Curator

Description

The Virginia Quilt Museum is hiring a Full-Time Curator. The Curator oversees the management, research, and exhibition of the museum’s collection along with traveling exhibitions. They curate exhibitions that explore the history, artistry, techniques, and skills used in quilting and develop presentations and public programs to accompany exhibitions. The Curator leads exhibition installation and deinstallation, and must be comfortable on ladders and handling historic objects and modern artwork. The Curator will conduct group presentations on a regular basis both in person and virtually.

The Virginia Quilt Museum celebrates and preserves the quilting arts in Virginia through exhibitions, programs, classes, and events. The Museum offers three floors of rotating, curated gallery space with each space changing 3-4 times a year. Historical, contemporary, and art quilts are featured simultaneously, allowing visitors the chance to enjoy the variety of styles, techniques, and themes present in quilts. As a small museum everyone on staff wears many hats and helps out where needed, flexibility is a must in this position as our visitors always come first.

Job Duties

Main Duties of the Position:

1. Curates in house exhibitions including research, design, installation, and deinstallation
2. Works with the Executive Director to determine exhibition calendar and secure outside exhibitions from artists, groups, organizations, and other museums with input from the Exhibition Committee
3. Handles all administrative tasks for incoming exhibitions including contracts, scheduling, paperwork, and communicating with guest curators/groups
4. Works with contracted marketing firm to ensure that exhibitions are properly marketed and that marketing firm has the information they need
5. Manages the museum’s collections including routine examinations of objects, updating the collections database (CatalogIt), and tracking use of collection pieces
6. Provides recommendations for the continued care and preservation of the collection
7. Manages incoming acquisitions and the de-accessioning process with the Executive Director and Collections Committee, responds to inquiries from potential donors
8. Processes object loans both in-coming and out-going
9. Interacts with the local, scholarly, and museum community and responds to research or educational requests related to the collections
10. Trains and supervises volunteers and students working with the collection
11. Provides coverage for the museum shop and front desk as needed

Skills Required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

• MA in museum studies, public history, textiles, fiber art, or related field or BA and at least 2 years work experience in museum or art gallery setting
• Experience with exhibition planning, development, design, and installation
• Knowledge and understanding of Collections Management principles, methods, and procedures
• Understanding of collections maintenance and care
• Familiarity with collections database such as Catalog It/PassPerfect preferred
• Effective writer and communicator
• Comfortable with technology including Zoom, Google Drive, and basic website editing
• Comfortable with public speaking
• Knowledge of research methodology, principles, and procedures
• Interest in quilts, quilt history, textiles, or sewing
• Must be able to lift 40 pounds, climb ladders, climb stairs, and be able to do other physical parts of creating exhibits

Additional Info

This is a Full-Time 40 hour a week position with a regular schedule of Tuesday-Saturday. There is some flexibility in the schedule but applicants should be prepared to work most Saturdays. The salary for this position is $33,000 annually, with 2 weeks of paid vacation time, and 1 week of sick leave annually. There is an additional $300 a month health insurance reimbursement benefit.

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to director@vaquiltmuseum.org

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with preference given to those that apply before July 5. Desired start date of early August.