Arts Collections Curator - VCU
Location: Richmond, VA
Salary: Salary commensurate with experience, not less than $60,000 annually
Employment Term: Full-time, permanent
Employer Contact: https://www.library.vcu.edu/about/staff/staff/carpenter-chrystal.html
The Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries invites applications and nominations for the position of Arts Collections Curator. This position works in a
collaborative environment within the Special Collections and Archives (SCA) department. The Arts Collections Curator develops, promotes, and provides collection stewardship for Special Collections and Archives arts-related special collections including over
4,000 pieces of book art, 125,000 comic arts holdings, 3,000 works of art, and other related collections. The Arts Collections Curator will play an integral role in stewarding Special Collections holdings through collection development and donor relations,
supporting the SCA instruction program, and leading related outreach initiatives. The successful candidate will join an exceptionally talented, culturally and academically diverse faculty.
Special Collections and Archives at the VCU Libraries connects students, faculty, researchers, and community members with rare and unique materials in areas
such as comic arts, book arts, Richmond and Central Virginia history; African-American, women’s and LGBTQ+ community histories; social movements and activism; 15th-19th- century medical texts and imprints; health sciences history focused on Virginia and the
South; and University Archives. The department currently consists of 6 faculty and 4 professional staff across two locations - James Branch Cabell and Health Sciences Libraries. The Arts Collections Curator will be based in the Cabell Library and play an integral
role in the continuing the development of our arts-related special collections.
Located in culturally diverse, historic, and dynamic Richmond, Virginia, convenient to the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the recreation destinations
of the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Commonwealth University is one of Virginia's largest universities and among the nation's leading research institutions. VCU Libraries, one of Virginia’s outstanding research library systems, advances the
University’s teaching, research, service, and patient care mission with comprehensive digital and print collections and nationally recognized innovation in its facilities, advanced media and technology resources for its community. In February 2018, the Association
of College and Research Libraries recognized VCU Libraries with the ACRL Excellence in Academic Libraries Award. In 2020, the Health Sciences Library received the Medical Library Association’s Research Advancement in Health Sciences Librarianship Award. The
successful candidate will join an exceptionally talented, culturally and academically diverse community.
Diversity and Inclusion
VCU’s commitment to diversity is one of the institution’s unique strengths. Our student body is one of the most diverse in Virginia in terms of race and ethnicity
and socioeconomic status, and one of the four themes of our Quest 2028 Strategic Plan is “Diversity driving excellence.” The United States Department of Education has designated VCU as a minority serving institution effective July 1, 2022. VCU is committed
to building an increasingly diverse faculty and leadership team, and is actively engaged in partnerships with diverse communities in the Richmond metro area. VCU Libraries is purposeful in our efforts to advance diversity and inclusion and expects that the
Arts Collections Curator will be a leader in fostering a welcoming atmosphere for all members of the VCU community. The successful candidate will receive support for research, service, and professional development and will have ample opportunity to pursue
diversity and inclusion related opportunities in those areas.
Responsibilities
Reporting to the Head of Special Collections and Archives, and working closely with department colleagues, the Arts Collections Curator is responsible for
curatorial support, including promoting access and use, collection development, and donor relations. The Curator will play an integral part in the growth of our arts-related special collections prioritizing holdings by and about historically underrepresented
groups. The Curator will predominantly focus on arts-related materials but may occasionally work with additional rare and localized special collections, such as rare books and other published works.
Additional responsibilities include:
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Contribute to operations, management of the collection development funds, research services, programs, and technical functions for special
collection
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Collaborate with the department head and team members to assist in developing strategic initiatives, policies, and programs related
to special collections
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Develop and manage arts-focused special collections in all formats, building research collections of distinction that advance teaching,
scholarship, creative expression, and student success
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Actively work with vendors, book sellers, donors, and artists to acquire arts-focused collection materials and curate collections that
reflect current and developing needs, and seek to expand collections that build and strengthen a diverse representation of subjects and materials
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Collaborate with colleagues in other divisions to enhance access to special collections and support collection development
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Initiate and coordinate outreach programming to promote arts-related special collections through physical and online exhibits, presentations,
tours, and other outreach activities in collaboration with the department and other university faculty
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Foster relationships with the VCU community, donors, and other stakeholders connected to the Arts in collaboration with Library Development
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Work with students and faculty; provide research consultations, assist with the development of educational programs and course related
instruction sessions
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Supervise hourly employee(s) in addition to students and interns connected to arts-related wor
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The Arts Collections Curator is expected to be active professionally and to contribute to developments in the field. Faculty with the VCU Libraries are evaluated,
and promoted, on the basis of job performance, scholarship, and service.
Qualifications
Required:
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ALA-accredited graduate degree or accredited graduate degree in another appropriate disciplin
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Experience working with or interest in art, art history, book arts, history of the book and printing, comic arts, and/or related subject
matter
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Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU
Candidates need not meet all the preferred qualifications to be fully considered. We value individual and unique skills that would strengthen the VCU Libraries
and our teams.
Preferred:
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Degree, coursework, or other evidence of subject knowledge related to art, art history, book arts, history of the book and printing,
comic arts, and/or related subject matter
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Curatorial experience in a museum or library/archival setting
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Experience with or interest in training, mentoring, and/or supervising staff, student workers, and/or volunteers
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Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills to work effectively with diverse library users and colleagues
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Experience with or interest in managing a collections budget
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Experience working with booksellers and individual donors to acquire collection materials
Salary:
Salary commensurate with experience, not less than $60,000 annually. This is a full-time, non-tenured faculty position. 12-month faculty benefits apply, including 24 vacation days annually and choice of retirement and annuity plans. Relocation assistance
is available. Librarians are provided a generous professional development allowance. For more information about benefits, see the
Faculty Benefits page.
Interviews: Initial interviews will be conducted virtually. We anticipate inviting finalists to campus.