Associate Curator

Woodmere Art Museum, April 17, 2024

POSITION TITLE: ASSOCIATE CURATOR

Reports to: Deputy Director for Exhibitions, with indirect reporting to the Director

Department: Curatorial

Status: Exempt, full time

Background: 

Dedicated to the artists of Philadelphia, Woodmere Art Museum is located on ten green acres in Chestnut Hill.  The Museum is growing, with plans to open its new building, Frances M. Maguire Hall for Art and Education, in June 2025.

Maguire Hall will bring substantial new visibility for Woodmere’s collection and exhibition program. The Associate Curator plays an important role in the growth of Woodmere through the coordination, implementation, and planning of all exhibitions, collection installations, and catalogues. The Associate Curator serves as a leader of the curatorial program at Woodmere, working in coordination with the Director, the Deputy Director for Exhibitions, Registrar, and Curators of Education.

RESPONSIBILITIES

GENERAL

• Reports to the Deputy Director for Exhibitions
• Requires close collaborative work with staff members across the institution.
• Represents the Museum’s mission, demonstrating a passion and commitment to the art and artists of Philadelphia
• Participates in the art-related activities of the Museum

EXHIBITIONS AND COLLECTIONS

• Serves as the main organizer of exhibitions and installations of the collection, working in partnership with other staff and guest curators
• Writes, coordinates, fabricates, and installs labels 
• Coordinates other staff and external partners, communicate timelines, set deadlines
• Prepares checklists with precision and attention to detail
• Initiates loan requests and collaborate with Registrar on loan-related matters
• Manages and upload digital images of the collection
• Write essays for catalogues, copy for website, labels, and press releases
• Serves as the point of contact for artists, artists’ family, guest curators and others

PUBLICATIONS AND CATALOGUES

• Plans, manages, and coordinates exhibition catalogues
• Coordinates with editors and graphic designers
• Manages images and photography for publications
• Purchases ISBN and barcodes
• Assures clearance of photo usages, make rights and reproduction requests

PUBLIC REPRESENTATION OF THE MUSEUM

• Offers public tours of galleries and exhibitions, engage with museum visitors
• Attends exhibitions, openings, lectures, and curatorial events at other institutions, participating in the creative culture of Philadelphia
• Meets with collectors, philanthropists, foundation staff to advance Woodmere’s mission
• Helps grow and deepen Woodmere’s collection

COLLECTIONS

• Assists in the vision, preparation, and installation of collection galleries in Maguire Hall
• Coordinates art-related needs for Maguire Hall (pedestals, frames, etc. )
• Collaborates with registrar to maintain collection records
• Responds to offers of art including offers to purchase art and donations
• Responds to research requests from the public
• Attends and presents recommended acquisitions to the Collections Management Committee

REQUIREMENTS

• MA or PhD in Art History
• At least three years of curatorial or closely-related experience in museums, galleries, or comparable organizations
• A demonstrated passion for some aspects of the arts of Philadelphia, and an interest in the full spectrum of the city’s art and history
• Enjoys interacting with the public
• Highly organized, self-starter
• Able to both lead and serve as part of a team
• Flexible with work schedule, which sometimes includes evenings and weekends
• Enjoys the Museum’s role in inspiring creativity through experiences with art

Woodmere is committed to equal opportunity in employment. Woodmere shall not, in any manner, discriminate regardless of race, color, age, disability, national origin, citizenship, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, matriculation, or veteran status, and any other status protected by law. Woodmere adheres to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act and applicable federal laws.