Reporting to the Executive Director, this position will develop, organize and execute visual art exhibitions for the Moody Center for the Arts at Rice University, curate temporary public art installations for the Rice public art program, and help commission and acquire public artworks for the permanent collection. Moody exhibitions are not limited in terms of media or timeframe, but will consistently support the Moody’s mission of fostering interdisciplinary conversation through the arts, engaging diverse academic disciplines and appealing to different audiences. The Moody mounts several curatorial projects each year, filling four exhibition galleries in an award-winning building designed by Michael Maltzan. The Associate Curator will organize exhibitions originated by the Moody, as well as coordinate traveling shows and work with faculty on temporary projects. In addition, the Associate Curator will work on permanent and temporary installations on the Rice campus, and be instrumental in supporting the acquisition and commission of new artworks for the Rice Public Art Collection.
The ideal candidate will have experience organizing solo exhibitions, group shows and thematic projects, working directly with artists, lenders, peer institutions and diverse audiences. The position will be responsible for generating written texts to accompany each exhibition, including introductory wall texts, wall labels, brochure and website postings. The Associate Curator will work closely with the team to develop public programs and also be responsible for leading tours, speaking publicly about exhibitions and Rice Public Art, supporting the Moody’s development and marketing efforts, building ties to local, national and international collaborators, working with faculty, and managing curatorial interns.
Responsibilities
Exhibitions and Rice Public Art
- Generates and coordinates a range of innovative exhibitions, working closely with the Curator and Executive Director to support the forward calendar, including site-specific commissions, as well as solo presentations, thematic loan shows, and traveling exhibitions
- Works with the Executive Director on identifying artists and artworks for the Rice Public Art Collection, both acquisitions and site-specific commissions, both temporary and permanent, working closely with the artists, Rice project managers, and various departments
- Communicates with artists, fellow curators, lenders, technical staff, Rice constituents, students and visitors about each project to ensure all parties are well informed
- Works with the Moody’s Director of Exhibitions to ensure exhibitions are installed and de-installed in a timely, professional and safe manner, and artwork is handled with the highest level of professional care, in accordance with museum standards
- Works with the Moody’s Deputy Director and Director of Exhibitions to develop, track and analyze exhibition budgets to ensure exhibitions are completed on budget
- Works with Moody staff to generate and execute public programs that complement the exhibition, including the Moody’s signature “Dimensions Variable” and “Artist-in-Dialogue” series
- Proactively reaches out to and collaborates with Rice faculty to engage classes with exhibition projects and Rice Public Art to promote interdisciplinary conversations through the arts
- Supervises a student curatorial intern
Public information, Marketing, Development and Institutional Advancement
- Writes wall text and labels, brochure texts, web and social media postings for Moody and Rice publications, as needed
- Provides information and assistance to the Moody’s Director of Marketing & Communications to ensure accurate public communications across all channels
- Participates in interviews with the press, as needed
- Takes an active role, together with the Moody’s Executive Director and Director of Development, in identifying prospective funders, including individuals, corporations and foundations, and communicates with those funders through tours and special events
- Assists in writing grant proposals and generating follow-up reports
- Participates as an active and visible member of the local, national and international art communities, representing the Moody at art openings, conferences and fairs, when appropriate. A modest travel budget will be provided in support of this goal
- Attends Moody exhibition previews, openings and public events, with occasional work required in the evening or on weekends
Required Skills and Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in art history or related field, with extensive knowledge of and enthusiasm for global contemporary art, with a solid grounding in art history
- 4 years of curatorial experience in a university or non-profit arts institution; In lieu of experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required on an equivalent year-for-year basis, may be substituted
- Experience with conceiving, developing and implementing a diverse range of art exhibitions
- First-hand knowledge of museum-quality exhibition practices
- Excellent research, written and verbal communication skills
- Strong interpersonal skills, with an ability to work with diverse constituents, including faculty, staff, students, patrons, artists and the general public
- An entrepreneurial, self-starting mindset
- A desire to work as part of a collaborative team in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
Employment type
Full-time
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Rice University by 2x