge preferred
  • Ability to interpret the collection and to communicate knowledge about it in a manner relevant to the public
  • Ability to perform and oversee scholarly research in the field
  • Highly developed public speaking skills
  • Self-directed, able to work independently and effectively

Leadership Competencies

  • Communicates Effectively – actively seeks and actively listens to input from others
  • Adapts and Innovates – remains resilient, flexible and open to change
  • Builds trust – earns the confidence of trust in others by consistently demonstrating honesty, integrity, and authenticity
  • Develops Talent – builds and manages the division/department in order to meet Museum goals, objectives and budgets
  • Ensures Accountability – determines objectives and goals and develops plans to achieve those goals. 

BENEFITS

The BMA is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are
committed to building a culturally diverse staff and strongly encourage all qualified professionals to apply.

We offer a competitive salary and a generous benefits package. For this exempt position we offer medical, dental, vision, prescription, 403b retirement plan, long term disability, flexible spending account, museum and restaurant discounts, and reduced fee gym membership. We also offer accrued vacation, holidays, personal days, floating holidays, and sick days.

APPLY

Research shows that women and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that an applicant meets 100% of the qualifications for a given role. Therefore, if much of this posting describes you, then you are highly encouraged to apply for this role.

Please send cover letter, CV/resume, and salary requirements via email to HR@artbma.org with “Chief Curator” Last Name and First Name in the subject line. Incomplete application materials will not be accepted. No phone calls please.