Manager of Curatorial Projects + Public Exhibitions
JOB TITLE: Manager of Curatorial Projects + Public Experience
DEPARTMENT: Art + Public Programming
REPORTS TO: Director of Curatorial Projects + Public Experience
STATUS: Exempt
CLASSIFICATION: Regular, Full-Time (benefited)
SCHEDULE: Monday-Friday, may include evenings, weekends, events
DIRECT REPORTS: None
COMPENSATION: $83,000/annually
ABOUT YBCA
Mission: We generate culture that moves people.
Vision: A community that thrives on inspiration.
The successful candidate will embody our organization’s core values:
● Abundance: We operate from a place of strength, with a spirit of empathy and generosity.
● Authentic Collaboration: We are engaged and interconnected.
● Personal Agency: We are empowered and accountable.
● Boldness: We create with courage and purpose
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Manager of Curatorial Projects + Public Experience supports the Director of Curatorial Projects + Public Experience and Head of Art + Public Programming in the planning and executing of YBCA’s organizational goals and strategic programmatic vision. They are responsible for a variety of curatorial and administrative tasks including overseeing the public art strategy around the YBCA campus, exhibition research, planning, programs and events; managing contacts and correspondence; assisting with the coordination of printed materials, didactic materials, and exhibition documentation; writing and editing exhibition-related copy. This position may have the opportunity to generate original programs and installations.
Their focus is on project leading and managing various programs, with an eye towards curatorial stewardship of specific artist projects, while incorporating them into an overall plan for the public engagement. This role also provides editorial oversight, working across departments to refine storytelling, narrative and to situate programs within YBCA’s long-term programmatic vision.
RESPONSIBILITIES
EXHIBITION, PROGRAM & PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT (85%)
● Project leads indoor and outdoor curatorial initiatives, including but not limited to exhibitions, Open Calls, public art strategy, artists in residence, artist commissions, and film/performance presentations.
● Identify and meet with project stakeholders. Develop project objectives and parameters, including location and approach, and qualifications for artists. Establish project budgets and schedule in consultation with Director.
● Works with exhibition production staff to shape and implement multidisciplinary projects to optimize artistic and programmatic vision.
● Provides curatorial oversight, research, and support to the Head and Director, including providing artistic and creative recommendations.
● Assumes role of Project Lead for various programmatic endeavors, set forth by the organization, and work closed with Exhibitions Project Manager + Registrar to meet needs based on specific exhibitions and installations.
● Holds and manages partnerships with artists and collectives to build deep and ongoing creative relationships.
● Writes and/or supports curatorial and interpretative texts including essays, brochures, wall and label texts, and website content for artistic projects.
● Collaborates with artists, external partners, and marketing staff to develop storytelling strategies particular to each program.
● Works with Director and Head to identify grant opportunities, including meeting with Foundations and Individuals, preparing data information, writing and composing packages for grants with the YBCA Development Dept.
● Work with the Director to maintain specific project budgets, writes and issues contracts, and keeps track of messaging around programs to All Staff.
● Assists Exhibitions Project Manager + Registrar with administrative duties, including artist contracts, loan forms, and artwork shipping.
● Assists with photo documentation of exhibitions and individual works, or directs photographs in this documentation.
● Assists with tracking department finances and the exhibition-specific budget.
● Participates in, and assists with, staff training on exhibitions, as required.
MARKETING (15%)
● Contributes to the development of a storytelling strategy that will bring clarity to YBCA’s work and desired impact.
● As a project team member, provides and collaborates on editorial and written content for external communications, including emails, blog posts, and press releases for projects in the Marketing Department.
● Provides editorial review to external communications, including emails, blog posts, and press releases as needed.
● Collaborates with Marketing and Leadership to build storytelling strategy across organizational initiatives.
● Creates editorial content for digital initiatives, including artist interviews and essays.
● Strategizes monthly newsletter content in collaboration with marketing staff.
● Advises in the development and implementation of brand voice guidelines for use across organizational platforms.
● Other duties as assigned
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
● At least three years of experience in writing, copyediting, and proofreading, preferably in a publishing and/or museum environment
● Familiarity with the Chicago Manual of Style required; AP style helpful
● Experience with storytelling, writing, and editing external communications for an arts organization
● Experience working in cross-departmental team-oriented environments
● Superb verbal and written communication skills; excellent interpretive writing skills
● Must be detail-oriented
● Excellent organization skills; ability to coordinate complicated projects and manage multiple and diverse tasks simultaneously; ability to meet deadlines and shift priorities as needed
● Thrives in a highly collaborative environment that values diversity, equity, inclusion, and access, and works effectively with people of varied backgrounds, experiences, points of view, and aspirations.
● Great interpersonal skills, including the ability to work with colleagues, artists, and the public
● Computer literate with experience in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
● Flexibility to work variable schedules
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE:
Hi! Did you know that research shows that folks from groups closest to the harms of institutional racism and inequality often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications? We believe that no one meets 100% of the listed qualifications. We are less concerned about whether you’ve done everything on a laundry list of specific things and more interested in cultivating a pool of candidates who want to join a connected, mission-driven, hard-working team of practitioners driven by creativity, curiosity, justice, and equity.
If much of this describes you, we encourage you to apply.
BENEFITS
PTO, Holiday Pay, Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending Accounts, Group Life and AD&D Insurance, Long Term Disability Insurance, Voluntary Life and AD&D, Employee Assistance Program, Travel Assistance, paid time off to volunteer, and ability to participate in the 403(b) Retirement Plan with match.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) is committed to diversity in its programming and in creating a work culture and environment that is reflective of San Francisco Bay Area demography. The Center encourages and actively recruits applicants representing dimensions of difference that include — but are not limited to — age, national origin, ethnicity, race, religion, ability, sexual orientation, gender or political affiliation.
YBCA will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).
ACCOMMODATIONS
YBCA is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities in all aspects of the employment process. If a reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact accommodations@ybca.org with the subject line “Accommodations Request”.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
At YBCA, we continue to prioritize the health and well-being of our community. Our current COVID-19 health and safety protocols meet or exceed local, state, and federal public health requirements. We require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Exemption from these requirements will be reviewed according to standards set forth by state and local health agencies and reasonable accommodations will be made for those providing valid exemptions.
All initial interviews will be conducted remotely via phone or video conference. Please note that this position may perform some work remotely and on site responsibilities.
APPLICATION STATUS
Hello and thank you for taking the time to apply and let us know that you are interested in joining our team at YBCA. After you apply, you will receive a confirmation email to let you know that your resume has been received. Rest assured, a member of our recruiting team will personally review your application. If you are a potential match for one of our open positions, we will be in touch. If there is not a match right now, we will keep your resume on file for future opportunities. In the meantime, please connect with us on social media @YBCA to learn more about us. Thank you for your time and we wish you the best on your job search.
Agencies and Recruiting Firms: Please note that we will only review applications submitted directly by candidates and do not accept resumes or pay fees to third parties. Any unsolicited resumes received will be considered the property of YBCA.
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
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