Associate Curator Trustees

Description:

Posting Information:

Salary: $59,500 – $76,500

New hires are typically placed between Tier I and Tier III within the range, $59,500 – $69,700

Hours per week: 40

Job Classification:
Full-Time, Exempt

Job Location Type:
Onsite

Location:

Harvard & Concord, MA

What You’ll Do:

Your Impact:

As the Associate Curator, you will bring collections and exhibitions experience with an innovative and engaging vision to the curation and interpretation of the historic houses and historic collections within the Metrowest region (primarily Fruitlands Museum and the Old Manse).

About Fruitlands and The Old Manse

Located in Harvard, Massachusetts, Fruitlands Museum sits on 210 acres of land, including four historic and gallery buildings and a visitors’ center. The original 90 acres of land were purchased in 1843 by Charles Lane and Bronson Alcott with the intention of creating a Transcendentalist experiment. Ultimately, the community disbanded after only seven months, but left a lasting cultural impact exemplified in works by Louisa May Alcott, Henry David Thoreau, and other transcendentalist figures.

In 1914 the property was purchased by Clara Endicott Sears, who established a museum in the 1820s farmhouse, the only building original to the property. Today, the farmhouse is designated as a National Historic Landmark, and the entire campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The collections at Fruitlands Museum encompass objects and archives relating to 19th century portraits, Hudson River School landscapes, the Shakers, Native American culture, Americana, and archeology.

The Role:

As the Associate Curator, you will create installations and exhibitions that are fresh, original, welcoming, and educational, and assist with related public programming. This position is highly collaborative and works closely with regional and state-wide teams, including Historic Collections, Stewardship, Exhibitions, and Engagement, among others. Together with colleagues, the Associate Curator plans conservation, preservation, and restoration projects, at the object, room, and building level.

Beyond scholarly and conservation work, the Associate Curator develops public engagement that inspires and provokes visitors to broaden their horizons through interactive experiences guided by a clear and compelling interpretative story. The Curator will have expertise in 18th to 20th century Material Culture and American History, with a background in the New England region as well as special interests in land, environment, and place.

Specifically, you’ll:

• Provide scholarly and creative support for collections and historic houses. This work takes place in various forms including the creation of historical installations, publications, furnishing plans, presentations, public programs and tours, and exhibitions. Works collaboratively with Art & Exhibitions team, Historic Collections, regional stewardship and engagement teams. Represent The Trustees externally as a speaker at conferences and workshops and creates and maintains partnerships through regional, national and international networks.

• Curate exhibitions of historic collections exploring historical, social, and environmental themes. This includes working on exhibition elements from design concept, authorship, installation efforts, conservation needs, programming, and public relations. Work with and direct the work of exhibit designers and installers. All in collaboration with the Arts & Exhibitions and Historic Collections teams.

• Oversee conservation efforts. Support conservation, restoration, and preservation efforts of collections objects, as well as historic interiors and exteriors. Work closely with consultants on preparation, reporting and outreach of conservation projects in close collaboration with the Historic Collections team. Provide insight into preservation restrictions and sensitive issues surrounding this work. Daily collection management includes hands-on stewardship; cleaning and collections of care, climate, light level, and pest expertise;
  
  and preventative work to ensure the collection is protected for the next generation.

• Support collections management system…