Senior Curator

Art Omi; Town of Ghent (NY); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Partial health insurance reimbursement

Art Omi 403B retirement fund

Paid vacation and sick pay

Some remote work possible

Job summary

Art Omi seeks a Senior Curator to lead the Sculpture Park and Gallery Exhibitions Program, advancing a diverse and innovative contemporary art program with artists from around the world.

The role requires developing exhibitions, managing budgets, fundraising, and collaborating with the architecture curator and other departments to engage a broad public audience and sustain Art Omi’s international standing.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of curatorial experience or 3+ years in museum/nonprofit arts environments.
• Strong knowledge of contemporary art and international networks.
• Experience in exhibitions development, budgets, and fundraising.

Responsibilities

• Plan and develop a dynamic exhibitions program for Sculpture Park and New York gallery spaces.
• Lead curatorial team and collaborate across departments to engage broad audiences.
• Develop partnerships with artists, galleries, and institutions to broaden programming.

Skills

Curatorial leadership

Networking

Fundraising

Budgeting

Staff supervision

Communication

Education

MA or equivalent in art history/curatorial studies

Job description

Position Description Art Omi seeks a Senior Curator to lead the Sculpture Park and Gallery Exhibitions Program, advancing Art Omi’s longstanding commitment to presenting significant, innovative, and challenging contemporary art from emerging and established artists from around the world.

The Senior Curator will build upon and expand Art Omi’s recognized curatorial program while maintaining its vitality, ambition, and diversity. The position calls for a dynamic and forward-thinking curator with a strong knowledge of contemporary art, an expansive professional network, and the ability to develop exhibitions and programs that engage both the field and Art Omi’s broad public audience.

The Senior Curator will work collaboratively with the Senior Architecture Curator, with both positions supported by the Exhibitions Preparator and Curatorial Assistant.

The Senior Curator will initiate, develop, and manage exhibitions and related programs across approximately 90 acres of Sculpture Park exhibition grounds, as well as, in partnership with the Senior Architecture Curator, exhibitions in the Newmark Gallery, a 1,500-square-foot indoor exhibition space. Together, the Curatorial team will collaborate closely with other departments across the institution to promote learning and engagement, and create interpretive programs that offer meaningful points of connection for a broad spectrum of visitors.

The Senior Curator will play a central role in elevating and sustaining Art Omi’s reputation in the international contemporary art world. This includes building and leveraging relationships with artists, galleries, collectors, and peer institutions, as well as contributing leadership and scholarship in the field. The Senior Curator will help establish a strategic direction for the Sculpture Park and Gallery Exhibitions Program, identifying and supporting opportunities for new, diverse, and underrepresented voices to contribute to Art Omi’s programming.

Reporting to the Co-Executive Directors, the Senior Curator will play an important role in supporting institutional development, fundraising, communications, and marketing efforts, helping to articulate the significance and impact of Art Omi’s program to external audiences and stakeholders.

Major Areas of Responsibility

Curatorial Leadership & Exhibition Development

• Plan, develop, and implement an ambitious exhibition program that advances Art Omi’s mission, vision, and position within the contemporary art field.
• Demonstrate a commitment to expanding access to art for all and ensuring that curatorial initiatives align with Art Omi’s IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) values.
• Work closely with the Co-Executive Directors and the Curatorial team to develop and maintain a comprehensive three-to-five-year exhibition schedule, including the planning and commissioning of new works and projections for the deinstallation, relocation, or retirement of existing works.
• Oversee the maintenance, repair, and removal of works currently exhibited in the Sculpture Park.
• Initiate, research, and develop new exhibitions, including developing a program featuring guest curators and joint programs with other cultural and community organizations; supervise and support guest curators throughout exhibition proposal development, research, production, installation, and implementation.
• Identify and cultivate opportunities to commission new work and introduce artists and perspectives that expand the geographic, generational, cultural, and conceptual breadth of Art Omi’s program.
• With the Curatorial team, facilitate and manage all aspects of curatorial affairs, including exhibitions, commissions, loans, publications, and curatorial programs, keeping the Co-Executive Directors apprised of progress, challenges, and opportunities.
• Develop the annual exhibitions program budget in consultation with the Co-Executive Directors and Curatorial team members; establish project budgets, timelines, and priorities and ensure that projects are delivered on schedule and within budget.
• Collaborate with the Senior Architecture Curator to develop an integrated curatorial vision across Art Omi’s art and architecture programs while maintaining the distinct identity and expertise of each discipline.

