Gary & Ellen Davis Curator of Photography

Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University

The Opportunity

The Curator will develop special exhibitions and long-term gallery displays that incorporate the Museum's holdings, temporary loans, and new commissions. The Curator will work with Museum education colleagues and Cornell faculty to integrate the collections and exhibitions into university teaching and to organize programs for public audiences.

This individual will actively pursue the advice and expertise of a broad network of scholars, museum colleagues, and artists to effectively and imaginatively develop collections and related research and exhibition projects outside of their primary area of research within the field of photography. The incumbent will nurture and add to existing collaborative relationships around the photography collection with campus partners in the History of Art and Visual Studies; College of Art, Architecture and Planning; Cornell University Library; and Einhorn Center for Community Engagement; among others, as well as with museums and research institutes regionally and internationally. The curator will develop new initiatives and exhibitions inspired by the Cornell curriculum or the product of partnerships with faculty, graduate students, other museums, research centers, cultural practitioners, and source communities.

The Gary and Ellen Davis Curator of Photography will join a team of five other curators: the Chief Curator/Judith H. Stoikov Curator of Asian Art; the Gale and Ira Drukier Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art; the Seymour R. Askin, Jr. '47 Curator of Earlier European Art; the Harris Family Curator of the Arts of the Americas; and the Curator of the Global Arts of Africa. Working with the Director, Chief Curator, and curatorial team, they consider all acquisitions, loans, and gifts, and together set the collecting strategy and exhibitions agenda for the Johnson Museum of Art.

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Hours and Location

This position is typically performed on-site at the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art Monday through Friday, 8:00AM-5:00PM, with some flexibility for start and end times. We expect flexibility for coverage of evening and weekend events, which are planned with advance notice and mutual agreement between you and your supervisor. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.

The Gary & Ellen Davis Curator of Photography Responsibilities and Essential Functions

Collections care, research, and documentation (30%)

• Plans, implements and directs curatorial responsibilities for the photography collection.
• Conducts and directs original research on the collection.
• Assesses condition of photographic collections and identifies vulnerable material for preservation and conservation.
• Works with conservators to support treatments and related research.
• Works to increase access to photography collections through documentation and digitization.
• Develops and implements a collecting strategy for the museum's photography holdings.
• Researches and proposes acquisitions by purchase. This includes working collaboratively with other curators in areas where responsibilities overlap.
• Makes the case for deaccessioning as needed to refine the collection.
• Hires, trains, and supervises undergraduate and graduate student interns.
• Advises faculty, students, and outside researchers on queries related to the museum's photography collections.
• Develops and monitors the budget for this curatorial area.

Exhibitions, Publications (30%)

• Proposes, plans and implements temporary exhibitions of photography, including those that might involve a guest curator or faculty partner.
• Collaborates with curators on shared permanent collection galleries, exhibitions and other projects. Travels for archival, museum, and field-based research as required by project.
• Curates rotating displays of photography for the permanent collection galleries and in the Richard Sukenik '59 Teaching Gallery.
• In partnership with Registrar, coordinate all activities involved in negotiating loans to and from the museum in areas of curatorial oversight.
• Works closely with Editor on written materials and publications, and with Registrars, Preparators, and Curatorial Assistant to implement exhibitions, rotations, and other collections-related projects.

Teaching and Campus Impact (20%)

• Lectures, tours, and teaches with works from the collection for the public, for Cornell classes, and for classes from area colleges.
• Occasionally co-teaches semester-long courses with Cornell faculty partners.
• Establishes interdisciplinary collaborations and partnerships with curators, librarians, faculty, staff, and students at Cornell through a wide range of outreach strategies.
• Works with public programming and education staff to organize and participate in a variety of public programs and events.
• Works with Editor to support virtual and social media platforms, with the goal of increasing the profile of photography on campus and more broadly.

Development (15%)

• In partnership with Alumni Affairs & Development team, works with donors and collectors to enhance the collections through gifts of artwork or financial support.
• Leads Friends of Photography Acquisition Committee (FoPAC), a group of dedicated donors who support targeted new acquisitions. Organizes presentations and voting meeting as well as NYC-based trip and program in close collaboration with Director of Development.
• Occasionally travels to support stewardship efforts of the Johnson Museum of Art.
• Participates actively in biannual Museum Advisory Council meetings and programs.
• Writes grant proposals for temporary exhibition support, research and publication support and conservation support.

Other position-related responsibilities (5%)

• Participates in projects with occasional work responsibility falling above or below current classification.
• Completion of university required compliance trainings.
• Seeks out and attends professional development opportunities to increase effectiveness and sense of connection to Cornell's mission, vision, and values.
• Position responsibilities may be modified.

Required Qualifications

• MA in art history, visual studies, anthropology, or a comparable discipline, with at least two years' experience in a museum or related setting, or equivalent combination.
• Superior written and oral communication skills and experience in university-level teaching and public speaking.
• Experience with museum documentation and discovery systems and interfaces.
• Proven ability to work in a team, prioritize tasks, and adapt to a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.
• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in art history or a comparable discipline, with demonstrated expertise in the history and theory of photography and a record of scholarly publications.
• As this position works closely with colleagues in both a university and museum setting, applicants whose professional, scholarly, or research background prepares them to approach museum collections from an interdisciplinary vantage point are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to Apply for Consideration

Please submit a complete application for consideration. All documents should be attached, as a Word or PDF files, to the resume section of the application. Review of applications will begin on March 24 and will continue until a candidate is selected.

• A letter of application that includes your past, present, and/or future efforts to foster learning, research, and/or outreach with multiple partners, and how you envision these efforts continuing within the arts at Cornell.
• Your Curriculum Vitae.
• A writing sample such as a published article, dissertation chapter, or catalog essay.
• A list of three references.

Rewards and Benefits

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Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

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Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

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Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.