Director of Curatorial Affairs (Full Time, Onsite)

MASS MoCA is an internationally recognized institution known for placing artists at the center of the museum’s extensive programming and exhibitions with cross-disciplinary producing, and supporting leading artistic practices in contemporary forms through creative development residencies, commissioning, publishing, exhibitions and long-term engagement with artists to realize their ideas and work. Importantly, as a non-collecting museum, MASS MoCA focuses on the creation of new work in all art forms and across disciplines that generates commissions, exhibitions and public programs in addition to festivals, performing arts presentations and new explorations between artists who are often devising and developing projects over multiple years that are “Made With MASS MoCA.”

MASS MoCA is currently seeking a curatorial leader with extensive experience in curatorial practice, long range visioning, departmental planning and budget oversight that involves major commissions and exhibitions to lead our Visual Arts department and overall exhibition and studios program.

Position Overview:

Working closely with the Museum’s Executive Director, the Director of Curatorial Affairs will lead the museum’s curatorial vision and strategy, overseeing the development and implementation of innovative exhibitions and programs that engage diverse audiences, uphold the creative freedom and the practices of artists while supporting the museum’s curatorial, studios and fabrication teams to advance the museum’s mission. This role requires a passion for diverse artistic practices and a deep understanding of contemporary art and artists, strong leadership skills, and a commitment to fostering collaboration within the museum and the broader arts ecology nationally and internationally.

The Director of Curatorial Affairs is a member of the Museum’s senior leadership team, actively contributing the organization’s vision, mission, and artistic programming alongside the major initiatives throughout the museum as a whole including all departmental areas, physical spaces and campus grounds as they relate to MASS MoCA’s strategic plan and in close collaboration with the museum’s Director.

This role is responsible for the Visual Arts department’s smooth oversight, and will lead the budgetary and resource planning, exhibition/project development planning, programming scope of the department and the healthy operating culture for the department, which includes: curators, art fabrication, the studios program, travel/research, artist commissions, design development, and exhibition publications. Ensuring critical and generous feedback through all planning phases, curatorial/program development, networks and resourcing efforts to amplify and manage all members of the Museum’s exhibition team and will work across our administrative and other programming departments to share information, ensure cohesion, and foster collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Curatorial Leadership:

• Develop, support and implement a forward-thinking curatorial vision that aligns with Mass MoCA’s mission and strategic direction.
• Support and advance the bold and aspirational work and practices of artists at different stages of their careers.
• Oversee the planning and execution of major exhibitions, including researching, selecting, and commissioning artists and works.
• Collaborate with artists, scholars, and other institutions to create dynamic and impactful exhibitions.
• Stand as a public voice for the artistry and aesthetic concerns as they are expressed and made through the VA department’s programming, and as a knowledgeable contributor to field-wide concerns and interests, trends and public understanding.

Long Term Loan Stewardship:

• Oversee MASS MoCA’s long-term loan program, providing analysis and recommendations for additional long-term loans, outdoor artist installations, and their future rotations in close communication with the Director.
• Work closely with the Visual Art team to ensure the proper care and maintenance of these artworks and installations, and maintain communication and rapport with the artists, estates and/or collectors associated with each.

Community Engagement:

• Foster relationships with local, national, and international artists, collectors, journalists and curators to enhance the museum’s reputation and reach.
• Ensure cohesive educational programs and outreach initiatives in partnership with Public Programs that engage diverse audiences and promote public understanding of contemporary art, and ensure the key priorities from the curatorial and artist perspectives are upheld. Seek to support additive Public Program initiatives where the integration of their expertise and creative thinking best relates to key constituencies (K-12, Higher Ed, bi-lingual, special needs, etc.)
• Initiate and pursue opportunities to strengthen MASS MoCA’s community relations through participating in MASS MoCA’s Visitor Experience efforts (gallery tours, public programs and other high impact endeavors).

