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

Responsibilities

• Advise on additions to the Fine Art collection through solicited donation and suggested purchase in accordance with the Collections Development Plan.
• Oversee the accessioning, storage, conservation, shipping, insurance and security of the Fine Art Collections.
• Research, design and oversee installation of exhibitions of the art collection to include artwork selection, writing scholarly and interpretive text, and collaborating on publicity, 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.
• Advise the Assistant Curator for Fine Art Collections in their capacity as Coordinator of University Exhibits and Collections in areas of art handling, conservation, and outgoing loan requests from off-campus entities.
• 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.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in art history with an emphasis in 19th – 20th century American Art from an accredited college or university with broad knowledge of American painting, sculpture, prints, and drawings.
• Minimum 6 years’ curatorial experience working with art collections in a 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of Midwest regional or Missouri art.
• Familiarity with early American art movements and patronage.
• Experience with docent training and/or tour programs.
• Familiarity with Past Perfect Museum software.
• Experience or familiarity with fine art conservation techniques.
• Experience or familiarity with fine art shipping and/or storage processes.