Harold and Anne Berkley Smith Senior Curator of Modern Art

Reporting to the Director & CEO for performance reviews with a focus on four areas:

• Content: The vision and concepts foregrounding exhibitions.
• Collaboration: Sharing their vision and concepts to form meaningful programs with Learning & Community Engagement (LCE) and develop meaningful messages with Communications to ensure Curatorial projects are relevant to the community.
• Cultivation: Engaging with current and future Norton supporters to generate gifts of art, develop collections, attend art fairs, and lead collector groups in addition to continuing to develop the Museum's collection of art.
• Coordination: Meeting key milestones in exhibition production and following the curatorial workflow and collection-related procedures created in partnership with the Chief Curatorial Operations & Research Officer (CCORO).

The Harold and Anne Berkley Smith Senior Curator of Modern Art will demonstrate in-depth knowledge of European and American art, from the mid-1800s to 1960, roughly covering the history of Modern art in a global context. The Senior Curator of Modern Art will lead the development, growth, and interpretation of the Museum's American and European Collections, encompassing more than 1,100 objects (painting, sculpture, and works on paper). With a special focus on art produced after the Industrial Revolution, the Senior Curator of Modern Art will have extensive experience curating and developing Modern art collections with particular focus on the art and artists who defined the late-19^th and 20^th centuries. Additionally, the Senior Curator of Modern Art will serve as an important voice to support the Norton's adjacent Contemporary Art Collection and Photography Collection, working in collaboration with the Glenn W. & Cornelia T. Bailey Senior Curator of Contemporary Art and the William and Sarah Ross Soter Curator of Photography.

The Harold and Anne Berkley Smith Senior Curator of Modern Art will develop a relevant program of innovative, original exhibitions in collaboration with the Director & CEO, the Chief Curatorial Operations & Research Officer, and the Curator team. They will be familiar with the requirements and approximate costs to realize exhibitions within specific timelines and budgets in partnership with the CCORO.

A well-connected professional, the Senior Curator of Modern Art will also collaborate with their colleagues in LCE and Communications to develop engaging and dynamic programs that contribute to the Norton's mission and build the institution's brand.

The Harold and Anne Berkley Smith Senior Curator of Modern Art will collaborate with the Director & CEO and Chief Development and External Affairs Officer to generate financial support of modern European and American art through donor visits and grant and foundation applications. Alongside their Development Colleagues, the Senior Curator of Modern Art will also develop, expand, and sustain the American and European Art Council (AEAC), one of the Norton's four collector groups that consist of sophisticated collectors and enthusiasts.

In addition to reporting to the Director & CEO, Curators are accountable to the Chief Curatorial Operations & Research Officer (CCORO) to meet deadlines that ensure curatorial projects remain on schedule. The CCORO also reports to the Director & CEO and represents the Curatorial Department as a member of the Museum's Senior Staff. The CCORO is the Curators' strategic partner, working alongside them, and leading the museum's registrars and installers to realize visionary, research-driven curatorial projects, and programs.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Collections:

• Oversee the American and European art collections, primarily focusing on art produced between the mid-1800s and 1960, including paintings, sculptures, and works on paper
• Review and develop the installation of American and European collection galleries
• Research and interpret and artworks in these Collecting areas; write and update collection didactics as needed
• Develop the Museum's Collection Development Strategy for American and European art in collaboration with Director and CEO; refine collection through proposal of regular and responsible de-accessioning
• Identify and present acquisitions to the Norton's Works of Art Committee with awareness of the commercial market and important Modern art trends
• Serve on cross-departmental committees as requested
• Build and maintain relationships with curators, directors, dealers, auction professionals, critics, journalists, and others in the art world.

Exhibitions and Programming:

• Conceive and organize exhibitions based on rigorous research and original ideas (both traveling shows and collection rotations)
• Present holistic project proposals for exhibitions that incorporate educational programming and marketing in collaboration with LCE and Marketing colleagues, to be presented to the Audience Development Committee (ADC)
• Conduct research and write all exhibition didactics including introductory texts, labels, brochures, and catalogues.
• Act as coordinating venue curator for guest-curated or other traveling exhibitions.
• Design exhibitions and collection installations in collaboration with the CCORO, Director of Exhibition Design & Installation, and the Director of Creative Services
• Identify and secure venues for traveling exhibitions in collaboration with Director and CEO
• Organize and present public programs in collaboration with LCE colleagues
• Collaborate with Communications colleagues in order to promote American and European collection exhibitions and projects, including making presentations to and engaging in interviews with the press
• In collaboration with the CCORO, outline exhibition and collection budgets, demonstrating familiarity with all project costs including installation, conservation, travel, etc.

Cultivation:

• Cultivate donors in order to receive gifts of art for the Norton's collection, in collaboration with the Director & CEO and Chief Development and External Affairs Officer.
• Partner with Development to oversee the American and European Art Council , including developing annual program of special events and finding potential acquisitions for the group
• Support grant writing for curatorial projects in collaboration with the Chief Development Officer and Director of Institutional Giving
• Collaborate with Director & CEO and Chief Development and External Affairs Officer to solicit funds for acquisitions of European and American art exhibitions and programs.
• Develop and maintain relationships with collectors, donors, private funders, and foundations.
• Represent the museum at national and international art fairs, exhibitions openings, and art world events.

Qualifications:

• M.A. in Art History with a specialization in Modern art, Ph.D. preferred
• A minimum of 8 to 10 years of curatorial experience in Modern art with a history of creating innovative and meaningful exhibitions
• Maintain established contacts with Modern art experts, collectors, dealers, curators, other museum professionals, critics and art journalists
• Excellent writing skills demonstrated by authorship of publications or associated exhibition texts
• Strong public speaking skills and the development of public programs that contribute to meaningful dialogue with and among audiences
• Demonstrated record of developing unique and innovated exhibitions with a focus on the art of the late-19^th and 20^th centuries, as well as collaborating with partnering institutions on traveling exhibitions; should also be able to develop smaller spotlight projects and develop the installation of permanent collection galleries
• Strong collaboration skills and knowledge of best curatorial practices
• Perform other associated duties as responsibilities necessitate
• Proficiency in another language is a plus

Note: Nothing in this job description restricts management's rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Norton Museum of Art is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Norton Museum of Art makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.