Team Leadership:

• Manages and supervises the employment, including hiring, terminations, performance management, scheduling, and mentoring of department staff.
• Supervise and/or mentor curatorial and visual art staff, fostering a collaborative, creative and rewarding work environment.
• Supervise and support the Director of Exhibitions, who maintains the exhibition calendar and associated budgets, logistical arrangements, and the detailed processes of fabrication and installation for all exhibitions.
• Supervise the curatorial and visual art department staff, develop performance standards for the department and oversee workload and priority-setting.
• Collaborate with other departments, including Performing Arts, Public Programs, and Visitor Experience, to ensure cohesive programming, creative audience engagement and training of museum staff.
• Work with the Communications and Content department to support public relations and press, the design aspects of publications where applicable, including exhibition catalogues, gallery guides, didactic labels, and exhibition-related brochures.

Resource Development: 

• Work closely with the Advancement department to identify potential sources of funding, cultivate donors and relationships with foundations and grant officers to support exhibitions and select projects.
• Collaborate with the Advancement team to identify opportunities for individual donor cultivation through donor and member events.

Budgetary Oversight:

• Develop and manage the curatorial budget in tandem with the Director of Exhibitions ensuring resources are allocated effectively to exhibitions, programs, and loan stewardship.
• Monitor and report on budget expenditures, making recommendations for adjustments as necessary to ensure financial sustainability.

Research and Publication:

• Conduct research on contemporary art and artists to inform exhibitions and programming.
• Oversee the production of exhibition catalogues, brochures, and other publications that accompany exhibitions.

Requirements and Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Art History, Museum Studies, or a related field;
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in curatorial roles, with significant experience in contemporary art commissioning and exhibition making.
• Excellent scholarship and writing skills, including editorial support for curatorial essays.
• Passion for the advocacy of ideas and artistry of artists (both those in the exhibition pipeline, and those who are not).
• Demonstrated leadership, supervisory, project management, and mentoring skills.
• Sound financial planning and management abilities including successful administration of a department budget.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically. Experience in developing long-term strategy and goals in collaboration with cross-departmental teams.
• Proven track record of organizing successful exhibitions and programs.
• Strong leadership and management skills with the ability to inspire and guide, listen to and elevate a team.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, public speaking, with a commitment to inclusivity and collaboration.
• Strong network within the contemporary art community.
• Must be able to travel regularly and extensively for work.
• This position may require extended hours, including occasional nights and weekends. The schedule will be determined by the Executive Director.
• This position is based on site at MASS MoCA’s North Adams campus; regular in-person attendance is required.
• This job description is intended to describe the general nature of the role and the work being performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities. The Director of Curatorial Affairs may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities, as needed.

Application Process:

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and a portfolio of previous curatorial projects through this portal:
https://recruiting.paylocity.com/../Mass-Museum-of-Contemporary-Art/Director-of-Curatorial-Affairs-Full-Time-Onsite

Applications will be accepted until August 29th. 

This is an exempt position with a starting salary of: $120,000 per year.

About MASS MoCA:

MASS MoCA is a vibrant non-collecting art museum with approximately 300,000 square feet of exhibition space dedicated to visual art and projects by contemporary artists. Formerly a 19th century factory, these exhibition spaces are unconventional, vast, soaring galleries spanning multiple buildings. Half of that space is dedicated to rotating 10 – 16 month exhibitions of which we present 4 to 6 large-scale exhibitions per year, along with smaller projects and commissions. The additional space is dedicated to long-term exhibitions in conjunction with artists, estates, and collections that run from 10 months to 25 years. MASS MoCA frequently works directly with artists on the fabrication of new commissions and large-scale site-specific installations.

MASS MoCA was founded in 1999, not only as a contemporary art museum and performing arts venue, but also as a creative campus with a regional, national and global impact. MASS MoCA is one of the world’s liveliest centers for making and enjoying today’s most evocative art. With vast galleries and a stunning collection of indoor and outdoor performing arts venues, MASS MoCA is able to embrace all forms of art: music, sculpture, dance, film, painting, photography, theater, and new, boundary-crossing works of art that defy easy classification. From its beginnings as the major textile mill Arnold Print Works in the mid-19th century, to its days as the Sprague Electric Company in the mid-20th century, to its current iteration as a globally renowned contemporary art museum and fabrication center, the 16-acre MASS MoCA campus has a rich history of serving as the economic engine of the city of North Adams and the surrounding region.