Reports to:     Deputy Director & Chief Curator

Status:             Full time

BACKGROUND

The Birmingham Museum of Art seeks a dynamic and experienced Curator of European Art. S/he will be a leader in the field, and will oversee an outstanding permanent collection of approximately 1400 works of art dating from the end of the thirteenth-century to ca. 1920. The curator is responsible for paintings, sculptures, and works on paper. The Italian Renaissance and Baroque periods are represented by one of the largest gifts from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, with important additions over the years. The Dutch and Flemish collection includes fine works by artists such as Balthasar van der Ast, Jacob van Ruidsael, Ferdinand Bol, Jan Mijtens, Jan Steen, Allaert van Everdingen, and François van Bossuit, Another area of strength is eighteenth- and nineteenth-century French art with works by artists such as Etienne-Maurice Falconet, Jean-Marc Nattier, Claude-Joseph Vernet, Louis Tocqué, Jean-Baptiste Pater, Nicolas Lancret, François Hubert Drouais, Jean-Baptiste Pillement, Jean-Honore Fragonard, Christophe Huet, Jean-Baptiste Oudry, Joseph Marie Vien, Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, Narcisse Virgile Diaz del la Peña, Gustave Courbet, Camille Pissarro, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, and Max Klinger.

The European collection lends itself to the continuation of innovative acquisitions, exhibitions, and publications. Further research on the collections of Dutch, French, and British art provide particular opportunities for new discoveries.

The Birmingham Museum of Art has a collection of more than 25,000 objects within six collecting areas: European Art, Asian art, American art, Africa and the Americas, European Decorative arts, and Modern and Contemporary Art. Our Hanson Library holds more than 35,000 titles and is among the most comprehensive art research libraries in the Southeastern United States. The BMA provides inspirational cultural and educational art experiences to diverse communities while constantly evolving and enhancing our visitors’ interactions with our Museum and interests in the visual arts.

SPECIFIC DUTIES INCLUDE

• Researching works in the European painting, sculpture, and works on paper collections and disseminating findings through publications, lectures, gallery talks, labels, web-based media, and other forms of communication.
• Working in partnership with other departments, conceives and implements the installation and interpretation of the European art permanent collection.
• Developing and implementing ambitious and intellectually rigorous in-house and traveling exhibitions from the permanent collection; and bringing in significant exhibitions of European art from elsewhere. Works with the Development department to secure funding; with the Design department to determine gallery configuration and installation; and with the Education department to craft public programs and interpretive materials.
• Developing and implementing long-term goals and objectives for the European Art collection through acquisitions that include gifts, bequests, and purchases; also works to refine the collection through strategic de-accessioning.
• Working with fellow staff to ensure the highest quality of care and maintenance of the permanent collection.
• The incumbent actively participates in the intellectual life of the Museum by engaging in collection- and exhibition-related programming for public audiences, carrying out original research and publishing on the collection; expanding physical and electronic access to collection; supporting all fundraising activities to build the collection and develop the exhibition program; supporting all public relations efforts; working with partner organizations, and the community in furtherance of the BMA’s strategic goals.
• Working closely with collectors and prospective donors.
• The Curator of European Art is responsible for cultivating and providing direction to the European Art Society, a collection support group with 70+ members. The group is devoted to the continued growth and development of the Museum’s collection, and to educating its members about European art in general, and the Museum’s collection specifically.
• Participating in professional organizations and other opportunities that arise for professional development and to raise the profile of the Birmingham Museum of Art.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. in art history (Dutch, French, or British specialty preferred).
• Proficiency in at least one European language.
• Minimum of five years' experience as a museum curator, and extensive knowledge of museum practices required.
• Strong record of research, scholarship, and public speaking, with proven experience organizing loan exhibitions and producing publications of high quality.
• Demonstrated skill at strategically building a collection through gifts and purchases.
• Must be a creative team player with strong collaborative, communication, and organizational skills.
• Effective leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build positive and effective relationships with Museum trustees, members, donors, and the broader community.
• Must be articulate, with excellent presentation and writing skills, effective communication and managerial skills, and organizational and time management skills. Must be resourceful, with creative problem solving skills and proven leadership skills; an objective decision maker; and have the ability to work under pressure and operate efficiently.

COMPENSATION

• Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience and includes an excellent benefits package.

TO APPLY

Candidates should submit via email a letter of interest; curriculum vitae; names, addresses, and phone numbers of three references; and a writing sample to:

Jeannine O’Grody, Ph.D., Deputy Director & Chief Curator

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Review of applications will be ongoing until the position is filled.

The Birmingham Museum of Art is an equal opportunity employer.

Education: Advanced undergraduate (junior/senior), graduate student, or recent graduate

Area of Study:  Art, art history, or education

Purpose: To assist the Associate Curator of Education for Teacher & School Services and in the preparation of teacher resource materials and to assist the Artist In Residence in the preparation, administration and facilitation of community outreach programs. This position may require some classroom and/or community teaching.

