Manager of Gallery and Outreach Sought by NKU School of the Arts

Working Title NKU_SOTA logoManager of Gallery and Outreach
Department School of the Arts
Work Schedule M-F 8:30 – 4:30. Weekends and evenings as required.
Hours per Week 37.5
Months per Year 12
Commitment to Inclusive Excellence Northern Kentucky University (NKU) seeks excellence by enriching its educational environment and culture through the diversity of its administration, faculty, and staff and by embracing inclusiveness, equity, and global awareness in all dimensions of its work. NKU is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access/Affirmative Action institution. We encourage applications by members of diverse groups and by persons with a demonstrated commitment to issues of diversity and experience in achieving goals relative to inclusive excellence. Our vision is that NKU will be nationally recognized for being a student-ready, regionally engaged university that empowers diverse learners for economic and social mobility. We will do this while promoting a culture of excellence, acting with integrity, fostering a community of belonging, working with creativity and innovation, and maintaining a climate of collegiality. In your role, you will be expected to ensure that students who interact with you have a high-quality experience that supports the vision of the institution.
Purpose of Position Northern Kentucky University is seeking a Manager of Galleries and Outreach. The Art & Design Program in the School of the Arts (SOTA) at Northern Kentucky University invites applications for a full-time staff position directing galleries and outreach for Art & Design, beginning January 2024. The Manager of Galleries and Outreach provides curatorial leadership, management, and outreach of the gallery spaces and operations at Northern Kentucky University. Current spaces include two main Art Galleries as well as the SOTA Community Outreach Atrium. Operations in these spaces serve as an important outreach to the community, valuable educational opportunities for the campus, and vital instruction for the Art & Design program.This position is the primary public relations presence of the Art & Design Program at the University and in the community. The Manager of Galleries and Outreach provides an innovative consultative role to the Art & Design Program Head and the School of the Arts Director/Associate Director with a focus on the Art & Design Program growth strategy through student success, career & community engagement, and entrepreneurship & innovation. The role also includes exhibition-related curricula, teaching the BFA Senior Exhibition and Gallery Internship courses, management of the University’s permanent art collection, and installation of artwork across campus.

The Art & Design, Music, and Theatre & Dance programs make up the School of the Arts that sit in the College of Arts and Sciences at Northern Kentucky University. The Art & Design Program offers an innovative and engaging opportunity for aspiring artists and designers who seek professional training in the arts. The Art & Design Program has 19 full-time faculty and 5 full-time staff that embrace a comprehensive hands-on approach to working with materials and techniques while developing critical thinking skills related to the various art disciplines and studio training. The NKU Art Galleries serve as a premier venue for the exhibition of high-quality artworks from regional, national, and international artists as well as a creative forum for students, the campus community, and the region.

Established in 1968, NKU is a 15,000-student, nationally recognized, growing metropolitan university located seven miles from downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Greater Cincinnati has one of the most vibrant and multifaceted cultural scenes in the Midwest, with the Cincinnati Art Museum, Contemporary Arts Center, 21c Museum Hotel, and a plethora of galleries such as The Weston, Carl Solway, and Manifest Gallery. Cincinnati offers an outstanding quality of life, a dynamic arts community, and an affordable cost of living. NKU is committed to active engagement with the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati region of over two million people. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates, but especially from individuals who contribute to the diversity of our academic community.

Primary Responsibilities
  • Management of planning, organization, installation, and publicity for gallery exhibitions in NKU Art Galleries and SOTA Community Showcase Atrium. Work with internal and external stakeholders for events and promotion of the arts on campus and in the region.
  • Work with the Art & Design Program Head and Art & Design Faculty in support of Art & Design academic unit/departmental/program goals, and student success. The primary of which is to organize, plan, and install BFA senior exhibitions in the fall and spring semesters and the Annual Juried Student Exhibition. Participation in relevant Art & Design faculty and staff meetings and planning meetings with the Art & Design Program Head/SOTA Director.
  • Manage the NKU Art Collection and student art in the Fine Arts Center and across campus. Explore interdisciplinary opportunities with other academic units across campus. Support SOTA and Art and design planning, wayfinding, and other initiatives as needed.
  • Work with SOTA Publicity & Art Events Manager and Art & Design Program Head to maintain gallery mailing lists, digital archives, and gallery communications.
  • Serve as chair of the Art & Design gallery committee in the selection of suitable exhibitions for the galleries and develop and explore emerging trends in exhibitions, including digital and virtual galleries on social media to expand audiences beyond our region and expose students to these skill sets.
  • In consultation with the SOTA Budget Officer, plan and allocate the budget for the NKU Galleries.
  • Maintain contact and relationships with gallery patrons, art community, area K-12 school art programs, and area museums/galleries. Act as a liaison for SOTA/Art & Design with artists, curators, arts councils, etc.
  • Explore grant and funding opportunities, and compile data related to the galleries as requested.
  • Maintain gallery inventory including equipment, tools, and University art collection. Oversee maintenance of gallery equipment.
  • Oversee gallery assistants, student gallery assistants, and interns for the NKU Galleries.
  • Contribute and teach capstone BFA Senior Exhibition and Gallery/Museum Studies courses
  • Engage with internal and external stakeholders for events and promotion of the arts on campus and across the region
  • Approximately 8 exhibitions a year in the NKU Art Galleries and 4 exhibitions in the SOTA Community Showcase Atrium
Qualifications Minimum qualifications include a master’s degree in arts administration, museum studies, studio art, or related fields. An active professional curatorial practice including demonstrated knowledge of gallery programming, installation of exhibitions, and outreach.

  • Well-versed in contemporary and historical art + design practice
  • Minimum 3 years of curatorial or gallery management experience
  • Programming and facilitating community outreach with diverse communities
  • College-level teaching experience preferred

Please attach the following documents to complete your application:

1. Cover Letter (outlining qualifications)

2. CV

3. Names and Contact Information of 3 references

4. Diversity Statement*

5. Artist Statement / Curatorial Interests

6. Documentation of Professional Work (writing examples of exhibition brochures, curatorial
essays, catalogs, and or 10 – 20 images of previously organized exhibitions)

7. Student Work Examples – can include writing examples and or images of student work
with an image list (optional)

*The diversity statement should provide the candidate’s unique perspective on their
past and present contributions to and future aspirations for promoting diversity, inclusion, and social justice in their professional career. (In line with the University’s Affirmative Action Policy, candidates are not expected to disclose their identity or membership either in the diversity statement or in other application documents submitted to the search committee. Demographic
information is solicited through the application process; however, those data are confidential and are not provided to members of the search committee.)

Minimum Education Master’s Degree
Preferred Education MFA
Minimum Experience 3 years
Salary $46,020 minimum
Quick Link https://jobs.nku.edu/postings/13292

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