Interior of an art museum featuring white-walled exhibition spaces, 2D artwork hung on the walls and sculptural artwork installed in the center of the room. Crowds of viewers stand in small groups, looking at the work and chatting. A series of sculptural mobiles hang from the ceiling.

Salina Art Center seeks Curator of Contemporary Art

Salina Art Center seeks Curator of Contemporary Art

The Curator of Contemporary Art is responsible for guiding the artistic direction of the Art Center in collaboration with the Executive Director and the Board of Trustees. The Curator identifies significant trends, issues, and opportunities in contemporary art and leverages strong working relationships with emerging and established artists, colleagues, and an exhibition committee to implement engagement strategies to showcase contemporary art and artists. Working collaboratively with diverse partners, this position is responsible for all exhibitions, including guest-curated projects, and works closely with artists. The Curator is responsible for creating and producing exhibitions that reflect the organization’s mission, working as a team with other staff, committee members, and volunteers to provide programs of quality, relevance, and significance for a diverse community. The Curator articulates these values to audiences through clear and inspiring civic, artistic, and pedagogical dialogues.

The Curator participates in fundraising activities regarding foundations and grants and individual cultivation efforts that directly support the exhibitions program. The Curator is an essential member of the Art Center executive team. The Curator has a broad set of leadership responsibilities, including collaborate to set strategic goals for the organization, develop a budget, and liaise with the Board of Trustees.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND KEY FUNCTIONS:

  • Cultivate a broad network of contacts and seek out new and innovative artists who are creating quality art that is relevant and significant to cultural conversations in the context of contemporary art. Curate contemporary art exhibitions and residency opportunities to meet the organizational mission.

  • Supervision and development of staff and volunteers working in the galleries to create positive guest experiences. Provide leadership and oversite of education staff to develop quality learning experiences around learning about, interpreting, speaking about, and doing art.

  • Research and present thoughtful and scholarly opportunities for civic, artistic, and pedagogical dialogues in both writing and public presentation to engage audiences and inspire visitors and the public to learn about and enjoy contemporary art.

  • Establish and foster strong, credible, and long-term relationships with artists, colleagues, donors, Board members, staff, volunteers, and other stakeholders.

  • Assure proper research for educational purposes is carried out for each exhibit, and information is shared with stakeholders in meaningful ways.

  • Lead in the development of exhibition-related programs by providing informative and relevant interpretive exhibition materials as a resource for docents, gallery staff, and educators, thus supporting tours, school programs, and an active schedule of lectures and demonstrations.

  • Assure exhibitions are properly cared for while in storage and on exhibit. Maintain exhibition archives.

  • Supervise transportation and installation of the exhibits, preparation, and printing of catalogs, invitations, and other exhibition-related publications.

  • Work collaboratively with the Executive Director to secure funding for exhibition through relationships with foundations, researching new funding opportunities, and providing needed research and content for successful grant writing.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Advanced college degree in fine arts with 5+ years museum or arts experience

  • Established curatorial skills and experience.

  • Strength, passion, and experience specific to contemporary art and its presentation within a community context.

  • Demonstrate strong organizational skills and ability to manage budgets, multiple projects, and meet deadlines.

  • Ability and desire to facilitate meaningful discussions with audiences around contemporary art and issues.

  • Skill in connecting audiences of varied ages, interests, and experiences with contemporary art and artists.

  • Experience with development and facilitation of Artist in Residence programs

  • Energetic, forward-looking, and engaging leadership style.

  • Excellent written and oral communication skills, ability to write for diverse audiences, and is an engaging public speaker.

  • Personal capacity and network of resources to attract artists and visionary collaborators.

  • Commitment and capacity to work as part of a team and to collaborate with others

  • Ability to delegate, empower, and nurture staff and volunteers/committee members.

  • Ability and willingness to fundraise, empower donors and inspire engagement with contemporary art in collaboration with the Executive Director.

ABOUT SALINA ART CENTER:

The Salina Art Center, Inc. is a nonprofit, non-collecting contemporary art and education center incorporated in 1978 in Salina, Kansas, and accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since 1991. The Art Center’s mission is “to create exchanges among art, artists, and audiences that reveal life.” Programming is connected to a schedule of contemporary visual art exhibitions of work by regional, national, and international artists in a wide variety of media. Exhibitions serve as a catalyst for generating conversations around ideas and issues relevant to personal and community development. The Art Center carries out its mission through visiting artists, education, exhibition, film and video, and outreach programs designed to provide constituents with opportunities for meaningful experiences through active encounters with viewing and making visual art.

The Salina Art Center is located in historic downtown Salina, Kansas, and has a national reputation as an innovative, artist-supportive, and audience-responsive institution. Creative approaches to programming during the pandemic earned the organization recognition from leading regional and state funding organizations. The Art Center has three distinct facilities: the main location, which houses over 6,000 square feet of galleries and administrative offices; the Art Center Cinema, a ninety-two-seat theater for first-run independent, documentary, and international films; and the Warehouse, a 4,500 square feet education facility that also boasts living and working space for artists-in-residence.

For more information and to apply, click here.

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