Curator of the Tobin Theatre Arts Collection – McNay Art Museum, San Antonio
The McNay Art Museum seeks an accomplished curator to steward one of the world’s most distinctive collections at the intersection of fine art and theatrical design. The Curator of the Tobin Collection of Theatre Arts will lead all aspects of a singular collection spanning 500 years— collecting, cataloguing, exhibiting, and interpreting works that celebrate theatre artists as fine artists — while serving as a visible ambassador to San Antonio’s vibrant cultural community and to the broader national theatre and museum world.
About the McNay
Since its founding in 1954, the McNay Art Museum has engaged a diverse community in the discovery and enjoyment of the visual arts. Built in the late 1920s by artist, educator, and collector Marion Koogler McNay, the distinctive residence became the site of Texas’ first modern art museum when it opened on November 4, 1954. Marion Koogler McNay’s bequest of 700 works of art, her house, surrounding 25 acres, and an endowment to establish the museum launched an institution that has grown in every dimension since.
Today the McNay’s collection has expanded to well over 22,000 works, including Medieval and Renaissance art; 19th- through 21st-century European and American paintings, sculptures, and photographs; one of the finest collections of prints and drawings in the Southwest; the exceptional Tobin Collection of Theatre Arts; the Jeanne and Irving Mathews Collection of Art Glass; and art of New Mexico. In 2008, the McNay opened the 45,000-square-foot Jane and Arthur Stieren Center for Exhibitions, expanding the Museum’s special exhibitions program and allowing the permanent collection to be showcased without interruption.
The Museum annually organizes 10–12 exhibitions and presents two to three banner exhibitions, welcoming approximately 150,000 visitors each year. It hosts some 500 educational programs and maintains a thriving docent program engaging over 12,000 participants. Pieces from the collection have traveled the world in loans to distinguished international institutions including the Fondation Beyeler, the National Gallery of Canada, the National Gallery London, the Musée d’Orsay, and the Museo Thyssen Bornemisza.
The McNay’s current Strategic Plan (2025–2028) reflects an ambitious vision: to be San Antonio’s place of belonging, where the Museum’s expanding community is reflected in transformational art experiences. Strategic priorities include delivering outstanding and balanced artistic and educational programs, broadening community engagement and access, growing thought leadership locally and nationally, and investing in the talented staff who bring the mission to life.
Learn more about the McNay at https://www.mcnayart.org/.
The Tobin Collection of Theatre Arts
The Tobin Collection of Theatre Arts presents theatrical excellence from over the past 500 years through paintings, works on paper, maquettes, and sculptures, as well as rare books of European and American origin. The collection, which began as the life’s work of its namesake, the late San Antonio philanthropist Robert L. B. Tobin, is devoted to celebrating the work of theatre artists as fine artists. Theatrical designs and artworks from throughout the centuries comprise the collection, including works from Renaissance Italy to 19th-century opera houses to the celebrated work of contemporary Broadway set and costume designers.
The holdings span an extraordinary range of periods, geographies, and artistic voices. Rarely-seen scenic and costume designs highlight innovative collaborations between modern masterssuch as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Natalia Gontcharova, and Joan Miró alongside thought-provoking writers, musicians, directors, and choreographers of their day. The collection also includes Léon Bakst’s 1917 portrait of Vaslav Nijinsky as a Chinese Dancer in Les Orientales, Picasso’s scene design for Pulcinella (ca. 1920), and Matisse’s costume design for Rouge et Noir (1939). On the American side, Tony Walton — one of Broadway’s most prolific scenic and costume designers — is celebrated through works drawn from the collection. The collection also holds a beloved piece of cinema history: the maquettes used to make Tim Burton’s iconic 1993 stop-motion animated film The Nightmare Before Christmas, accessioned into the Tobin Collection in 1994 as a personal gift from Robert L. B. Tobin. Among these treasures are the painted metal bed, the Oogie Boogie Exposed figure, and a full set model of Jack Skellington and his dog Zero in Jack’s Tower.
The Tobin Collection of Theatre Arts allows the ephemeral works prepared for the stage for only a few nights to linger in the minds of art lovers for years to come. Housed in the McNay’s dedicated Tobin Wing — made possible by the Tobin family’s philanthropic legacy — the collection is supported by both the Tobin Endowment and the Tobin Theatre Arts Fund and is deeply woven into the civic and cultural identity of San Antonio.
Living in San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas is the 7th largest city in America and the largest Hispanic-majority city in the United States — a distinction that shapes a community defined by deep cultural roots, strong civic values, and a clear sense of belonging. Its rich history, anchored by the iconic River Walk and UNESCO World Heritage missions, coexists comfortably with modern growth and a forward-looking economy. A major military hub centered on Joint Base San Antonio as well as home to over 400 headquarters and major operations for global companies across financial services, energy, cybersecurity/tech, and healthcare, San Antonio has long attracted professionals and families who value a cosmopolitan city with economic stability and high quality of life. Residents consistently describe San Antonio as a place that feels like a big city without losing the warmth of a close-knit neighborhood.
