Director of Lore Degenstein Gallery

Director of Lore Degenstein Gallery

About Susquehanna:
As a living, learning and working community, Susquehanna University affirms its commitment to being an engaged, culturally inclusive campus. As we seek to embody the rich diversity of the human community, we commit ourselves to the full participation of persons who represent the breadth of human difference. The university encourages candidates from historically underrepresented groups to apply. Susquehanna University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Susquehanna University is a national liberal arts college committed to excellence in educating students for productive, creative and reflective lives of achievement, leadership and service in a diverse, dynamic and interdependent world. Its more than 2,300 undergraduates come from 35 states and 22 countries, and all students study away through Susquehanna’s unique Global Opportunities program. Susquehanna University’s 325 acre campus, noted for its beauty, is located in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, 50 miles north of Harrisburg in the scenic Susquehanna River Valley, about a three hour drive from Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and New York City. For more information, please visit https://www.susqu.edu.


Position Summary:
Job Summary
The Director is responsible for all activities pertaining to the Lore Degenstein Gallery, which is the primary art presentation space at Susquehanna University, and as such, is an important site of connection for the campus community and the region. Foremost among position responsibilities is organizing and presenting a variety of exhibitions annually. The successful applicant will manage the university's permanent collection of art; hire and supervise student gallery assistants; direct public relations efforts, donor stewardship, and community outreach; and work collaboratively with appropriate faculty, staff, and administrators. In addition, the Director will contribute 1-2 courses in Art History or Museum Studies during the academic year. The position reports to the Department of Art and Graphic Design.

Specific Responsibilities

• Present approximately 5 exhibitions per academic year, including
  o Personally curating exhibitions, renting traveling exhibitions or hiring exhibition curators
   Includes lighting (using lift and in-ceiling lighting components)
   Movable walls
   Gallery floor treatments (with SU Facilities)
   Generating wall labels, text panels, and vinyl lettering for exhibits
  o Preparing the Gallery space for exhibitions and managing the publicity
  
• Hire, train, supervise, schedule and mentor up to 15 student gallery assistants and supervise student internships
  
• Manage the university's permanent collection of art, including
  o keeping records of all artifacts in File Maker Pro
  o preparing reports such as the annual Fine Arts Insurance Report, and
  o managing acquisitions physically and digitally
  
• Teach 1-2 classes a year (number of classes to be determined in coordination with the Department Head of Art and Graphic Design and in consideration of the number and type of exhibits offered in any given year)
  
• Administer an operating budget and endowed accounts, including
  o Planning spending of exhibition fees, artist stipends, shipping, lodging, receptions, travel, publications, supplies, and student wages
  o reconciling budgets on a monthly basis
  
• Direct public relations and community outreach, including
  o Managing social media accounts
  o Maintaining mailing lists (Excel)
  o Coordinating group visits to the gallery
  o Interfacing with media to publicize exhibitions
  o Guest jurying for local and regional art competitions
  o Hosting openings, including introductions and exhibition background
  o Conducting tours of the Permanent Collection as requested
  
• Work collaboratively with appropriate faculty, staff, and administrators, including
  o Collaboration with faculty on exhibition programming
  o Coordinating class visits to the gallery
  o Managing placement of permanent collection pieces in campus offices
  o Aiding in campus initiatives such as the Strategic Plan and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion plans
  o Coordinating special events planned after normal gallery hours
  
• Build relationships with artists, artist groups and organizations (i.e. AAMG, AMA, CAA)
  
  
  Required Qualifications:
  Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
  This position requires a strong grasp of contemporary art and art history as well as the use of FileMaker Pro, Word, Excel, and the Adobe Creative Suite. The Director must have excellent managerial, budgetary, teaching, communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills. Must be able to interact effectively with artists, colleagues and students from various campus departments, the general public, donors, and other galleries.
  
  Physical Demands
  Position requires the ability to stand or sit for extended periods of time. Position requires the ability to move about the campus and to visit off-campus settings. Position requires the ability to talk and to hear instruction. Position requires occasional manual dexterity and the ability to use fingers, hands, and arms to feel, handle, and reach. Position requires occasional stooping, crouching and bending. Position requires the ability to occasionally lift up to 20 pounds and to mount artwork as needed. Working conditions are mainly indoors but the Director oversees the outdoor public sculpture on campus as well.
  
  
  Preferred Qualifications:
  Education and Experience
  
  Education
  Master of Arts (MA) in Art History, Curatorial or Museum Studies, or Masters of Fine Arts (MFA), and relevant experience.
  
  Experience
  Two years of experience in gallery or museum operations and experience with exhibition design and implementation is required. Previous college teaching experience is preferable.
  
  
  Special Instructions to the Applicant:
  Applicants should provide a cover letter, CV, documentation of previously organized exhibitions (i.e. exhibition brochures, curatorial essays, installation photos of previously organized exhibitions, etc.), and the contact information and names of three professional references.
  
  Application reviews will start May 3, 2021.
  
  
  Benefits Eligible: Yes
  Number of Months: 12 months
  Other Number of Months:
  Full-Time/Part-Time:
  Work Schedule/Hours per Week:
  Posting Date: 04/06/2021
  Closing Date:
  Open Until Filled: Yes
  Anticipated Start Date:
  Posting Number: AH00722
  
  To apply, visit https://jobs.susqu.edu/postings/2288