Position: Director of Exhibitions and Curatorial Initiatives
Department: Exhibitions
Supervisor: Director and CEO
Status: EXEMPT
The American Federation of Arts (AFA) is looking for a Director of Exhibitions & Curatorial Initiatives (DECI) to lead and grow our traveling exhibitions program. This role involves leading a curatorial team and collaborating with outside curators, museums, and other stakeholders nationally and internationally to create and travel exhibitions. This position is key to developing exhibitions that reflect the evolving museum landscape and meet the expectations of today’s audiences.
General Duties and Responsibilities:
• Demonstrate a commitment to advancing the AFA’s mission to expand access to art
• Lead an exhibitions/curatorial department of curators and other key staff to set goals and produce exhibitions in a fast-paced high energy environment;
• Build and maintain an environment of excellence and team spirit;
• Develop new travelling exhibitions and publications utilizing partnerships with guest curators, institutions, and private collections;
• Secure venues for exhibition tours;
• Lead effective planning meetings and attend venue exhibition openings nationally and internationally;
• Communicate across departments to ensure stakeholders have what is needed for donor cultivation, funding proposals, marketing efforts, social media, website, etc.;
• Lead teams of guest curators and co-organizers to shape exhibitions and prepare and finalize exhibition materials, including illustrated checklists, project descriptions, and didactic materials;
• Work closely with the Director of Registration to establish and monitor exhibition timelines and budgets;
• Liaise with leadership and curatorial staff at partner museums and respond to issues related to curatorial content of exhibition and installation as required.
Qualifications:
• Strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills with the ability to network and collaborate effectively;
• 5-7 years of senior-level experience leading and managing teams;
• Proven management and administrative skills to establish efficient processes and teams;
• Experience managing complex projects;
• Strong financial acumen and ability to create and manage complex budgets along with proficiency in Excel;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; confident public speaker, salesperson, and effective relationship builder;
• Exceptional organizational skills and initiative, a multi-tasker with the ability to oversee complex projects and schedules, maintain deadlines, work within budgets, set priorities, and manage the curatorial team responsible for multiple projects simultaneously;
• Strategic and creative problem-solving skills to achieve goals under pressure;
• Experience working with exhibitions and/or collections is required;
• Minimum five years in a museum or art-related setting with curatorial experience in exhibitions, staff management, budgeting, and sponsorship;
• M.A. or above in art history and/or related field preferred
• An established network of curators and institutions nationally and internationally is a plus;
• Experience in fundraising and donor relations a plus.
Salary: Competitive salary and benefits package; $125,000 -$150,000 commensurate with experience
To apply, submit a cover letter and resume, by February 20, 2025, to hr@amfedarts.org
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Position: Assistant Curator/Project Manager (Project-Based/Termed)
Department: Exhibitions
Supervisor: Interim Director of Exhibitions and Curatorial Initiatives
Status: NON-EXEMPT
This is an exciting opportunity to work in a curatorial and project management role on a number of AFA exhibitions. The role is a project based, part-time, temp-to perm position with a minimum of 20 hours per week. The successful applicant will work on exhibition development and implementation as well as the production of an accompanying publications.
The position is hybrid and requires a computer and internet access.
Duties and Responsibilities:
• Demonstrate a commitment to advancing the AFA’s mission to expand access to art and to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion;
• Work closely with AFA Curators and Guest Curators to prepare and finalize exhibition materials including illustrated checklists, interpretive program, catalogue, and layouts;
• Collaborate with AFA Curator and Guest Curator to secure loans for exhibitions assisting with preparation and execution of all loan requests and tracking, including loan justifications and related correspondence;
• maintain object records in Collector Systems database;
• Establish and monitor exhibition timelines and budgets,
• Communicate across departments to ensure that Marketing and Development departments have materials needed for press releases, the AFA Website, funding proposals, etc.;
• review and edit catalogue texts submitted by Guest Curator and guest authors, and review layout and design of exhibition catalogues with Manager of Publications;
• Assist with securing image files and image rights for catalogue and press related uses;
• Assist with all phases of Immunity from Judicial Seizure and United States Federal Indemnity applications;
• Conduct research for the exhibition catalogues and interpretive programs;
• Liaise with curatorial and education staff at presenting museums
• Represent the AFA at meetings, exhibition openings, and program-related events as requested.
