Curator of Japanese and Korean Art
Seattle Art Museum
- Seattle, WA
- $86,915-130,375 per year
- Training
- Full-time
- Develop acquisition strategic plan; actively seek out and identify works and assist with fundraising for acquisitions. Cultivate collectors for possible gifts. Present potential acquisitions to Committee on Collections. Keep abreast of market availability and prices. Compile records for cataloguing and object identification.
- Oversee and ensure professional care of permanent collection and loans with Registrar and Conservation Department; work with Conservation to identify conservation needs and treatment; work with Conservation and Museum Services to establish priorities for framing, mounting, and storage. Provide values for insurance purposes. Serve as a courier when appropriate. Identify objects for deaccessioning and manage the deaccessioning process.
- Oversee installations: choose appropriate themes; prepare and manage budget; identify loans from collections to augment permanent collection display; work with design team to prepare layouts and during installation.
- Write for in-gallery needs at level required for a range of audiences, including text panels, exhibition labels, gallery guides, etc. Share and present materials with Education, docents, and volunteers.
- Work closely with collectors, sharing expertise and encouraging high level of collecting.
- Maintain contacts with visual arts institutions. Participate in regional, national, and international professional activities as appropriate.
- Increase the level of community awareness, interest, and appreciation for art and the Museum.
- Working with Development, assist fundraising efforts of the Museum in support of artistic program. Provide themes and text for grant reports; consult with experts in the field as advisors or contributors to grant projects. Establish long-term relationships with patrons; serve as primary contact when approaching patrons for support.
- Collaborate with the University of Washington faculty advisory group to develop lectures and other programs for the Museum’s Gardner Center for Art and Ideas.
- Co-supervise SAAM departmental assistant. Select and supervise candidates for the Frances Blakemore & Griffith Way Internship for Japanese and Korean art.
- Create and manage departmental and exhibition budgets; help obtain funding, assist in writing proposal texts and reports for grants.
- Attend, participate in, and lead relevant meetings.
- Work with the Board of Trustees and outside organizations as required.
- Conform to the code of ethics governing the museum profession. Adhere to Museum policies and support management decisions in a positive and professional manner.
- Represent the Museum with a high level of integrity and professionalism.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Minimum four years of relevant museum experience required.
- First-hand experience judging the authenticity and artistic value, and overseeing the care and preservation, of Japanese and Korean paintings, calligraphy, sculpture, ceramics, lacquerware, and decorative arts from the prehistoric age to the 21st century; and conceiving, organizing, and producing exhibitions.
- Knowledge of selection, intrinsic and market value, conservation, and exhibition of works of art, and of museum ethics and the legal regulations governing collecting.
- Knowledge of Japanese/Korean art and cultural history and languages.
- Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills; ability to communicate effectively and project a professional image when giving and taking information in writing, in person, and over the phone and Zoom.
- Demonstrated proficiency and accuracy using MS Office products, including Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, and other software programs such as The Museum System (TMS).
- Ability to take initiative and prioritize tasks; excellent time-management, problem-prevention, and problem-solving skills.
- Organizational ability with strong management and supervisory skills.
- Ability to work with close attention to detail and to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
- Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with Board members, key donors, executives, management, colleagues, and the public