Project Management & Administration

• Supervise the Exhibitions Preparator and Curatorial Assistant in project management, siting, production, fabrication, installation and deinstallation, maintenance, and exhibition logistics.
• Oversee and monitor contracts, loan agreements, artist agreements, and other administrative documents.
• Guide the development of agendas, reports, presentations, and other materials for curatorial meetings, board meetings, and institutional planning.
• Establish clear project workflows, responsibilities, timelines, and decision-making processes across the Curatorial department and relevant institutional teams.
• Identify and address logistical, financial, and operational challenges proactively.

Public Engagement, Partnerships & Development

• Initiate and develop new forms of artist and audience engagement, including talks, conversations, tours, workshops, performances, and other programs.
• Work closely with the Communications and Education departments on the development, implementation, and execution of interpretive texts, digital content, online publications, and other key initiatives related to the dissemination of curatorial content.
• Ensure that exhibitions are accompanied by thoughtful and accessible interpretive materials that deepen visitors’ engagement with the work, site, artists, and ideas presented.
• Serve as a public-facing representative of Art Omi, including moderating and participating in artist talks, panels, conversations, tours, openings, and other programs.
• Develop partnerships with leading art institutions, galleries, museums, sculpture parks, and community organizations that advance Art Omi’s curatorial and public programming goals.
• Contribute curatorial expertise and content to grant proposals, fundraising materials, donor presentations, cultivation events, and other development initiatives.

Institutional Collaboration & Team Leadership

• Communicate across departments to ensure that the Development and Communications teams have content for press releases, the website, social media, funding proposals, and other institutional materials.
• Manage hiring, training, coaching, and performance management for Curatorial staff.
• Oversee workload and priority-setting and determine professional development and resource needs within the Curatorial team.
• Build a culture of collaboration, mutual respect, accountability, and teamwork within the Curatorial department and across the institution.
• Actively mentor Curatorial staff and champion their professional development and growth while holding team members accountable for high standards of performance.

Qualifications

Candidates will demonstrate a commitment to Art Omi’s mission, working to advance its position within the field and an ability to advocate effectively for the organization and its goals in professional and social settings.

A successful candidate will have the following:

• An established network of artists, curators, galleries, collectors, and institutions, developed through five or more years of curatorial experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, with a record of compelling exhibitions, commissions, and/or publications in the field of contemporary art. Candidates with at least three years of experience in a museum, nonprofit arts organization, gallery, or related cultural environment, including direct experience organizing exhibitions and supervising a Curatorial team will also be considered.
• Meaningful knowledge of and connections within the international field of contemporary sculpture are strongly preferred, including relationships with artists, galleries, collectors, dealers, museums, and sculpture parks.
• Demonstrated success managing staff, with strong financial, budgeting, fundraising, and administrative skills.
• Exceptional written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• M.A. or equivalent professional experience in art history, curatorial studies, contemporary art, or a related field.
• Strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills, with the ability to establish productive relationships with a wide range of collaborators and stakeholders.
• Exceptional organizational skills, including the ability to oversee complex projects and schedules, maintain deadlines, manage multiple projects simultaneously, establish priorities, and work transparently within budgetary guidelines. Ability to think strategically, proactively, and creatively while solving problems in a fast-paced, evolving institutional environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and to balance long-term strategic thinking with hands‑on project management.
• Willingness and ability to travel to remain current in the contemporary art world, as well as represent Art Omi at professional meetings, exhibitions, openings, and events.
• A demonstrated commitment to Art Omi’s mission and an ability to advocate effectively for the organization, its artists, programs, and goals in professional and public settings.

Work Environment

What follows is a general description of expectations for the work environment. We are open to making modifications to support people of all abilities whenever feasible.

This position is 40 hours per week, with an opportunity to conduct some work remotely. Work takes place primarily indoors, encompassing typical professional office operations and equipment, with the exception of events, some of which take place offsite or outdoors in Art Omi’s Sculpture & Architecture Park. The candidate must be able to work some weekends and evenings onsite, or at offsite Art Omi related events.

Geographic accessibility and flexibility are important considerations in the selection process: Given the site-based nature of the position, preference will be given to candidates who live within reasonable proximity to Art Omi and can maintain a consistent presence on site. Candidates should be prepared for a schedule that includes substantial time on site and should anticipate that the position is not suited to a fully remote working arrangement.

Art Omi will also consider exceptional candidates based farther afield, including New York City, who are able to make frequent and regular visits to Art Omi and maintain a strong, ongoing presence at the institution.

Equal Opportunity

Art Omi provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. In addition to federal law requirements, Art Omi complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Compensation

• $75,000-$80,000, commensurate with experience
• Benefits: Partial health insurance reimbursement, Art Omi 403B retirement fund, paid vacation and sick pay.