St. Louis Mercantile Library Endowed Curator of Art and Research Professor

About the role

The St. Louis Mercantile Library, a two-century-old research library and art center with extensive collections in the humanities, is seeking a Curator of Fine Art and Research Professor. This position is part of a dynamic team that includes professionals dedicated to building, preserving, exhibiting, and interpreting the library's historic fine art collection.

Responsibilities

• Advise on additions to the Fine Art collection in accordance with the Collections Development Plan.
• Oversee all aspects of care of the Fine Art Collections.
• Research, develop, and oversee installation of exhibitions of the art collection, including artwork selection, writing scholarly and interpretive text, and supporting opening receptions and programming.
• Engage in collections-based scholarship to be published in exhibition catalogues or scholarly journals, as well as in lectures, symposia, and conference presentations.
• Develop and maintain professional affiliations with curatorial colleagues at other institutions and attend and present at conferences and professional events on behalf of the Mercantile Library.
• Cultivate long-term relationships with donors, collectors, scholars, established and emerging local artists, and art dealers to attract and secure works of art, collections, and acquisition funds.
• Provide exhibition support to the director and other curators as needed.
• Aid library staff, visiting scholars, and the public with collection-related questions; answer research requests and correspondence related to the collections.
• Supervise the Assistant Curator and Graduate Research Assistants.
• Oversee and take part in the volunteer docent training program.
• Oversee and assist in training student workers and art-collection volunteers.
• Advises the Assistant Curator for Fine Art Collections in their capacity as Coordinator of University Exhibits and Collections.
• Oversee the digitization and Rights/Reproductions request for Fine Art Collection materials, with the support of the Assistant Curator.
• Prepare and present off-site outreach lectures to promote the Library.
• Effectively communicate with team members and other members of the university community, while contributing to and sustaining a positive and supportive workplace.
• Adhere to the Collected Rules and Regulations of the University of Missouri System.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in art history or a BA in Art History and a Master’s degree in a related field or library science from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum 5 years’ curatorial experience working with art collections in a library, museum or university art gallery, showing increasing levels of responsibility and demonstrated proficiency in areas of art historical scholarship, connoisseurship, acquisitions, exhibition design and execution, staff supervision, and donor relations.
• Exemplary writing skills, compelling public speaking presence, and excellent oral communication skills, as well as strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to build and sustain effective and productive interpersonal relationships with library staff, faculty, students, administrators, board members, and members of the public.
• Demonstrated proficiency with personal computers and software, and office applications including the Microsoft Office suite, especially Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams/ SharePoint, and PowerPoint, and other productivity software, and proficiency with museum collection software.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States and pass standard University of Missouri System screenings and background checks.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of Midwest regional, and/or American art in general, such as American art movements and patronage.
• Experience with docent training and/or tour programs.
• Familiarity with Past Perfect Museum software.