William King Museum of Art

Position Title: Curator of Fine Art

Position Description: This position has primary management, responsibility, and interpretation of the

Worrell Collection of Animal Art, which consists of approximately 170 pieces, including paintings and

sculptures and exclusive of twelve large sculptures that will remain on the grounds under the management of

the Curator of Contemporary Art & Craft. The animal art collection will be shown in the Worrell Wing in a

gallery specific to it on a regular rotation of approximately 1/3 of the total, while the balance remains in the

Worrell Wing’s Collections Storage. This position will also conceptualize, develop, organize, interpret, and

manage an annual changing exhibition program of historical art and craft not related to Southwest Virginia

and Northeast Tennessee. These exhibitions will consist of loaned artwork, both traveling curated exhibitions

and exhibitions organized by this position, will be essentially educational in purpose and content and will be

developed with connoisseurship as a primary value in selection of artwork. They will number approximately

two exhibitions annually and will be displayed in the United Company and Legard Galleries, constituting a

whole program that strives for excellence and presents as interesting, engaging, and promoting of community.

This position is responsible for all registration activities and records for artwork under its management. It will

ensure that all art is cared for according to the highest standards set forth by the American Alliance of

Museums within the scope of wall-to-wall responsibility that mandates care during transit, in storage areas

and in our galleries. WKMA is AAM accredited. This position is responsible for all in-gallery interpretive text

and graphics for art under its management and works in collaboration with the entire staff for related

programming and classes, as well as the fundraising and marketing success of the exhibition program. It

works in concert particularly with the rest of the curatorial staff: Curator of Contemporary Art & Craft, Curator

of Decorative and Folk Art of Southwest Virginia & Northeast Tennessee, the Installations Manager, and with

the Director of Security and Property Management. This position will participate in the installation process for

all exhibitions, providing leadership design and oversight in the exhibitions and collection under its

responsibility. This position will be available as needed in the selection process for artists and crafts persons

for residencies and apprenticeships in the museum and Art Lab. This full-time position reports directly to the

curatorial department head and, as needed, to the Executive Director.

Essential requirements include an academic degree in art history. Museum and/or curatorial experience is a

plus. This position requires a self-starter and the ability to work independently while within the framework of

an interlocking organizational work plan. Personal work habits should be strong in detail management,

research, writing skills and an ongoing capacity to meet deadlines.

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Specific duties of this position include:

*managing the Worrell Collection of Animal Art, including its registration, exhibition planning and design, installations,

interpretive materials, and conservation planning as needed;

*creating and managing approximately two temporary art historical exhibitions annually of loaned material that are

exhibited in the United Company and Legard Galleries that reflect the highest scholarship, have educational merit and

maintain a balance between regional and national /international art and that is maintained with a schedule reflective of

a two-year plan, and includes the WKMA original Connoisseur exhibition on a five-year rotation;

*developing and maintaining current insurance values for all artwork under this position’s responsibility, to include the

Worrell Collection of Animal Art and all loaned artwork, providing the museum’s business office a current and final

checklist with insurance values for each temporary exhibition at least three months prior to the opening date;

*working closely with the Installations Manager to articulate object relationships and priorities for use in the design of

each exhibition;

*working closely with the Director of Security and Property Management in responsibility for the United Company and

Legard Galleries; the Worrell Collection of Animal Art Gallery and its Collections Storage;

*participating in all exhibition installations, working with the Installations Manager and curators;

*serving as a staff participant for the Artistic Direction Committee, a standing advisory committee of the Board of

Trustees;

*developing and being responsible for at least one lecture associated with each exhibition under this position’s

responsibility, using outside scholars or oneself and in the planning of a strong related lecture series that promotes and

interprets as well as enhances enjoyment of each exhibition;

*being the primary contact for all lenders to exhibitions under the management of this position, ensuring that they are

informed and invited to events related to the relevant exhibition, informed about schedules related to shipping to and

from the museum, invited to appropriate events, and shown appreciation for their contribution to the exhibition’s

content;

*being responsible for all writing associated with each exhibition including interpretive materials, such as text panels,

identification labels and other materials including gallery guides or catalogs, and working effectively and in a timely

manner with the Museum’s publications department;

*participating in the management of the Museum’s library of art books, especially those related to animal art and art

history, ensuring its organization and accessibility as reasonably possible;

*developing and managing, in conjunction with the department head and for approval by the Executive Director, an

annual budget and work plan for the Worrell Collection of Animal Art and other exhibitions under this position’s

responsibility;

*creating an Exhibitions Report for each fiscal year within eight weeks of its close that chronicles visitor numbers, costs,

checklists of objects, and related programs for use in the Annual Report and for the Museum’s running log of

exhibitions;

*and other duties as assigned by the curatorial department head and Executive Director.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $30,000.00 - $35,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Physical setting:

• Office

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Ability to Relocate:

• Abingdon, VA 24210: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person