Qualifications:
• Strong knowledge of 20th-century European art;
• At least five years in a museum or art-related environment with experience in organizing exhibitions;
• M.A. or above in art history and/or related field;
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and oral, and be a confident public speaker and effective negotiator;
• Exceptional organizational skills, including ability to oversee complex projects and schedules, maintain deadlines, work within budgets, set priorities;
• Strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills with the ability to connect with a range of collaborators;
Salary Range: $28-$35/hour, for approximately 20-25 hours per week
To apply, submit a cover letter and resume, by January 11, 2024, via email: hr@amfedarts.org
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Manager of Special Events and Membership
Responsibilities
- In tandem with the Director & CEO, and Director of Institutional Advancement, create, manage, and execute all aspects of the organization’s special events, member events, and public programs. Events include an annual gala, annual spring luncheon, annual membership programming, day trips, cultural travel program, donor cultivation events, and other events as assigned
- The successful candidate must be a proven fundraiser and event producer, with a successful track record of meeting budgeted revenue targets while driving event production, logistics, and operations for the full event cycle
- In collaboration with AFA leadership devise and implement a fundraising plan that includes identifying new gala and spring luncheon donors, stewardship and upgrading support from past attendees, identify and solicit corporate sponsors to meet revenue goals
- Work with the Development Coordinator to track and analyze event program performance on an ongoing basis – prepare budget revenue and expense forecasts, monitor financial performance, prepare financial reports, manage department expenditures to budget
- Manage AFA’s robust individual membership program working with the Development Coordinator to coordinate six to twelve events annually, send quarterly membership renewals, strategize and drive new members, and manage fulfillment of benefits (including coordinating invitations to museum exhibitions, gallery tours, private collection visits, art fair passes, catalog mailings, etc.)
- The Manager of Special Events and Membership will play a key role in developing a strategy to steward and cultivate fall gala and spring luncheon attendees to become members and major donors.
- Collaborate with Director of Institutional Advancement to identify, cultivate and solicit corporate sponsors for benefits events, public programs, museum membership, individual membership and other sponsorship opportunities as assigned; -and; coordinate the fulfillment of sponsorship benefits
- In tandem with the Development Coordinator, work with the Communications department to coordinate and produce printed and electronic materials for events (postcards, invitations, e-blasts, event programs, website and social media content, signage, etc.)
- Interact with key patrons and donors inclusively, including the Board of Trustees.
- Function as key staff liaison to Development Committee and ad-hoc event committees
- Collaborate with communications staff to advise on public relations and communications-related plans and strategies for events and programs
- Work in close collaboration with the Development Coordinator, Curatorial and Communications departments to manage and produce 6 to 8 public programs annually that directly relate to the AFA’s calendar of exhibitions
- Work with the Development Coordinator, and Manager of Communications and Marketing to grow online and in-person attendance at public programs through digital marketing initiatives
- Devise a plan to engage and cultivate public program registrants to become members or annual fund donors
- Oversee the quarterly appeal cycle for AFA annual fund to be managed by Development Coordinator.
- In Collaboration with the Director of Institutional Advancement and assistance of the Development Coordinator, manage the AFA’s Museum Membership program. Overseeing a quarterly renewal campaign and new member appeal.
- Identify strategies to grow museum membership through digital marketing campaigns
- Supervise full-time Development Coordinator, interns and event volunteers
Qualifications
- Undergraduate degree in arts related discipline, master’s degree preferred
- Minimum 5 years’ experience with special events, membership and public programming
- Excellent organizational, communication (written and verbal), and interpersonal skills
- Experience managing benefit events, membership and public program budgets
- Candidate must be able to work independently, as part of a team and across departments
- Ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks with attention to detail
- Established ability to interact with donors at all levels
- Experience with Raiser’s Edge strongly preferred
- Experience with Mailchimp and social media marketing
- Knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint required. Canva desired
Reports to: Director of Institutional Advancement
Salary Range: Competitive and commensurate with experience. Low to Mid 80’s.
Comprehensive Benefits Package including employer paid insurance premiums for medical, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability. Generous PTO includes 15 vacation days (years 1-4 then 20 days per year after 4 years of service), 12 sick days, 4 personal days, and 10 paid holidays annually.
Hybrid Work Environment
To Apply:
Submit a cover letter and resume to hr@amfedarts.org by January 6, 2025
About the American Federation of Arts:
The American Federation of Arts (AFA), a not-for-profit organization, initiates and organizes art exhibitions and provides educational and professional programs in collaboration with the museum community in the United States and internationally. Established in 1909, the AFA is one of the oldest art organizations in the country. Since its founding, the AFA has organized or circulated exhibitions in every state, Canada, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Today, the AFA continues to explore new opportunities to cultivate fertile ground for the broadest dissemination and appreciation of the visual arts. AFA exhibitions encompass a wide range of mediums, artists, historical periods, and cultural traditions. The AFA also collaborates with distinguished institutions around the world to tour important aspects of their collections. To further engage and inform museum visitors and art enthusiasts, the AFA produces innovative educational components and exhibition catalogues introducing original scholarship. www.amfedarts.org
