Job Title: Abert Family Curator of American Art (full or Associate Curator depending on qualifications)

Job: Full-time, salaried

Supervisor: Chief Curator

General Purpose: The Abert Family Curator of American Art manages a significant part of the Museum’s Collection and has a broad knowledge of American art from the seventeenth century through the mid-twentieth century along with a progressive and creative approach to collection installation.

Education/Experience Requirements: A minimum of five to seven years of experience as a Curator of American Art. Broad knowledge of American painting, sculptures, prints & drawings, and decorative arts from the Colonial Era through World War II. Familiarity with the Museum’s major American collections, such as The Ashcan School and The Eight, Arts and Crafts and Prairie School movements, preferred. 

Master’s degree in art history or related field; Ph.D. preferred.

License or Certification Requirements:

Duties and Responsibilities

•  Originate major exhibitions accompanied by scholarly publications and public programs.
•  Guide acquisitions.
•  Reinterpret works in the American collections to include underrepresented narratives and diverse perspectives
•  Assess conservation needs and priorities, including reframing, with the Conservation Department.
•  Maintain key partner relationships and work closely with multiple constituencies that support American Art at the Museum, including the Chipstone Foundation, a Milwaukee-based non-profit with an important collection of American and British decorative arts, and the Layton Art Collection, a group of paintings and decorative arts housed at the Milwaukee Art Museum. 
•  Work with donors and collectors to build support for the growth of the Collection and the Museum.
•  Provide curatorial leadership for the American Arts Society, a volunteer institutional support group, to develop a program of activities (lectures, trips, and special events) and secure acquisitions.
•  Supervise and mentor the Assistant Curator of American Art

Physical Requirements:

•  Sit up to six hours per day
•  Stand up to three hours per day
•  Move about museum on demand
•  Talk and hear 
•  Close vision
•  Color vision
•  Ability to adjust focus 
•  Walk about the museum and campus offices

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Temperament:

Excellent interpersonal skills, systematic, meticulous, patient, self-starter and works well under pressure. Manages time efficiently, analyzes and solves problems independently and if necessary, collaboratively. Ability to be flexible and embrace changes within this position due to departmental priorities. Ability to work with a wide variety of people to achieve the goals of the Museum.

DEAI Statement:

The Milwaukee Art Museum is an equal opportunity employer. The Museum recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and other protected status as required by applicable law.

We are committed to recruiting, developing, compensating, and retaining professional staff that reflect our community. We aspire to be a diverse workplace where talented people want to come, stay, and do their best work. 

We stand committed to the work ahead, informed by our community, which we will support with our best thinking, our deepest empathy, and the courage to embody the convictions shared in our Strategic Direction.