CURATOR, FINE ART

Definition

Under the direction of the Executive Director of the State Museum, Department of State, plans the overall program and supervises the staff of the Bureau of Fine Art; conducts and/or supervises the development and organization of permanent, temporary, and circulating exhibitions, programs, research projects, and publications; assesses, develops, and expands the fine art collections; oversees the care of the fine art collections and art objects on loan to the museum; prepares materials as needed for grant, foundation, corporate, and other funding requests as needed; supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Acts as a special advisor to the director in fine art research and related matters.
• Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees.
• Conducts the required research regarding possible fine art collection material.
• Organizes and supervises the exhibition content, including research, loan negotiation, transportation, insurance, pre-installation planning, relevant publication, and public information and education liaison.
• Responsible for the accurate description, recording, care, and safeguarding of the museum's collections in fine art.
• Makes recommendations for additions, deletions, and exchanges in the collections.
• Supervises collections management.
• Schedules all temporary exhibitions in museum areas allocated to the arts.
• Prepares State Museum art objects for loan exhibitions outside the State of New Jersey and arranges for out-of-state loan shows to be held at the State Museum.
• May travel to select and arrange for special exhibitions for the State Museum.
• Researches and writes material and/or supervises the production of written materials in the field of fine art.
• Identifies and/or arranges for the identification of art materials referred to the museum for opinions.
• Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships within the bureau and with other bureaus in the museum.
• Prepares special project proposals, including estimates of personnel, equipment, required materials, costs, and other items.
• Prepares the bureau's annual budget, including the required interpretation concerning the needs of various sections within the bureau; maintains bureau expenditure records.
• Advises and assists the Bureau of Education and Public Programs in developing school and public programs in the arts.
• Prepares correspondence.
• Prepares clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Supervises the establishment and maintenance of records and files.
• Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in Fine Art, Art History, or Studio Art.

Experience

Five (5) years of experience in the field of fine art, three (3) years of which shall have involved performing curatorial duties related to collecting, researching, and exhibiting in a museum, college/university art gallery, or visual arts center.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of research techniques and methods.
• Knowledge of historic and contemporary fine art.
• Knowledge of the subject matter pertinent to developing fine art collections and exhibitions.
• Knowledge of the methods used to select and prepare items for exhibition.
• Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit.
• Ability to organize research and related work, analyze problems, and develop appropriate work methods.
• Ability to work harmoniously with museum staff and outside consultants.
• Ability to coordinate activities with those of other bureaus in the museum.
• Ability to use a collections management system.
• Ability to identify art materials and provide expert advice and assistance to inquirers.
• Ability to prepare project costs and other estimates.
• Ability to prepare correspondence.
• Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate, and comprehensive bureau reports.
• Ability to supervise the establishment and maintenance of records and files.
• Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.