ASSISTANT CURATOR OF ENGAGEMENT – Sheldon Museum of Art, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The Sheldon Museum of Art seeks a creative and versatile Assistant Curator of Engagement to work collaboratively as part of the museum’s Engagement Department in developing and implementing innovative pedagogical and philosophical approaches to teaching from original works of art for diverse
audiences of all ages.

The ideal candidate will be a team-player who is prepared to both assist with and take ownership of various engagement activities and programs. Primarily responsible for managing Sheldon’s K-12 education and outreach initiatives, the Assistant Curator of Engagement coordinates the long-standing Lincoln Public Schools (LPS) tour program inclusive of docent-educator recruitment, training, and evaluation, and liaising with LPS stakeholders. Additional responsibilities include, but are not limited to, teaching and preparing multimodal curriculum and learning activities; co-organizing and supporting Sheldon’s annual exhibition and outreach program, Sheldon Statewide; collecting and assessing data; supporting general operations of the Engagement Department; and contributing to museum-wide activities from social media to events. Reporting to the Curator of Academic Engagement, this position also supports Sheldon’s engagement initiatives in accordance with the museum’s mission and 2020–2025 strategic plan, which are increasingly emphasizing the University of Nebraska campus community.

Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in education, art history, or related field with two (2) years of experience in a museum or equivalent institutional experience in curatorial or educational capacity (inclusive of internships); equivalent education/experience considered. Exceptional organizational, event, and project management skills with the ability to nimbly prioritize and execute short-term and long-term projects. Ability to manage and inspire multigenerational volunteers. Familiarity with modern and contemporary art as well as with current museum policies and practices, critical pedagogy, and multicultural education. Excellent writing and communication skills—including public speaking—for multiple audiences. Demonstrated ability to manage challenges and opportunities in unconventional, creative, and mission-focused way.

Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree in education, art history, or museum studies with emphasis on museum education with three (3) years of museum or institutional experience in curatorial or educational capacity. Demonstrated experience with curriculum development, preparing lesson plans, and evaluating student learning across multiple disciplines and methodologies (that is, outside the “arts”). Familiarity with strategies and tools for online engagement as well as the use of technology for interpretation, learning, and outreach.

Salary: $36,000 + relocation stipend 

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln offers employees an extensive benefits package that includes health, life, disability, and long term care insurance; retirement accounts; tuition remission for employees and their spouses and dependent children; and reimbursement accounts for health care and dependent day care. Leave policies are designed to help employees deal with personal or family events or crises. More information can be found at https://nebraska.edu/faculty-and-staff/health-benefits

About Sheldon Museum of Art, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and Lincoln, NE: Located on the campus of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and abutting downtown Lincoln, Sheldon Museum of Art is one of the nation’s leading university art museums. Housed in a landmark building designed by Philip Johnson, the museum welcomes over 60,000 guests annually. With a collection of almost 13,000 works, Sheldon has strengths in American Modernism, post-WWII abstraction, photography, and outdoor sculptures and is actively expanding its collection with a robust acquisitions program. The museum’s exhibition calendar aligns with the university’ academic calendar, with three to six new exhibitions each season.

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is the flagship campus of the University of Nebraska system. As an R1, Big 10 university, Nebraska is a research-intensive institution committed to providing world-class education to a population of 25,000 undergrdaute and graduate students in nine academic colleges and over 150 fields of study. Founded in 1869, the land-grant university is committed to being a twenty-first-century institution where research and creativity transforms lives and learning, every person and every interaction matters, and engagement builds communities. 

As the capital city of the state of Nebraska, Lincoln is a vibrant and safe city with a population of almost 300,000. Close to Omaha and Kansas City, Lincoln has a rich culture of visual and performing arts, along with a strong park system that includes an extensive bike trail network of over 134 miles of paths. The city also has an affordable cost of living, an excellent public school system, and a flourishing business community, with a growing technology sector. For more about Lincoln, please visit https://www.unl.edu/lincoln/about-lincoln

Criminal background check will be conducted. Applicant review begins March 1, 2021. View posting at https://employment.unl.edu/postings/71463 for details and to apply. UNL is committed to a pluralistic campus community through affirmative action, equal opportunity, work-life balance, and dual careers. 

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