The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art will undertake the Artist Initiative, a five-year, curatorially-driven, artist-centric, contemporary art collection research project serving all four collecting curatorial departments within the museum (Architecture & Design, Media Arts, Painting & Sculpture, and Photography). Funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, this initiative will be led by a new senior manager, the Director of the Artist Initiative, http://www.sfmoma.org/about/press/press_news/releases/983. SFMOMA invites applications for this unique and rewarding role that will provide an exciting opportunity for the right individual to steer highly committed and expert museum staff in completing five research engagements involving artists, scholars, and other experts within the museum field.
SFMOMA is dedicated to making the art of our time a vital and meaningful part of public life. A period of expansion, transformation and growth is now well underway to enable the museum to realize its ambitions, of which the Artist Initiative is a key component. This director will oversee collaborations between artists and museum staff to explore issues of preservation, materials and presentation of works of art.
Successful candidates are likely to have more than ten years’ experience as a curator, a conservator or a museum educator. They must have demonstrated experience working with artists and excellent research skills. Successful candidates must have expertise in complex project management and superlative communication skills. It will be important for the director to build and enhance collaborative working relationships across the organization as well as with allied academic and university project participants. He/she will also play a formative role in activating new spaces in the expanded museum that have been designed to sustain these modes of collaborative collection research. The director will ensure that the initiative’s research results are shared generously via all of the museum’s content delivery streams, in gallery, online and in print. The director must have an affinity with SFMOMA’s mission and a real desire to support the overall aims of the museum through this role. A Manager of the Artist Initiative will assist the director in this work.
This is a term position, ending June 30, 2019.
Under the supervision of the Director of Collections and Conservation, the Director of the Artist Initiative is responsible for the development and management of all aspects of the five artist engagements of the Initiative, http://www.sfmoma.org/about/press/press_news/releases/983. In this capacity, he/she encourages SFMOMA’s work with artists and their estates through oversight of curatorially-driven, interdisciplinary, contemporary art collection research and dissemination of research results via SFMOMA’s content delivery platforms.
As a department head within the museum’s Collections Division, the Director will work with other division department heads (Library/Archives, Conservation, Registration and Collections Information and Access) to envision, implement and refine integrated, museum-wide programs of stewardship and research for contemporary art. In this capacity, the Director of the Artist Initiative will assume programmatic oversight for the museum’s Collections Center, encouraging and sustaining vital and meaningful study and learning opportunities with the SFMOMA collection at this venue while also upholding the policies and practices reflecting the highest standards of care.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Oversees all aspects of the Artist Initiative including: 1) facilitating the work of the five artist engagements; 2) supporting collaborative collection research at SFMOMA; 3) hosting scholarly colloquia with invited outside experts; and 4) ensuring the generous dissemination of research results via the museum’s content delivery platforms.
- Envisions and implements dynamic collection programming possibilities at the Collections Center while working with Registration and Facilities & Operations to ensure safe use, handling, security and storage of the fine art collections.
- Collaborates with the departments of Collections Information and Access, the Library/Archives, and Content Strategy and Digital Engagement to develop documentation and dissemination plans that contribute to the museum’s exhibition, education, community, and online programs. In this capacity, the Director will also work with the curators, and the departments of education, exhibitions, registration, installation, conservation, development marketing and finance.
- Contributes actively in the development and improvement of integrated systems of collection information and knowledge to serve the museum’s mission.
- Models highly collaborative modes of operating through fluid communication with staff and respect for the diverse expertise essential to an art museum.
- Develops and implements the Artist Initiative budget.
- Manages critical and periodic evaluation of this program in order to improve and sustain it in perpetuity.
- Serves as a liaison to museum and academic communities regarding inquiries into the Artist Initiative.
- Acts as spokesperson for the Artist Initiative and the Museum as needed.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Training: Post-graduate degree in Art History, Art Conservation or Education. PhD desired.
Work Experience: 10 years of related experience.
Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of modern and contemporary art, art conservation and collection management. Superb writing, speaking and diplomatic skills essential. Demonstrated experience working with artists. Demonstrated ability to lead and facilitate collaborative working teams and complex projects. Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines. Strong organizational skills a must: ability to prioritize and organize complex documentation and multiple activities, as well as coordinate the activities of staff members around a common project. Ability to communicate effectively with donors, artists, Museum staff, colleagues, museum board members, and the general public, whether in person, on the telephone, or in writing. Reading and writing proficiency in a language additional to English is desirable.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Physical Demands: Must be able to visually inspect work.
Special Environmental Factors: Close office setting.
Interested candidates should apply online at http://sfmoma.snaphire.com/?job=15879AIC .
NO PHONE CALLS, PLEASE!
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art encourages people of color, residents of SOMA, and other San Francisco residents to apply. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity.