Associate Curator

thecontemporaryaustin; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Contemporary Austin seeks an Associate Curator to advance the exhibition program and steward Laguna Gloria’s outdoor sculpture collection.

You will develop original and co-curated content, act as receiving curator for touring exhibitions, and lead project coordination from concept to publication. You will collaborate across departments, engage artists and donors, and contribute research for acquisitions and publications, while representing the museum publicly.

Qualifications

• MA in Art History or related field required.
• Minimum of 5 years curatorial experience within a museum or related contemporary arts organization.
• Demonstrated scholarly achievement including original research, exhibitions, talks and publications.
• Excellent writing and public speaking skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite; knowledge of SketchUp a plus.
• Spanish proficiency preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research and propose unique projects aligned with the museum's mission and values.
• Act as receiving curator for touring exhibitions and manage all aspects of assigned exhibitions.
• Coordinate with artists, gallerists, lenders, and vendors; manage related materials and contracts.
• Collaborate across Public Programs, Education, Development, and Marketing to promote exhibitions.
• Lead public tours and participate in fundraising activities; mentor junior colleagues.
• Contribute to acquisitions discussions and care of the Laguna Gloria collection.

Skills

5+ years curatorial experience

Excellent writing

Public speaking

Interpersonal communication

Collaboration

Mentoring

Bilingual Spanish (preferred)

Education

MA in Art History

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Outlook

Teams

Adobe Creative Suite

SketchUp

Teamwork

Job description

The Associate Curator works closely with the curatorial team to develop the exhibition program and

steward the museum’s collection of outdoor sculpture.

The individual will develop original and co-curated content, serve as receiving curator for touring

exhibitions, manage new commissions and site-specific interventions at Laguna Gloria, contribute to

collection-related projects, and support the editing, proofreading, and administrative work of the

Curatorial department. They will also represent the museum publicly as an outward-facing advocate,

participate in public speaking and community engagement, and support fundraising efforts and broader

institutional strategic initiatives.

This is a key role in the department, designed for a team player who is excited to contribute to The

Contemporary Austin’s commitment to connecting the local cultural community with the broader

international arts conversation. The role requires collaboration, dialogue, mutual mentorship, creativity,

original scholarship, and an alignment with The Contemporary Austin’s Mission, Vision & Values.

Responsibilities include:

• Conduct research and propose unique projects that are aligned with the museum’s mission, vision, and values and developed in conversation with the Deborah Dupré Head Curator & Director of Curatorial Affairs and the curatorial team. Act as a receiving curator on select projects and work collaboratively on co-curated exhibitions.
• Manage all aspects of assigned exhibitions, including project management, correspondence, planning, interdepartmental content, presentations, general administration, file maintenance, checklists, floor plans, budgets, contact lists, consultation on related public programming, coordination of related exhibition materials, publications, contracts, copyediting, assistance with tour proposals, and interfacing with external contractors.
• Participate in collaborative discussions with the curatorial team about the exhibition calendar and touring proposals (both internal and external).
• Work with the team on the stewardship of the collection and generation of original projects at Laguna Gloria. Actively contribute research to discussions regarding acquisitions and care of the collection; document and prepare promotional and interpretive materials on the museum’s collection.
• Interface regularly with artists, donors, and the general public. Foster and build relationships across the museum’s diverse constituents and stakeholders.
• Actively participate in the local Austin arts community and beyond including: conducting studio visits, attending and participating in public programming and events, traveling for research and development, and staying abreast of national and international artists and critical dialogues in the field.
• Serve as an outward-facing advocate for The Contemporary Austin and the Austin art scene writ large.
• Coordinate and correspond with artists, gallerists, lenders, art institutions, and vendors.
• Collaborate with Public Programs, Education, Development, and Marketing & Communications staff to develop and edit materials to promote, publicize, and interpret exhibitions and related public programs to a variety of audiences to promote knowledge and discovery of the museum’s exhibition projects.
• Assist with gathering and writing exhibition-related information pertinent to grant applications, final reports, and other institutional needs.
• Participate in the budgeting process, manage expenses, and monitor budgets for related projects.
• Publications management.
• Perform administrative tasks in the department as needed, such as budget reforecasting, file maintenance, and carbon tracking.
• Prepare departmental presentations on an ongoing basis, updating images and content.
• Lead public tours.
• Support development and fundraising activities.
• Mentor junior colleagues.

Preferred Qualifications and Skillsets:

• MA in Art History or related field required
• Minimum of 5 years curatorial experience within a museum or related contemporary arts organization. Additional experience in non-curatorial roles within an arts context is a plus.
• Demonstrated scholarly achievement, including evidence of original research, exhibitions, public talks, and publishing.
• Excellent writing and public speaking skills.
• Expertise in late-th and 21st century art
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills with museum colleagues and externally with artists, gallerists, lenders, art institutions, vendors, and the general public
• Demonstrated passion for the role of contemporary art in contemporary society and discourse.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Knowledge of SketchUp, and Teamwork is a plus.
• Ability to maintain precise and careful records, high level of accuracy, organization, and attention to detail.
• High level of discretion and diplomacy
• Collaborative, committed to mutual mentorship, and invested in representing diverse perspectives
• Ability to multi-task
• Strong communication skills and responds well to feedback.
• Proficiency with Spanish preferred

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged time sitting and computer use
• Availability on select weeknights and weekends
• Comfort with public speaking

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities,

duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and

activities may change at any time with or without notice.Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform theseessential functions.