Head of the Gallery

JOB POSTING: Head of the Gallery Laboratory Project

The Gallery at the Bard Graduate Center: Decorative Arts, Design History, Material Culture is expanding its established exhibition program to include a second area called the Laboratory Project that is devoted to experimentation and innovation in all aspects of exhibition practice, particularly display and interpretation. This project seeks to re-define the identity of the curator by integrating exhibition practice in the academic life of the Center and academic investigation in the practice of the Gallery. The idea of a laboratory implies openness to thinking in new ways about the gallery as a space for faculty and students to engage in exhibitions as an intellectual endeavor and as a craft.

The Head of the Gallery Laboratory Project will have three primary responsibilities devoted to realizing these goals. The first is to coordinate the newly established Focus Exhibitions that are curated by faculty and derive from seminars taught at the Center. The second is to be responsible for realizing the student-participation exhibitions organized by the BGC in collaboration with museums in the New York City area. The third is to be part of a team developing a new informal gallery-based curriculum intended to teach students about conceptualization, implementation and interpretation of exhibitions. In addition, this position will be responsible for organizing programs for the Laboratory Project exhibitions.

Qualifications: • No less than five years of museum or gallery experience coordinating exhibitions with knowledge of public and private collections• Experience teaching at the graduate level• Terminal degree in history of decorative arts, design history, material culture, art history; Ph.D. preferred• Knowledge of museum interpretation including writing text panels and exhibition labels• Experience working with innovative approaches to display and developing new approaches to curating exhibitions examining the decorative arts, design history, and material culture• Excellent writing skills• Experience with budget oversight• Must be a team player with excellent interpersonal skills

This position reports to the Chief Curator and Executive Editor Gallery Publications. This is an administrative position that will join the Gallery staff currently comprised of the Administrator, Curatorial Projects; Assistant Curator; Exhibition Designer; Registrar; Digital Technology Designer; Head of Education; Gallery Outreach Educator; Gallery Program Coordinator; Catalogue Photography Coordinator; and two Curatorial Fellows.

Please send letter of interest, including salary requirements, curriculum vitae, and a list of three referees to: HGLsearch@bgc.bard.edu. AA/EOEFor more Information on the Bard Graduate Center: http://www.bgc.bard.edu/