Job Listing: Curator of Fine Art

William King Museum - Abingdon, VA

Closes - open until filled

Title - Curator of Fine Art 

Apply - Please send resume and cover letter to Casey Powers at cpowers@wkmuseum.org.

Summary - This position has primary management, responsibility, and interpretation of the Worrell Collection of Animal Art, which consists of approximately 170 pieces, including paintings and sculptures and exclusive of twelve large sculptures that will remain on the grounds under the management of the Curator of Contemporary Art & Craft. The animal art collection will be shown in the Worrell Wing in a gallery specific to it on a regular rotation of approximately 1/3 of the total, while the balance remains in the Worrell Wing’s Collections Storage. This position will also conceptualize, develop, organize, interpret, and manage an annual changing exhibition program of historical art and craft not related to Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. These exhibitions will consist of loaned artwork, both traveling curated exhibitions and exhibitions organized by this position, will be essentially educational in purpose and content and will be developed with connoisseurship as a primary value in selection of artwork. They will number approximately two exhibitions annually and will be displayed in the United Company and Legard Galleries, constituting a whole program that strives for excellence and presents as interesting, engaging, and promoting of community. This position is responsible for all registration activities and records for artwork under its management. It will ensure that all art is cared for according to the highest standards set forth by the American Alliance of Museums within the scope of wall-to-wall responsibility that mandates care during transit, in storage areas and in our galleries. WKMA is AAM accredited. This position is responsible for all in-gallery interpretive text and graphics for art under its management and works in collaboration with the entire staff for related programming and classes, as well as the fundraising and marketing success of the exhibition program. It works in concert particularly with the rest of the curatorial staff: Curator of Contemporary Art & Craft, Curator of Decorative and Folk Art of Southwest Virginia & Northeast Tennessee, the Installations Manager, and with the Director of Security and Property Management. This position will participate in the installation process for all exhibitions, providing leadership design and oversight in the exhibitions and collection under its responsibility. This position will be available as needed in the selection process for artists and crafts persons for residencies and apprenticeships in the museum and Art Lab. This full-time position reports directly to the curatorial department head and, as needed, to the Executive Director.

Qualifications - Essential requirements include an academic degree in art history. Museum and/or curatorial experience is a plus. This position requires a self-starter and the ability to work independently while within the framework of an interlocking organizational work plan. Personal work habits should be strong in detail management, research, writing skills and an ongoing capacity to meet deadlines.