Assistant or Associate Curator

Assistant or Associate Curator, Krasl Art Center 

Krasl Art Center (KAC) is an accredited art museum, regional arts center, and public arts advocate located in St. Joseph, Michigan. It opened its doors in 1980 and is situated atop a scenic bluff overlooking the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. KAC displays dynamic indoor art exhibitions and new artist projects, as well as outdoor artist commissions and installations. It offers robust studio art programs and community arts education, a gift shop with one-of-a-kind artist-made items, and year-round programs and events in the arts.

In 2023, the American sculptor Richard Hunt gifted his Benton Harbor Studio to KAC. The studio is in the pre-design phase of development. Both sites offer unique opportunities to serve the local community, employ local artists, and showcase art from across the nation. Significant community collaborations and partnerships deepen this work. In these ways, KAC embraces its mission to inspire meaningful change and strengthen community through the visual arts and persistently seeks to live its values and beliefs.

Position Summary 

The Assistant/Associate Curator is a critical role within the organization that is responsible for managing, developing, and presenting exhibitions, collections, and related adult non-studio programs. This is a highly collaborative, team-based and community-centric curatorial role with an emphasis on contemporary art, public art, and sculpture.

KAC features a broad range of thematic, group, and solo exhibitions in its 2,500 sq ft of galleries, with the philosophy of sharing outstanding and relevant art with our community that it would otherwise have to travel elsewhere to experience. Exhibitions include projects developed in-house, shows by guest curators, traveling exhibitions, and new artist experiments. Additional mini-exhibits and interpretation may be found throughout the building. KAC’s permanent collection of public art and sculpture is placed outdoors on its grounds, and throughout the cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, largely in city and county parks and along waterfronts.

The ideal candidate will be comfortable working with a general public and local  community as well as artists, curators, and museum professionals. They will have diverse professional relationships, enjoy the pace and variety of a small museum, and be an effective team player.

The Assistant/Associate Curator reports to the Executive Director & Chief Curator. It is the latter’s role to shape the museum’s collection and lead select curatorial initiatives. Together, the two positions ensure the curatorial success of the organization.

Essential Functions

Exhibitions

• Develop annual roster of exhibitions including thematic, solo and group shows in The Galleries, and new artist projects in The Lab
• Cultivate and manage the Exhibitions Committee, using it as a resource for feedback and advisement on potential  exhibitions, artists, and curatorial proposals
• Oversee outdoor sculpture and public art placements on KAC’s grounds and throughout the cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, working with city, county, and arts and culture stakeholders to identify and maintain sites, and coordinating installations
• Comprehensively manage logistics related to exhibitions, including artist contracts and communications, shipping, condition reports, installation, and gallery climate.
• Train staff and guest services volunteers on exhibition content and artwork safety procedures

Collections Management

• Implement and adhere to the goals of KAC’s Collection Plan
• Maintain KAC’s Collection Records, Facility Report, Gallery Condition Reports, and Fine Art Insurance Policy
• Provide annual condition reporting and conservation priorities to the Executive Director and Board of Directors

Adult Non-Studio Programs & Interpretation

• Develop dynamic exhibition and collection based programs for adult learners, determining program frequency and format, and working collaboratively with community partners, artists, professionals, and scholars to ensure relevance and engagement
• Collaboratively develop effective marketing and foster program engagement with the Marketing Manager
• Collaborate with Education and Events to coordinate program components during exhibition openings, community events, and education programs.
• Create welcoming, accessible, and relevant interpretation content – physical and digital – for temporary exhibitions, KAC building and campus, and community-wide public art collection
• Lead the KAC’s volunteer docent program, serving as the face of the program, recruiting, motivating, and inspiring participation. This includes engaging docents with art, and creating a friendly and fun atmosphere of lifelong learning, as well as developing trainings and lesson plans and coordinating tours with support from the Education team
• Facilitate evaluation of exhibitions and programs

Requirements

• 3 – 5 years of curatorial or related experience within an art museum or gallery that includes completed curatorial projects
• Familiarity with best practices in collections management and object-based learning
• Exceptional written and verbal communications and public speaking skills
• Consistent ability to build positive relationships and work collaboratively
• Professional network of contemporary artists and art museums
• Strong organizational skills
• Attention to detail
• Ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously

Comprehensive Benefits Package