The Cincinnati Art Museum (CAM) stewards an encyclopedic collection of more than 73,000 works of art spanning 6,000 years. The collection galleries are predominantly organized by geographic region, with rotating spaces dedicated to prints, photography, and textiles. In addition to collection galleries, the museum organizes and hosts numerous exhibitions each year in a series of rotating exhibition galleries. Through research, display, programming, and special events, the museum contributes to a more vibrant Cincinnati by inspiring its people and connecting its communities.
CAM seeks a fashion and textile curator at the Associate or Full level to fill a newly endowed curatorial position. The Mary W. Baskett Associate/Curator of Fashion Arts & Textiles will report to the Director of Curatorial Affairs & Initiatives and will be an active member of a dynamic curatorial team. CAM’s Curatorial Division is currently organized into eight departments: American Painting, Sculpture, & Drawings; East Asian Art; Fashion Arts & Textiles; Decorative Arts & Design; European Painting, Sculpture, & Drawings; Photography; Prints; and South Asian Art, Islamic Art & Antiquities.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Mary W. Baskett Associate/Full Curator of Fashion Arts & Textiles will be responsible for the stewardship, growth, development, and programmatic initiatives of the museum’s fashion and textiles collection. Strengths of the collection include historic American and European dress (predominantly from the 19th century onwards) as well as global contemporary fashion (with notable holdings in Japanese contemporary designers). The collection also includes jewelry, accessories, and ephemeral items.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting to the Director of Curatorial Affairs & Initiatives, duties include, but are not limited to:
- Stewardship of the fashion arts and textile collection, including collaborative stewardship of objects that overlap curatorial departments (for example East and South Asian jewelry and textiles; contemporary textile-based arts).
- Supervision and professional development of a curatorial assistant dedicated to fashion arts and textiles. Supervision of museum interns and volunteers when applicable.
- Creative and logistical project manager of CAM’s Mary W. Baskett Gallery, including planning twice yearly rotations (object choice, research, mounting, interpretation, press, and publicity) working collaboratively with colleagues across the institution.
- Generate original exhibitions and project manage temporary traveling exhibitions, as proposed and as assigned. Exhibition-related responsibilities include exhibition narrative development, object research, academic and interpretative writing, and working collaboratively with colleagues to coordinate programming (lectures, gallery activations, symposia), organize loans, develop exhibition design concepts, installation, fundraising, and publicizing projects.
- Manage Fashion Arts & Textiles department budget; work collaboratively with colleagues to plan and adhere to exhibition and programming budgets as required.
- Build and maintain relationships with a range of museum constituents, including colleagues across the museum field, donors, dealers, collectors, docents, and artists.
- Work collaboratively and constructively with colleagues across the institution, including Conservation (to care for, document, store, and mount collection objects); Photo Services (to photograph collection objects); Philanthropy (grant writing and donor stewardship); Marketing and Communications (external publicity); Learning & Interpretation (interpretative gallery texts and programming), and more.
- Research and catalogue collection objects in TMS. Lecture on and publish original research on topics that center CAM’s collection, programming, and projects for both academic and general audiences.
- Attend and participate in field-specific symposia, conferences, and lectures; visit museums and galleries in the U.S. and abroad; and represent CAM’s vision and values externally.
- Research, recommend, propose, and secure new acquisitions (gifts and purchases) for CAM’s collections, including academic and provenance research.
- Participate in Cincinnati’s broader arts ecosystem, including representing the museum at social and civic events and serving on internal and external committees or panels as applicable.
- Serve as liaison between the Cincinnati Art Museum and visiting committees and other groups with special interest in the department, including the museum-affiliated Friends of Fashion Arts & Textiles.
- Other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- M.A. in Art History (Ph.D. preferred) with a subject expertise relevant to CAM’s Fashion Arts & Textiles Collection.
- Minimum of seven (7) years with experience as an Academic Fellow or Assistant/Associate Curator or Curator. Curatorial rank will be commensurate with experience.
- The Mary W. Baskett Associate/Full Curator of Fashion Arts & Textiles must possess a demonstrated knowledge of museum practices; excellent written and oral communication skills; good working knowledge of the Microsoft Office program suite and other relevant computer programs; a commitment to both academic endeavors and working with diverse public constituencies; and the ability to communicate clearly with a wide range of constituents, including museum staff, donors, museum members, and the general public.
- Proven ability to work collaboratively and respectively with multiple internal and external stakeholders to achieve institutional objectives.
- Evening and weekend work as needed.
BENEFITS & COMP
- Annual salary: $75,000 - $95,000 commensurate with experience
- Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401k retirement planning with company match
- Robust paid time off (PTO) and 9 paid holidays
- Short-term and long-term disability insurance
- Dependent care leave benefit
- Employee Assistance Program
- Family-level museum membership
- Discounts in museum gift shop and café
- Professional development opportunities
