Gallery & Exhibition Coordinator – The University of Mississippi

Gallery & Exhibition Coordinator

The Department of Art & Art History at The University of Mississippi invites applications for a Gallery & Exhibition Coordinator beginning August 2026. This position is 12-month, full-time, and benefits-eligible. Preferred candidates will hold an M.A. in Art History or Museum Studies, an M.F.A. in Art with gallery or museum experience, or equivalent related experience in the field at the time of appointment. The successful applicant will be responsible for the following:

• Overseeing the scheduling of the department’s gallery including the selection of exhibitions and working with the chair to establish a schedule that aligns with the strategic plans of the Department of Art & Art History and the university. 
• Overseeing preparation and installation of exhibitions, including unpacking, dismantling, and repacking of borrowed shows; arranging for shipping and crating of all incoming and outgoing artwork.
• Overseeing exhibition and visiting artists’ budgets; complete funding requests, grants, and final reports.
• Training and overseeing graduate assistants or undergraduate interns’ proper art handling and professional practices in a gallery setting.
• Coordinating publicity with on-campus outlets and off-campus media to include writing and distributing press releases, images, and social media management.  
• Providing planning and supervision of opening receptions and special events including art awards ceremonies, welcome back events, and art fundraisers. 
• Coordinating with all BFA and MFA graduating students and their faculty advisors about thesis exhibition planning. 
• Engaging in community outreach as appropriate with programming goals to include making arrangements for visiting tours, artists, and scholars, and introducing current exhibitions to faculty members, students, and community organizations. The individual in this position will serve as a liaison between the department and community arts organizations locally and regionally. 
• Providing engaging outreach and advocacy for the gallery and ensuring the gallery complies with current campus, departmental, and National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD) policies and standards.

Candidates will possess experience in the arts, event management, publicity, marketing, reviewing artist contracts, and grant writing as well as having experience with using the Microsoft Office suite and other software related to gallery management. The Department of Art & Art History is accredited by NASAD (the National Association of Schools of Art & Design).

Founded in 1848, The University of Mississippi is Mississippi’s flagship university and also its largest, with a student body of approximately 28,405 students. UM is ranked among the nation’s fastest-growing institutions. Included in the elite group of R-1: Doctoral Universities – Highest Research Activity by the Carnegie Classification, it has a long history of producing leaders in public service, academics, and business. Its 15 academic divisions include a major medical school, nationally recognized schools of accountancy, law and pharmacy, and the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, renowned for a blend of academic rigor, experiential learning and opportunities for community action. UM has been consistently recognized as one of the best colleges in the nation to work for by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Mississippi provides a rich environment for creativity and research. The university is located in Oxford, home to a vibrant literary and arts scene, about an hour’s drive south of Memphis and three hours north of Jackson, MS. Each year the community hosts the Oxford Film Festival, the Double Decker Arts Festival, and the Oxford Blues Festival, among other gatherings, and UM sponsors the Oxford Conference for the Book and a yearlong performing arts series at the Gertrude C. Ford Center among its many cultural events.

• UM Department of Art and Art History: https://art.olemiss.edu/
• UM University Museums: https://museum.olemiss.edu/
• Visit Oxford: https://visitoxfordms.com/
• Yoknapatawpha Arts Council: https://oxfordarts.com/
• Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce: https://oxfordms.com/chamber-of-commerce/

Applicants should complete the University’s online application form at https://careers.olemiss.edu/ AND submit a cover letter, updated Curriculum Vitae, and contact information for three references. Applicants who proceed beyond the initial screening may be asked to submit additional materials. Review of applications will begin immediately. The position will remain open until an adequate pool has been established. More information about the department can be found at https://art.olemiss.edu. Please direct inquiries about this position to Professor Bryce Heesacker, Chair of the Search Committee (bsheesac@olemiss.edu).

Salary Range: $51,604.80 – $77,396.80

Our Department recognizes and is committed to the importance of fostering a welcoming environment for all and maintains an enthusiasm for making the most of the opportunities to promote inclusivity in our Department, our academic field, and the broader community. Our Departmental goals are supported by the larger mission and strategic commitment to access and opportunity at the University of Mississippi and in the College of Liberal Arts.

The University of Mississippi embraces a meaningful and holistic commitment to complying with relevant laws and non-discrimination provisions, and in doing so, to advance access and fair treatment for all in a welcoming environment. The University of Mississippi is committed to embracing a collaborative, innovative, and inclusive community that does not discriminate, harass, or treat individuals differently based on their identities including on the basis of race, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or genetic information.

The University of Mississippi is an EOE/AA/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Title VI/Title VII/Title IX/504/ADA/ADEA employer.