Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Academic Engagement – Princeton University Art Museum

The Princeton University Art Museum seeks to fill the position of Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Academic Engagement, who is charged with integrating the Museum into the University curriculum and academic environment, and with developing strategies and opportunities for engagement and interpretation in the galleries and across multiple platforms. Reporting to and working closely with the Associate Director for Education, they collaborate with curators, faculty, students, and guest scholars to develop and present new research and new interpretive approaches to the University community in impactful ways.

The Curator plays a leadership role in shaping pedagogy for object-based teaching on campus, staying abreast of current work in the field and organizing faculty training sessions. They work with campus colleagues to encourage teaching across campus collections, including the Museum’s own holdings and the rich resources of the Princeton libraries. They cultivate partnerships with and serve as a principal liaison to other University departments and programs, to individual faculty members, and organize public programs such as faculty panels that bring research to diverse audiences.

To bring the Museum’s collections to the heart of the University curriculum, the Curator regularly teaches individual course visits to the Museum, working with faculty to develop lesson plans. They occasionally teach freshman seminars and/or upper-level undergraduate courses. The Curator solicits proposals campus-wide for innovative new courses that make deep use of the Museum collections, making grants to faculty that foster interdisciplinary engagement. With the Curator for Academic Programs, the Curator facilitates faculty research of the collections in support of teaching and research, and works with curators, registrars, art handlers, and others to support class visits to the Museum.

Working closely with the Museum’s associate directors, chief curator, and curators, the Curator coordinates collections engagement projects, synchronizing and facilitating multiple vantage points to create intellectually rich yet accessible interpretive approaches built around the Museum’s robust collections. The Curator convenes and leads working groups that bring cross-departmental perspectives to bear on original interpretation, engaging a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate students, encouraging exploration, and fostering connections across disciplines. The Curator shapes interpretive strategies for exhibitions and collections installations, collaborating with curators, editors, and faculty to envision and develop gallery didactics in print and digital forms. The Curator participates in curatorial planning for the new Museum facility currently being designed by Sir David Adjaye to ensure that a wide range of installation and interpretive approaches are considered and deployed.

The Curator supervises the Curator of Academic Programs, assisting the latter with faculty research of the collections and support and expansion of their curricular work; training of Student Guides; and management of the Museum’s summer and academic year internship programs.

Qualifications

This position requires a Ph.D. in art history or a related field, 5-7 years experience in museum work and/or appropriate experience in higher education, superb verbal and written communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, cross-cultural competence, professionalism, and a demonstrated ability to work individually and in a team environment.

Supervisory experience and experience developing cross platform interpretive materials in a museum setting is preferred.

To learn more about the Art Museum, please visit http://artmuseum.princeton.edu.

Interested candidates should apply at Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Academic Engagement and submit a cover letter, CV, and contact information for at least 3 references.

This position is subject to the University’s background check policy.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.  EEO IS THE LAW

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