Job Title: Curator of Exhibits
Reports To: Museum Director
Overview
The Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum (QFA Museum) is an institution offering comprehensive and inspiring exhibitions and educational programs in all fiber arts. Recognized as a premiere source for research, the Museum’s mission is to promote and preserve all fiber art traditions.
Diverse exhibits of both modern and traditional work are presented on a rotating schedule in the Museum’s home, the historic Gaches Mansion, in the beautiful waterfront town of La Conner located in Washington’s Skagit County.
The QFA Museum’s permanent collection contains over 300 quilts dating from the early 19th century to the present day, as well as modern art quilts and weavings, 19th-century North American coverlets, and a wide array of embroideries from around the world.
Founded in 1997 by local quilter Rita Hupy as the La Conner Quilt Museum, the Museum’s name was changed in 2005 to the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum as its mission expanded to include all textile arts. In 2017, the Museum updated its name to the Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum to reflect its growing prominence in the international world of fiber arts.
The Curator of Exhibits is responsible for designing, coordinating, and implementing exhibitions and supportive materials that support the Museum’s mission and provide engaging experiences for visitors. The Curator of Exhibits works closely with artists, collectors, lenders, Museum staff, volunteers, and community partners to develop exhibitions that interpret, celebrate, and advance fiber arts.
Primary Responsibilities
Exhibition Planning
- Develop and maintain a multi-year exhibition schedule that supports the Museum’s mission and strategic goals.
- Assist the Museum Director in researching, developing, planning, and designing exhibitions.
- Coordinate exhibition timelines and project schedules.
- Identify opportunities for exhibitions that highlight inclusive historical, contemporary, regional, national, and international fiber arts.
- Develop annual exhibition goals and recommendations that support the Museum’s strategic priorities.
Exhibition Development
- Coordinate all aspects of exhibition development and design from concept through installation and closing.
- Work with artists, collectors, lenders, and partner organizations to secure exhibition content.
- Develop exhibition checklists and maintain exhibition records.
- Coordinate exhibition budgets and monitor exhibition-related expenses.
- Ensure exhibitions are developed and presented in accordance with Museum standards and policies.
Installation & Logistics
- Coordinate exhibition installation and take-down activities.
- Prepare and maintain exhibition schedules, installation plans, and project documentation.
- Coordinate transportation, shipping, receiving, packing, and handling of exhibition materials.
- Work with staff, volunteers, artists, and contractors to ensure exhibitions are installed safely and professionally.
- Monitor exhibition spaces to ensure a high-quality visitor experience.
Artist & Lender Relations
- Serve as the primary point of contact for exhibiting artists, lenders, and exhibition partners.
- Coordinate exhibition agreements, loan documentation, and related correspondence.
- Maintain positive working relationships with artists, collectors, institutions, and community partners.
- Support artist talks, exhibition receptions, and related public events.
- Interpretation
- Collaborate with the Museum Director and Curator of Education to create exhibition text, labels, educational materials, signage, promotional materials, and interpretive content.
- Collaborate with the Curator of Education to support educational programming related to exhibitions.
- Assist with the development of exhibition-related publications, promotional content, and digital resources.
- Ensure exhibition interpretation is engaging, accurate, and accessible to diverse audiences.
Collections Coordination
- Coordinate with Museum staff regarding the use of collection objects in exhibitions.
- Maintain records related to exhibition loans, object locations, and exhibition documentation.
- Assist with condition reporting and object tracking associated with exhibitions.
- Support professional handling and stewardship of exhibition materials.
Community Engagement
- Serve as a professional representative of the Museum when interacting with visitors, artists, lenders, donors, community partners, and cultural organizations.
- Support Museum events, exhibitions, educational programs, and fundraising activities.
- Represent the Museum at exhibition openings, professional meetings, and community events as appropriate.
- Seek opportunities to increase public engagement through exhibitions and related programming.
- Perform other duties as assigned in support of Museum operations and strategic goals.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in museum studies, art history, public history, fiber arts, arts administration, or a related field.
- Experience developing, coordinating, or installing exhibitions.
- Experience with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign is required.
- Experience managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
- Strong organizational and project management skills.
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with staff, volunteers, artists, lenders, and community partners.
- Experience with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, databases, collections software, or project management systems preferred.
- Knowledge of fiber arts, textile history, museums, galleries, or cultural organizations preferred.
- Experience writing interpretive content, labels, or exhibition materials preferred.
- Commitment to the Museum’s mission and appreciation for fiber arts, museums, and cultural organizations.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to comfortably lift up to 25 pounds.
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and work in gallery spaces for extended periods including use of ladders and basic power tools.
- Ability to climb stairs. The Museum occupies a historic building, and not all areas are accessible by elevator.
- Ability to move, unpack, install, and handle exhibition materials using appropriate museum procedures.
- Ability to work occasional evenings or weekends in support of exhibition installations, receptions, and special events.
Pay: $27.00 - $35.00 per hour
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
