Visiting Curator – Wriston Art Galleries

Position Description & Qualifications

Reports To: Associate Provost

Location: Wriston Art Gallery, Appleton WI

Primary Objective:

Lawrence University of Wisconsin, a selective undergraduate liberal arts college and conservatory of music, seeks a Visiting Curator of the Wriston Art Galleries. This position is full-time faculty appointment with a two-year, renewable contract. The Visting Curator will oversee a collection of around 6,000 objects, three interconnected gallery spaces totaling 2,500 square feet, the print study room, and an annual budget and endowed funds to support exhibitions, programming, and collections.

The ideal candidate will curate and implement an engaging slate of exhibitions and programs each term and steward the collection to meet the evolving, interdisciplinary needs of our diverse community of students, instructors, and scholars. This person will be knowledgeable about ethics and best practices in museums and adhere to the American Alliance of Museum’s Core Standards. They will also work closely with the Collections and Gallery Assistant and undergraduate interns and teach an introductory level museum studies course. The ability to collaborate, communicate, foster a culture of inclusivity and excellence, and advance Lawrence University’s educational mission are also key qualities.

Job Responsibilities:

• Curate and coordinate rotating exhibitions, an installation of the collection, and the annual Senior Art Show, including research, logistics, budget, publicity, and related programming.
• Develop and steward a diverse collection of around 6,000 objects spanning from antiquity to the present to support the University’s diverse community and educational mission.
• Engage faculty across divisions and departments to integrate exhibitions and collections into their curricula.
• Teach one course in museum studies and supervise student internship credits.
• Support the Collections and Gallery Assistant in collections management projects.
• Communicate with the Gallery Committee about exhibition schedules, proposed acquisitions, collections management projects, and other initiatives.
• Assess potential donations to the collection and process gift acknowledgment paperwork.
• Support the hiring, training, and supervision of around 15 student gallery workers.
• Perform the above responsibilities with a commitment to forwarding Lawrence’s core values.

Required Qualifications:

Minimum qualifications include a Master’s degree in art history, museum studies, or a related field, experience curating engaging art exhibitions, and experience teaching in a higher education setting.

The successful candidate will also possess the following qualities:

• Experience working with art collections.
• Effective communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent research and writing skills.
• A demonstrated commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, belongingness, and antiracism in museums, higher education, and beyond.

Applicants should apply online at https://lawrence.peopleadmin.com and submit the following application materials: a cover letter, a resume/CV, and the names and contact information for three professional references. To ensure full consideration, all materials should be submitted by May 1, 2025.

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