Bader Curator of European Art

Organization

Queens University

Job Type

Permanent

Language Required

English

Location

Kingston

Application Deadline

12-04-2020

Job Start Date

01-06-2020

Date Posted

10-01-2020

Email

hr.recruitment@queensu.ca

Website

http://clients.njoyn.com/CL4/xweb/xweb.asp?clid=74827&page=jobdetails&jobid=J0719-1100&BRID=EX146136&SBDID=1&LANG=1

Salary

$63,709 - $84,943

Job Description

About The Agnes:
The Agnes Etherington Art Centre is a leading art museum that proudly serves as an active research and learning resource at Queen’s University and as a public gallery for the Kingston, Ontario, community and beyond. Its superb collection spans European historical, Canadian historical, contemporary, Indigenous, African historical, and decorative arts. A central strength within that collection is The Bader Collection, comprised of over 200 European paintings with a focus on Dutch and Flemish Baroque, including four paintings by Rembrandt and others by his talented associates and students. The quality of these works has brought international renown to Agnes. By researching, collecting and preserving works of art, and through exhibiting and interpreting visual culture spanning the great artistic traditions of the past and the innovations of the present, Agnes creates opportunities for participation and exchange within and across communities.

About The Opportunity:
The Agnes Etherington Art Centre at Queen’s University is seeking an expert in historical European art with an in-depth knowledge of 17th-century Dutch and Flemish painting, to assume the position of Curator of European Art.

Reporting to the Chief Curator/Curator of Canadian Historical Art, the Bader Curator of European Art will develop a creative artistic vision for the collection, ensuring its vitality by researching and developing acquisitions, exhibitions, publications and related public events that promote wide engagement and interest in European historical art. Additionally, the incumbent will foster global connections with others in the field and communicate with diverse clientele ranging from local and international visitors to university students and faculty to donors and benefactors, establishing an environment that is both collaborative and inclusive.

This position provides opportunity to effectively contribute to the European historical art field, while cultivating a high-level of expertise within a supportive and flexible learning environment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Researches, develops, proposes, implements and oversees all aspects of the historical European art program (exhibitions, lectures, interpretive events and, for selected projects: national and international tours, publications and symposia) for integration within the Agnes’s overall program. Prepares and tracks related project budgets and assists the Director in securing funding in a competitive environment.
• Researches, negotiates, and proposes purchases and acceptance of gifts of historical European art to the Agnes’s Internal and External Acquisition Committees; assists in securing funding in support of this activity, and prepares documentation for donor receipting and for permanent records.
• Ensures the accuracy of records, and develops reports and proposals as required.
• Works creatively to ensure wide engagement with and interest in the European art collection, including through in-person and digital access, written interpretive materials and scholarly publications.
• Manages the care of the Agnes’s permanent collection of historical European art by exercising best practices, assessing loan requests, and planning and directing the work of the Collections Manager, technicians and contract conservators as necessary.
• Promotes the profile and stature of the Agnes by nurturing relationships with collectors, funders, a range of sectors of the arts community, the research and scholarly environment of Queen’s University and beyond, appropriate government agencies and peer institutions, donors and sponsors, and by contributing to the field as a respected art professional.
• Works collaboratively and responsively as part of the Agnes staff in a team environment.
• Provides work direction and technical/function guidance to casual and contract employees, volunteers and practicum and intern students associated with the historical European art program as required. Schedules and assigns work, and oversees its completion. Coordinates and monitors work flow.
• Reviews assignments and provides feedback on work to employees. Provides input on work performance to management staff.
• Undertakes additional responsibilities as needed, in support of the Agnes.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Graduate degree in Art History, Curatorial Studies or a related discipline (PhD or equivalent), with a minimum of three to five years of relevant curatorial experience.
• Sophisticated knowledge of historical European art, with depth of expertise in 17th-century Dutch and Flemish painting.
• A demonstrated record of innovative exhibition development and experience with multi-year program development.
• Effective knowledge and understanding of museum collection-care practices, and collection development processes.
• Proven record of excellence in research and publication in historical European art.
• Satisfactory Criminal Records Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening required.
• Consideration may be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.

SPECIAL SKILLS:
• Respects diversity and promotes inclusion in the workplace.
• Superior written and oral communication skills.
• Proven project-management, and budget creation and monitoring skills.
• Excellent visual acuity and aesthetic judgement abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, combined with the capability to inspire others.
• Excellent time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Fluency in languages relevant to areas of research is considered an asset.

DECISION MAKING:
• Determines the historical European art exhibition program and related events, and recommends their inclusion in the Agnes program.
• Determines the most effective ways to design, deliver and present programming.
• Makes recommendations for acquisitions of works of art to the Director and to the Internal and External Acquisition Committees.
• Identifies, researches, and recommends, potential funding sources to the Director.
• Devises research projects for undergraduate and graduate student interns.
• Determines priorities and makes decisions about contracted specialists (e.g. designers or editors) and occasional casual or short-term employees’/students’ utilization and the assignment of work to achieve optimum productivity.
• Makes daily decisions and resolves problems within policy guidelines; determines when complex problems or sensitive issues should be referred to senior staff.
• Determines priorities and makes decisions about staff utilization and the assignment of work to achieve optimum efficiencies and productivity.
• Monitors and assesses output and the quality of employees’ work, and recommends need for formal training or development plans to management and identifies possible staff performance and/or disciplinary issues

Applicants please apply directly through our careers page.