CURATOR OF THE COLLECTION

Title:                           William and Lia Poorvu Curator of the Collection

Department:               Curatorial

Reports to:                 Director, dotted line to Chief Operating Officer

Type of Position:        Exempt (salaried), full time

Scope of Position

The William and Lia Poorvu Curator of the Collection leads research and programming based on the collection of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The curator works closely with the museum’s curatorial team to conceptualize and plan creative interdisciplinary programs. Under the direction of the Museum Director, the curator supervises care of the collection and historic building by working closely with the conservation department, the registrar and the archivist. In addition, the curator works closely with the contemporary, education, horticulture, and music departments.

Specific Responsibilities/Duties

I. Scholarship and Programs

• Conceptualize, develop, and execute exhibitions of scholarly significance
• Develop the Program for Creativity in close collaboration with the Curatorial Team
• Develop symposia and other scholarly programs
• Prepare publications, including exhibition catalogues, guides, collections of essays, website content, and works in other media; conduct research and write on the collection
• Identify and work closely with Scholars and Artists in residence, and support their experience at the museum
• Devise innovative ways of presenting new scholarship to broad audiences
• Write and lecture on the collection and the history of the museum; develop connections with scholars in fields related to the museum collection; maintain appropriate affiliations with professional organizations

II. Collection

• Maintain strong standards for the management of the collection
• Responsible for all areas of collection management: research and publication; supervise registration (art movements, database); approve conservation treatments; supervise rights and reproduction; collaborate on gallery appearance projects and direct aesthetics of restoration policy
• Review loan requests and make recommendations to the director and the board
• Work closely with conservators to prioritize treatments; approve treatments; and closely follow and consult on treatments
• Work with conservators on research on materials and techniques of objects in the collection
• Collaborate with conservators on preservation and restoration of the historic building fabric
• In collaboration with other departments, develop plans for gallery maintenance, presentation, and renovation
• Work with education staff to promote learning about the collection through presentations to staff, volunteers, teachers, etc.
• In collaboration with education, develop imaginative interpretive strategies on site and online

III. Fundraising and Board Work

• Work with governance, funders, and constituents to develop support for curatorial programs and the museum generally
• Make presentations to the board

IV. Management and Leadership

• Hire, supervise and develop staff
• Develop team-building skills with department
• Set goals for each year with staff members and conduct performance review of staff
• Produce annual operation plan for all department initiatives
• Plan and oversee budget
• Participates in program planning museum-wide

Requirements

• An original thinker, who can work across disciplines; ability to think freshly and conceptualize with other creative individuals
• Strong collaborative instincts, to ensure breadth of understanding with guest scholars, scholars-in-residence, other program leaders at the museum
• Curiosity and interest in other areas of creativity at the museum, including contemporary art, music, landscape, and education
• Minimum of seven years experience in a museum curatorial position
• Ph.D. and advanced knowledge in a relevant field of art history as well as general art historical knowledge
• Excellent writing skills
• Reading and conversation skills in at least one, preferably two, foreign languages
• Demonstrated management ability
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and team skills; excellent public speaking ability; teaching ability
• Ability to work with all levels of the Museum and professional Museum community, including board members, volunteers, supporters, and sponsors
• Highest level of integrity

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is an equal opportunity employer and encourages minority candidates to apply.