The curator will oversee an outstanding permanent collection of approximately 5,425 works of art dating from antiquity to 1900, the major part of them paintings, sculptures and works on paper from the medieval period through the 19th century. Responsibilities include developing in-house and traveling exhibitions in close collaboration with curatorial colleagues and the director; participating in collection- and exhibition-related programming for campus and public audiences; carrying out original research and publishing on the collection; identifying acquisitions through purchase and gift; teaching with the collection for Oberlin College classes and for other groups; expanding physical and electronic access to collections; working closely with museum staff and Oberlin College development staff to cultivate a broad donor base; preparing a long-range plan for pre-1900 holdings; monitoring and making recommendations for care of the collection; and other duties as assigned. Active participation in identifying and writing grant proposals is critical.

The AMAM’s collection of European and American pre-1900 art serves nearly all Oberlin College departments in the Arts and Sciences and the Conservatory of Music, including Africana studies, art, art history, biology, chemistry, cinema studies, comparative American studies, comparative literature, environmental studies, foreign languages and literatures, history, Latin American studies, mathematics, music and historical performance, politics, and religion, among others. The Curator will be actively involved in conceptualizing and initiating teaching exhibitions, mentoring students, and supervising student curatorial assistants.

A Ph.D. in art history is preferred (ABD required), with at least 4 years of museum experience, demonstrated knowledge of the exhibition process, a record of publication and public speaking, and some teaching experience. The position requires broad knowledge of art history, particularly from the Renaissance through the 19th century, and proficiency in at least one European language (fluency preferred), as well as excellent communication and effective leadership and interpersonal skills. As an important liaison between the museum and faculty, students, donors, and supporters, the successful candidate must be an outstanding collaborator with highly-developed administrative and organizational capabilities and a deep commitment to a contextual, cross-disciplinary approach to original works of art.