Museum Curator

The Department of Museum, Arts & Culture is searching for a creative, organized, collaborative, proactive and community-oriented individual to join the team as a Museum Curator.

The ideal candidate will have excellent written and oral communication skills including a mastery in museum writing, is comfortable working both independently and as a member of a team, has project management experience, and the ability to manage multiple projects. This is a great opportunity for an art or history curator to play a leading role in shaping the Museum’s efforts to create a distinctive exhibitions program that garners critical attention while fulfilling our mission to advance an understanding of regional history and art. Working closely with the Museum Manager, the Exhibits Curator will execute the curatorial vision for the Ontario Museum of History & Art and will be responsible for exhibit research, development, and production. The Exhibits Curator supervises a full time Assistant Curator and a part time Museum Assistant and works in partnership with Curators of Education and Collections.

Our vision is to be the premier arts and cultural center for the Inland Empire by engaging diverse audiences, presenting dynamic experiences, and preserving our regional legacy. The successful candidate will embody the Department’s mission and vision as well as the qualities of a “Five Tool Player” – Leader, Thinker, Communicator, Operator and Public Servant – and the values of the City’s Approach to Public Service- Commitment to the Community, Excellence through Teamwork, and Doing the Right Thing the right way.

The Museum Curator classification is used throughout the Department of Museum, Arts & Culture in a variety of assignments. This recruitment will result in an eligibility list for this classification to meet the current and future staffing needs of the Department.

The current vacancy is for a Curator of Exhibitions.

The Community Life and Culture Agency 

The City of Ontario’s Community Life & Culture Agency endeavors to meet the Ontario City Council goal to “encourage, provide or support enhanced recreational, educational, cultural and healthy city programs, policies and activities.”  Community Life & Culture does this through a comprehensive array of programs, activities, services and events available through the Recreation & Community Services, Library, Museum, Arts & Culture, and Housing departments.

The City of Ontario’s Department of Museum, Arts & Culture advances an understanding of regional history and art through museum exhibits, collections stewardship, educational programs, annual arts festivals, and public art. The Ontario Museum of History & Art was founded in 1979 and is located on tree-lined Euclid Avenue in a historic building that originally served as Ontario’s second City Hall. In 2022 Ontario’s City Council established the Public Art Program and the Museum department was expanded to encompass Museum, Arts & Culture. The department’s programs enhance knowledge and understanding of our community through dynamic and vibrant experiences that reflect pride in who we are, where we live, and our legacy. To learn more about the Ontario Museum of History & Art, please view the Department’s Strategic Plan here.

Curator of Exhibitions

The essential functions typically performed by the Museum Curator include the following:

• Researches, analyzes, and recommends new policy; implements existing policies.
• Supervises and directs the activities of staff including employee selection, work assignment, performance evaluation, employee development, disciplinary action, and complaint resolution.
• Coordinates, schedules, and provides direction and training to volunteer staff and docents.
• Corresponds with and assists various agencies and individuals regarding Museum business and information requests.
• Reviews and follows correspondence, documents, and material, relating to public inquiries.
• Attends meetings of the Board of Trustees, Board committees, City administration, community groups and organizations as required and/or in the absence of the Museum, Arts & Culture Director.
• Represents the museum at events, meetings, and gatherings, of the City and general public.
• Assists with developing content for promotional, outreach, and informational materials.
• Assists in grant writing and other sources of resource development.
• Works closely with museum staff, other City departments, contracted consultants and vendors, to ensure continued physical preservation of the museum building (a historic structure) and to ensure the proper care and conservation of the museum collections which it houses.
• Develops and maintains maintenance procedures, logs and schedules, in accordance with professional standards and procedures.
• Works with Museum, Arts & Culture Director, committees of the Board of Trustees and other City departments in the planning and development of capital improvements which will affect the care and management of the museum’s collections.

When assigned to Collections, functions may also include:

• Works closely with the Board of Trustees Collections Committee to review and update collections policy and procedures.
• Cares for, manages, accessions, establishes and maintains registration practices, cataloging, inventory, and information systems procedures in accordance with the museum’s collection policy.
• Protects and preserves collections against physical, chemical, and biological damage or decay (including cleaning, protecting and storing of articles) in accordance with museum’s collection policy.
• Works with artists, collectors, and other institutions in the loan of objects.
• Arranges shipping, assesses condition, assigns loan numbers and arranges for appropriate insurance.
• Works closely with the Collections Committee to contact and solicit community sources and potential lenders and donors of artifacts, material, information and assistance.

When assigned to Exhibitions, functions may also include:

• Coordinates the planning, design, and installation of exhibitions developed internally and externally with guest curators and other cultural organizations.
• Works closely with other museum staff, community representatives, academic scholars and others in developing exhibits.
• Works with professional colleagues to make arrangements for temporary/traveling exhibitions including shipping, receiving, insurance, condition assessment, etc.
• Supervises the installation & de-installation of temporary/traveling exhibitions.
• Conducts scholarly object-based research for upcoming exhibitions and collections.

When assigned to Educational Programs, functions may also include:

• Develops public educational programs such as school tours, lectures, workshops, family programs, docent programs and publications.
• Works closely with other museum staff, community representatives, academic scholars, and others in developing these programs.
• Partners with regional school districts and educators, to develop and implement exhibit and programming activities related to core curriculum standards for students K-12.
• Coordinates and participates in public outreach activities to promote museum exhibits, programs and events.
• Compiles and tracks audience participation information.

Qualifications:

Education

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in U.S. or California History, Museum Studies, American Studies, Art History, Anthropology, or closely related field.

NOTE:
Proof of successful completion of a Bachelor’s Degree must be provided by way of attachment to your online application or as an email attachment sent to the Hiring Agency Representative at, or before, time of the reference check process. Acceptable forms of proof include Unofficial Transcripts, Official Transcripts, Photos and/or Photocopies of Institutional Degree/Certifications. Failure to provide the required documentation at, or before, time of the reference check process will result in disqualification.

Experience

Three years of museum experience, including collections management, exhibition development, and/or public programming. A Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in U.S. or California History, Museum Studies, American Studies, Art History, Anthropology, or closely related field may substitute for two years of related experience.

Licenses

Valid Class C CA driver license and an acceptable driving record at the time of appointment and throughout employment.

Special Requirements

• Ability to climb ladders and stairs while carrying heavy or bulky loads.
• Ability to safely use hand and power tools.

Desirable

• Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in U.S. or California History, Museum Studies, American Studies, Art History, Anthropology, or closely related field.
• Ability to read and speak Spanish.
• Previous experience curating exhibitions in art or history.
• Knowledge of artists in the Inland Empire and/or regional history related to the Inland Empire.

Salary

$5,706.14 – $7,006.14 Monthly

How to Apply

Click here to apply online.

The City of Ontario reserves the right, if necessary, to accept only the first one hundred (100) applications from applicants that meet the qualification guidelines below. Completed applications will be reviewed and only qualified applicants whose qualifications best meet or exceed the requirements of the position and needs of the City, will be invited to participate further in the selection process.