Jobs at Art Institute of Chicago (Now Hiring) — 17 open

About the Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago shares its singular collections with our city and the world. We collect, care for, and interpret works of art across time, cultures, geographies, and identities. We are a place of gathering and learning, committed to fostering an inclusive understanding of human creativity.

About the Department

The Department of Painting and Sculpture of Europe stewards a collection that comprises nearly 3,000 works of art dating from the 12th through the early 20th century, with a particular strength in Impressionism, which comprises some 600 paintings. The department strives to produce original scholarship and engage diverse audiences by contextualizing its collection within an expansive and evolving history of art.

Position Summary

The Art Institute of Chicago is seeking an outstanding candidate to join the Department of Painting and Sculpture of Europe. We welcome candidates with a range of experience and expertise, and are accepting applications at both the Associate Curator and Curator levels. We encourage interested candidates to apply for the role that best reflects their background. Please note that only one position will be filled as part of this search.

A key contributor to the long-term growth, assessment, and refinement of the department, the curator supports the chair in caring for, researching, producing content on, and presenting the permanent collection of the department. The curator develops, manages, and oversees a strategic vision for areas of specialty within the departmental collection, ensuring alignment with the museum’s mission and strategic goals. Assuming primary responsibility and connoisseurship for areas of specialty, the curator keeps abreast of the art market, recommends acquisitions and deaccessions to the chair and President and Director in consultation with other curators, and proposes exhibitions for the museum.

The curator supports the chair’s strategic vision of the department and occasionally assists with aspects of the management of the department; helps to enhance the visibility and reputation of the museum and develop community interest and support for the departmental collection; and supports the museum in its commitment to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable institution.

The curator communicates clearly and consistently with the chair and departmental colleagues about priorities, strategies, goals, projects, and timelines; provides training, supervision, and support to departmental colleagues; and mentors curatorial colleagues, fellows, and interns in fostering professional growth and developing expertise through research, scholarship, and exhibitions. The curator engages in a collaborative role with Conservation and Science and Collections and Loans to review treatments and foster best practices for maintaining the departmental collection. All of these efforts are supported by the curator’s collaboration with the philanthropy team to cultivate relationships with donors, collectors, and committee members. 

Responsibilities

• Collection growth and care: Conducts collection reviews and assessments; evaluates the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges of areas of specialty within the collection; keeps abreast of the market, current scholarship, and legal and ethical issues in the field; works with dealers; recommends acquisitions and deaccessions; cultivates relationships with donors; supports the maintenance and cataloguing of records, documentation, and research; ensures the safety and stability of the collection and temporary loans; consults with Conservation and Science and Collections and Loans on the general physical condition, treatment, storage, and display of the collection; and considers loans and responds to related external and internal inquiries; guides collection management through cataloguing, database upkeep, website publication, and object care and movement; supports loan management; and collaborates with departmental interns, fellows, and volunteers.
• Research and scholarship: Carries out original research that results in significant art historical scholarship and exhibitions; produces collection and provenance research, documentation, and content; builds object files, maintains object database records, and publishes new research findings online; liaises with colleagues to develop compelling narratives, programs, and content for broad audience engagement and to determine appropriate medium for sharing content, including digital platforms, in-gallery didactics, or print. Under the guidance of the chair, pursues opportunities through scholarly publications, conferences, teaching, and lecturing that help further the museum’s visibility and mission. As needed, responds to external inquiries about the collection.
• Philanthropy and stewardship: Supports the stewardship and cultivation of donors and the museum’s fundraising efforts, including actively pursuing new donors. When appropriate, advises collectors and engages them in the museum’s vision; maintains accurate information on donors’ collections; and initiates conversations about promised gifts and loans. Cultivates and maintains relationships with dealers, galleries, auction houses, and peers. Supports the preparation for curatorial advisory committee meetings, including the agenda, supporting materials, research and justifications, and presentations. Occasionally writes and administers grants for exhibitions and other departmental or museum-wide projects.
• Exhibitions: Conceptualizes and proposes exhibitions; initiates and plans the research, development, organization, installation, and related publication and interpretive materials for exhibitions and gallery installations according to museum standards, budgets, and guidelines. Under the guidance of the exhibition team, and as outlined in museum procedures, contributes to the relevant curatorial duties required of curatorial departments in the exhibition development process. Maintains relationships with peer museums, institutions, and cultural agencies with the potential for exhibition loans and partnerships.
• Visibility and audience outreach: Collaborates with colleagues to create innovative, compelling, and accessible interpretive content and programming to enhance engagement; serves as an expert on the collection and acts as a museum representative through lectures, interviews, tours, and conferences. Supports the chair’s efforts to promote international visibility and recognition in the field through contributions to scholarship; participates in the museum’s robust university and fellowship programs and supports the training of fellows and interns through teaching and mentoring. Reviews and provides guidance on marketing, public affairs, communications, and product development related to the departmental collection. Encourages access to museum resources and the collection for historians, scholars, universities, art professionals, and other peers; and responds to external inquiries from scholars, collectors, curators, and peers as needed.
• Departmental support: Occasionally supervises staff or supports the chair in aspects of the management of the department.

Qualifications

• PhD in art history or equivalent experience preferred, minimum master's degree required.
• Minimum 9 years’ experience working in museums, galleries, and/or other curatorial capacities required.
• The ideal candidate should demonstrate:
  • a broad art historical foundation;
  • expertise, experience, and interest in pursuing a distinct area or areas relevant to expanding areas of the collection;
  • a record of scholarship, exhibitions, and publications in areas of specialty;
  • a willingness to embrace the museum’s commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable institution;
  • an open-minded and collaborative approach to working and communicating with all colleagues across the museum;
  • outstanding communication skills that demonstrate both scholarly ability and interest in public engagement;
  • ability in the area of supervising, mentoring, and collaborating with colleagues;
  • and success in fundraising, working with collectors and donors, and forming relationships with trustees.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google suites required; ability to learn museum-specific collection database.
• Knowledge of foreign languages as appropriate to areas of specialty.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer; must be able to remain in a stationary position 90% of the time.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a copy machine and printer.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, ability to adjust focus, and the ability to sustain prolonged visual concentration.
• Occasionally handles art.
• Travels domestically and internationally on museum business, as approved by the department chair.
• Occasionally works after hours, including weekends.

Compensation & Benefits

Please click on the links below to view our competitive, comprehensive benefits package:  

• Hiring Range: $100,000-$120,000

The expected hiring range is an estimated amount for positions based on the grade. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, qualifications and other job-related reasons. 

• Benefits        
• PTO Overview
• Job Classification: Exempt
• Employment Category: Full time staff
• Grade Level: 10

If you are accessing this listing from a third party, not all links to salary and benefits information may work. Please visit our career page at saic/artic.edu/employment for complete information

Application Instructions

Please submit your resume and cover letter to be considered for this position.

Accessibility

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Accessibility Accommodation for Applicants

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals compliant with federal and state laws. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at  [email protected].