Harn Museum Curator I

Summary

Assists the Curators with the development and management of the art collection including conducting research on the museum’s collection for exhibition development, journal articles and scholarly publications, lectures and educational programs for museum visitors and college students; developing exhibitions; maintaining the accession files related to the collection; and assisting with moving artwork.

Examples of Work

• Reviews, updates and organizes accession files related to the collection, according to region, date, material, etc.
• Designs and conducts research into issues of provenance and significant studies on the respective topics based on region.
• Manages the database of compiled research and respective files for collection.
• Provides educational programs and contributes to scholarship to build partnerships and collaborations on a local level (UF and Gainesville community), statewide, nationally and internationally.
• Provides guest lectures or gallery talks for relevant UF courses.
• In coordination with the School of Art and Art History, University of Florida and/or Santa Fe College, teaches courses related to the collection or exhibitions at the museum.
• Participates in Harn educational outreach programs, including public lectures, gallery talks, teacher training seminars, symposia, etc.
• Delivers art-related public lectures at other museums or at professional conferences to contribute to the field and to raise the profile of the Harn.
• Conducts original research on the museum’s collection to contribute to the development of an art catalogue.
• Writes essays or articles for scholarly publications outside the Harn Museum, to contribute to the field and raise the profile of the Harn Museum of Art.
• Assists in manuscript acquisitions and assist in content reviews and editorial processes.
• Working with a curator, conducts research and develops exhibitions (original, permanent collection and traveling) for specific periods in exhibition schedule and propose exhibitions following established guidelines and procedures. lements, in collaboration with curators, exhibitions, including gallery design (such as layout, vinyl signage, text and photo panels, and technology needs), budget oversight, and fulfillment of any contractual obligations with external lenders.
• Conducts original research, writes gallery interpretation and essays for brochures and catalogues.
• Develops gallery guides and online resources for exhibitions.
• Builds partnerships and collaborations on a local level (UF and Gainesville community), statewide, nationally and internationally.
• Assists curator with docent training and Harn staff tours for exhibitions.
• Researches objects for acquisition and proposes suitable objects following established procedures.
• In coordination with the Director of Development, develops and maintains good relations with existing donors and patrons and seek to cultivate new donors and patrons.
• Researches objects in the collection and ensure that they are properly documented in the museum’s electronic and paper records.
• Working with the museum’s Registration department, coordinates the professional photography of the art collection including scheduling photography sessions and escorting photographers.
• Works with Registration and Preparation colleagues to locate objects in storage, complete required paperwork, move objects to photography studio, and ready works for photography, including selecting various angles to shoot the work for publications and academic research.
• Assists Registration and Preparation colleagues to move works from storage on carts for photography, help to move works during installations in the galleries, and bring works out from storage to viewing rooms for scholars and student groups.
• Participates in the preparation of overall annual exhibition budgets
• Researches grant opportunities and prepares a schedule for applying for grants; collaborates with other Harn departments on grant writing in support of the work of the museum
• Serves on Harn committees and participates in other administrative projects as needed

Education and Experience

High school diploma or equivalent and two years of experience in general museum activities; or any equivalent combination of experience, training and/or education.

Licensure and Certification

N/A

Supervision

This position does have supervisory responsibility.

To see common career pathways for each position at the University of Florida please visit the Career Paths section of the UFHR website.