Department: Special Collections
Title: Visual Arts Curator
Status: Part-time (Exempt)

Work Schedule:  30 hours per week (some nights and weekends required)

Travel: 30%

Salary: $30,000

The Amistad Research Center (ARC) is seeking to hire a part-time Visual Art Curator for its fine art division. Under the supervision of the Director of Special Collections, the Visual Art Curator (Curator) is responsible for the management, preservation and development of ARC’s fine art and African art collections as well as the development of public programs for ARC in consultation with the Executive Director and Deputy Director. The role includes curatorial research, advocacy and fundraising, reference assistance in the ARC’s reading room and to distance researchers as well as additional outreach duties. The salary for this position is $30,000 and includes benefits. There is a 90-day probationary period for the first quarter of employment.

About ARC

ARC is committed to collecting, preserving and providing open access to original materials that reference the social and cultural importance of America's ethnic and racial history, the African diaspora, human relations and civil rights.  ARC is an independent community-based archive housed on the campus of Tulane University, located at 6823 St. Charles Avenue in the Audubon neighborhood of New Orleans’ Uptown district. 

Responsibilities

• Serve as chief manager of the fine art and African art collections

• Assist in organizing approximately three exhibitions onsite and four online exhibitions per year

• Oversee the content and interpretation of exhibitions to position ARC’s collections in larger cultural, historical and aesthetic contexts that are relevant to our varied audiences

• Work cross-departmentally to develop and implement a master plan for the preservation and presentation of ARC’s fine art and African art holdings 

• Work with the Board of Directors and the senior management team to raise funds for exhibitions and programs through grants and donor development 

• Develop scholarly content of ARC’s publications and social media platforms

• Represent ARC and participate in external collaborative projects assigned 

• Actively participate in museum, library and archival fields through lectures, panels, conferences and publications 

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with artists, donors, galleries, media and colleagues at peer institutions

• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Requirements and Qualifications

• BA or BFA required; and MA in art history or curatorial studies or MFA preferred

• Five years of experience organizing exhibitions and contemporary art projects, preferably within an institutional context

• Exceptional knowledge of African and African American art 

• Superior public speaking ability, as well as excellent writing and editing skills

• Self-motivated, flexible and dedicated

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively

• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills with attention to detail

• Ability to work on several projects at once and change priorities on short notice

• Demonstrated experience and understanding of donor and community engagement

• Demonstrated commitment to working with multicultural populations 

• Must be able to work some nights and weekends 

Work Environment and Physical Conditions

• The physical requirements and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job, or may be encountered while performing the essential functions of this job.

• The employee is regularly required to communicate professionally in person, over the telephone, through email and other electronic means; move about their work area and between buildings and the campus grounds; handle various types of media and equipment; and visually or otherwise identify, observe and assess.  

• The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 40 pounds (50% or more of the workday is standing). 

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with a disability to perform the essential functions to the extent Amistad may do so without undue hardship.  

EOE: ARC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind.  ARC is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at ARC are based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race; color; religion or belief; national, social or ethnic origin; sex (including pregnancy); age; physical, mental or sensory disability; sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression; marital, civil union or domestic partnership status; past or present military service; family medical history or genetic information; family or parental status or any other status protected by laws or regulations. ARC does not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

Notice: The preceding job description indicates the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this classification. It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees to do this job. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and 

responsibilities to this job at any time nor does it proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change at any time.

To Apply:

Interested candidates should send letter of interest, resume, one writing sample and three professional references to ARC at info@amistadresearchcenter.org by Tuesday, August 31, 2021. Please type in subject line: PT Visual Art Curator 

Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted; no phone calls please.

For more information please visit: http://www.amistadresearchcenter.org

Amistad Research Center

Tilton Memorial Hall, Tulane University

6823 St. Charles Avenue

New Orleans, LA 70118