Title: Exhibitions Manager
Reports To: Director
Hours: Full-time, exempt salaried position; work on some evenings and weekends will be required.
Application Deadline: Applications being accepted immediately with interviews to commence beginning mid-March, 2017.
This is a permanent, salaried position, responsible for the
management of Northern Clay Center’s exhibition program. The Exhibitions
Manager reports to the Director and supports other NCC activities as
requested. This position is responsible for planning, organizing, and
installing eight to ten exhibitions each year in two gallery spaces at
NCC. Exhibitions include a range of work by regional and national
artists, one of which travels to an additional 3 – 5 venues around the
state each year. The Exhibitions Manager jointly manages, with the Sales
Gallery Manager, the installation of the American Pottery Festival and the annual Holiday Exhibition.
The Exhibitions Manager also works closely with the Sales Gallery
Manager to ensure NCC’s presence at the annual NCECA conference.
Additionally, this position oversees the work of a part-time program
assistant, whose primary responsibilities include assisting with
installation and de-installation, shipping, and general administration.
Finally, this position is a member of NCC’s senior team, which helps to
support all general operations of the Center, in addition to
exhibition-specific duties.
Major Responsibilities
Plan and curate, with the Director and the Exhibition Committee, the
annual schedule of exhibitions, both on-site and elsewhere as special
opportunities arise. This includes, but is not limited to the following
tasks related to each exhibition:
- Designing, installing, and deconstructing each exhibition
- Packing and unpacking of artwork
- Managing of inventory and registration of incoming artwork
- Maintaining integrity of exhibition galleries (painting, lighting, etc.)
- Managing special display construction
- Production of labels, price lists, other exhibition signage, and didactic material
- Arranging for documentation of each exhibition
- Coordinating catalog production (an average of 3 – 4 catalogues annually)
- Ensuring exhibition wares are photographed and listed for sale on
NCC’s website in a timely fashion following the exhibition opening
Additional administrative duties include:
- Corresponding with artists, dealers and collectors, and other institutions to obtain work
- Sending and maintaining letters of agreement, contracts, loan forms, condition reports, insurance, renewal, filings, and records
- Arranging for transportation of works for exhibitions, including
coordinating storage of shipping crates and materials, preparing
outgoing work for shipping, and packing and unpacking artwork - Ensuring artists receive payment (their commission) for sold exhibition works
- Preparing, with advisement from Director, annual budget for program, and working within constraints of that budget
- Assisting Director in fundraising for the exhibitions program
- Coordinating and preparing for Exhibition Committee meetings, including scheduling and planning, and preparing minutes
- Preparing galleries for exhibition openings, including refreshment
set-up and clean-up with assistance from Sales Gallery and Special
Events Manager, as well as representing the Center at exhibition
openings and exhibition-related workshops and lectures. - Overseeing work of Exhibitions Program Assistant
Work with NCC’s Exhibitions Committee:
- To review and present RFPs for the Emily Galusha Gallery
- To secure a roster of exhibitions that showcases the full spectrum of ceramic art
- To enable the exhibitions program to serve as an educational tool,
introducing the viewer to the range of possibilities within the
medium—from historical pots to contemporary studio ceramics, from
decorative vessels to unfired clay installations, from thematic
multi-person shows to emerging artists
Plan and implement annual tour of McKnight Artists Exhibition (to up to four venues in greater Minnesota):
- Solicit and contract interested venues; communicate schedule and related necessary details
- Collaborate with artists on selection of artworks from exhibition to tour
- Coordinate design and distribution of show card
- Coordinate delivery to and retrieval of artwork from sites; coordinate return shipping of artwork to artists
- Work with Director of Learning and Engagement to design program content in conjunction with traveling exhibition.
Work with Digital and Marketing Manager to ensure appropriate exhibition publicity, including:
- Gathering information (resumes, check lists, artists’ statements, images)
- Writing newsletter text and exhibition postcard copy
- Coordinating exhibition invitation design/print/mailing timeline and execution
- Supplying Digital and Marketing Manager with social media and website content
Assist with the management and implementation of the installation of the American Pottery Festival and Holiday Exhibition, including:
- Assist in provision of storage of work
- Assist in design of exhibition and installation of wares for APF
- Assist with packing and shipping of unsold work after APF (including APF work left after the Holiday Exhibition)
Work with Director of Learning and Engagement to plan and
coordinate artist workshops, residencies, and lectures in conjunction
with exhibitions.
Other tasks as assigned.
SALARY AND BENEFITS AND QUALIFICATIONS
This is a permanent, full-time salaried exempt position. Salary is
commensurate with experience, and qualifications, performance, and NCC
budget. Benefits include vacation and sick time and a benefits
allowance, along with a 403(b).
Applicants should have a strong knowledge of and experience in a
gallery or museum. The ideal applicant should have at least a Bachelor
of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts degree; a Masters degree is preferred,
with a focus in ceramics. A minimum of five years of management and
administrative experience is recommended; excellent written, oral
communication, and people skills are a must. Proficiency with
Macintosh-based programs (Microsoft Office) is required; proficiency
with database, online sales, and point of sale software is preferred.
Applicants must have demonstrated ability to work well with artists,
collectors, gallerists, staff and volunteers. Applicants must be able to
lift and move substantial weight for the exhibition installation
portion of this position. Additionally, this position requires a
flexible schedule and strong time management skills.
To apply:
Please send a cover letter describing your interests and experience, a
résumé, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three
professional references to: Sarah Millfelt, Director, at
[email protected].
Northern Clay Center is an equal opportunity employer.