The practical picture of living in San Antonio is equally encouraging. It is affordable and accessible; housing in particular offers exceptional value compared to other major Texas metros, with a wide range of neighborhoods to suit different lifestyles and budgets, and a choiceof top public, private, and charter schools. Beyond the practicalities, San Antonio offers a thriving arts and cultural scene, a culinary culture recognized by UNESCO as a City of Gastronomy, abundant outdoor recreation, and a packed calendar of events and festivals.
The Opportunity
The Curator of the Tobin Collection of Theatre Arts reports to the Head of Curatorial Affairs and is a key member of the McNay’s curatorial team, which also includes the Curator of Exhibitions, Curator of Collections/Collections Manager, Curator of Latinx Art, and an Assistant Curator of the Tobin Collection of Theatre Arts, who reports to this role. The position carries significant institutional visibility and plays a central role in sustaining the momentum of an active exhibition program — including an upcoming Theatre Arts exhibition currently scheduled for March–June 2027.
Responsibilities
• Collect, catalogue, and maintain the theatre arts collections, ensuring their long-term preservation, documentation, and accessibility.
• Develop and present exhibitions that bring the collection to life for broad and diverse audiences, drawing on the McNay’s 10–12 annual exhibitions and contributing to banner programming.
• Manage budget for the Tobin Collection and related exhibits, programs, and publications.
• Produce publications and educational programs that extend the collection’s reach and deepen public engagement with theatre arts as fine art.
• Make the collections available to researchers, scholars, peer institutions, and the public through loans, digital access, and programming partnerships.
• Serve as a key relationship manager for the Tobin Endowment and Tobin Theatre Arts Fund, cultivating ongoing connections with key stakeholders and funders.
• Represent the McNay within San Antonio’s active theatre and performing arts community, building and sustaining a robust network of institutional and individual relationships.
• Contribute to thought leadership locally, nationally, and internationally in the fields of theatre arts, design history, and museum practice.
• Advance the McNay’s strategic priorities, including community engagement, diversity and access, and the broadening of the visitor experience.
Candidate Profile
The following offers an aspirational view of the ideal candidate profile; we encourage applications from candidates with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds, especially those from underrepresented groups.
The ideal candidate brings genuine expertise in theatre arts or a closely related field, combined with the curatorial skill, interpersonal range, and institutional instincts to lead a high-profile collection at a growing regional museum with national reach.
Minimum qualifications include five or more years of curatorial experience in a museum or museum-adjacent institution, and a master’s degree in art history, museum studies, studio art, theater history, performance studies, drama, or humanities.
Core Competencies
Curatorial Expertise in Theatre Arts & DesignDeep knowledge of theatrical design history — spanning fine art, costume, set design, rare books, and works on paper — with the scholarly foundation to collect, interpret, and publish at a high level. Familiarity with the field from Renaissance Europe through contemporary Broadway is essential.
Exhibition Development & Program LeadershipDemonstrated ability to conceive, develop, and execute exhibitions and educational programs that engage diverse audiences. Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously in an active exhibition environment is critical given the pace of the McNay’s calendar.
Community Engagement & Relationship BuildingThe ability to operate as a visible, socially engaged ambassador — cultivating relationships with donors, funders, theatre artists, peer institutions, and community stakeholders. San Antonio has a large and active theatre scene, and this role requires genuine enthusiasm for that civic ecosystem.
Communication & ScholarshipExcellent writing and public speaking ability, with a track record of producing publications, lectures, or other scholarly contributions. Capacity to represent the collection credibly to both specialist and general audiences, locally and nationally.
Institutional Collaboration & Organizational AgilityThe ability to work effectively across a mid-sized museum — with curatorial colleagues, development, education, communications, and senior leadership — and to move with the urgency the collection’s active exhibition program demands. Experience managing budgets; navigating donor relationships tied to a named collection or endowment is a strong plus.
Compensation and Benefits
Salary is competitive in San Antonio, which boasts a modest cost of living and no state income tax, and is commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $75,000 – $80,000 with a generous benefits package.
Contact
DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Stephen Milbauer and Tenley Bank. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by https://talent-profile.dsgco.com/search/v2/23201. All inquiries are strictly confidential.
DSG | Koya is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NPSIpractice@dsgco.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
The McNay is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
About DSG | Koya
DSG | Koya, a DSG Global company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, DSG | Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. DSG | Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
DSG Global is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.
Learn more about DSG | Koya via the https://www.dsgco.com/industry/nonprofit-and-social-impact/.
To apply, visit: https://www.dsgco.com/search/23201-mcnay-curator-tobin-theatre-arts-collection/
je-f82126c1bf8d487eb9484dd907a9cfff