Hours: Flexible for 10-20 hours per week

Responsibilities:

• Assist in creating teacher resources such as culture cases, lesson plans and videos
• Research objects from the collection and use to enhance lesson plans, culture cases and other teacher resources
• Write lesson plans and other teacher resources
• Public speaking
• Organizing supplies for teacher and school programs
• Place supply orders
• Make phone calls related to teacher and school programs
• Update files and create excel documents for programs
• Frame student exhibitions
• Assist with the preparation of materials for community outreach programs
• Organize supplies for community outreach and school programs, including ordering supplies
• Make phone calls and inquiries related to outreach and school programs
• Assist with the facilitation of programs in the community
• Update files, create Excel documents, and enter data to maintain accurate records for participation statistics and contact information
• Assist in creating community outreach lesson plans and videos related to the Museum’s collection

Special Skills:

• Strong communication skills
• Highly organized with the ability to handle multiple tasks at once
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Outlook and PowerPoint
• Skills with filming and video-making, preferred
• Must be able to lift 25lbs
• Valid driver’s license and transportation to offsite events

Other Information:

The Education Department of the Birmingham Museum of Art provides opportunities for active audience engagement that relate directly to the Museum’s collection and special exhibitions in order to help the Museum fulfill its mission of providing an unparalleled cultural and educational experience to a diverse public.

In May, the Birmingham Museum of Art presented A Portrait of Our City, the 2013 Museum Ball.

Museum Ball Chairs, Mr. and Mrs. John O. Hudson III, and Men’s Committee Co-Chairs, Mr. Edgar B. Marx, Jr. and Mr. Charles Simpson, welcomed the guests as they arrived. Tables were set throughout the Museum and all who attended dined among the Museum’s extensive collection. The atmosphere was filled with a contemporary elegance designed by Jill Garmon of A.G. Lighting. Guests enjoyed the culinary creations of Gianni Respinto of Gianmarco’s in Homewood and were expertly served by the staff of A Social Affair. Afterwards, everyone danced to the sounds of Big Swing & the Ballroom Blasters. Since 1956, the annual Museum Ball fundraiser benefits the Museum’s extensive educational and outreach opportunities offered to schools throughout the region.

Museum Ball Chairs and Committee Members:
Mr. and Mrs. John O. Hudson III, Chairs; Mr. Edgar B. Marx, Jr., Men’s Committee Co-Chair; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Simpson, Men’s Committee Co-Chair; Mr. and Mrs. Frederick W. Bromberg; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Broughton III; Mr. and Mrs. Mark L. Drew; Mr. Bing Edwards and Ms. Myla C. Choy; Ms. Vanessa Falls and Mr. Walter Body; Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Florie; Mr. David B. Hezlep; Mr. and Mrs. Elias Hendricks, Jr.; Mr. and Mrs. Bill Horton; Mr. Walter Howlett, Jr. and Ms. Barbara Edwards; Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan L. Kimerling; Ms. Bobbie Knight and Mr. Gary Burley; Mr. Guin Robinson; Mr. and Mrs. J. Andrew Robison; Mr. and Mrs. Mark J. Rosse; Mr. and Mrs. Nick Sellers; Mr. and Mrs. Daxton R. Swatek; Mr. and Mrs. Carl Thigpen; Mr. and Mrs. James O. Walker, Jr.; Mr. and Mrs. Donald V. Watkins, Jr.; Mr. Jon W. Whetsell

An Interview with Don James

Vulcan Materials Company is a sponsor for Art Speaks: 50 Years Forward, the BMA’s civil rights commemoration exhibition series. Vulcan has been a strong supporter of the BMA for over 25 years. Don James, Chairman and CEO of Vulcan Materials Company, recently took the time to chat with My Museum, the BMA Members Magazine, about why Vulcan chooses to support the museum.

My Museum Magazine: What do you enjoy about your partnership with the Museum?

Don James: The Museum is a longtime and vital part of the culture of excellence that the best organizations in Birmingham, be they business, civic, religious, or cultural, have long exhibited. In more simple terms, it’s a fun and very beautiful place to visit! It also has programs for kids that help introduce children and families to the Museum and to art.

MMM: If a colleague asked you why their company should join the Corporate Partners program, what would you tell them?

DJ: Join! Our employees, many times over, have been beneficiaries of the numerous programs and activities the Museum has offered over the years. We first became a Corporate Partner in 1987, and it’s been a great experience for us. The Partners program also puts the Museum well in reach of the general public, since it allows for free admission, which opens the doors of the Museum to many who otherwise wouldn’t be able to go.

By Norman Gershman

On April 18, the Museum will screen Besa: The Promise, a film about the rescue of Jews in Albania during World War II, in conjunction with the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum. Photographer Norman Gershman sought out, photographed, and collected the powerful and moving stories of heroism in Besa for this companion book. Besa is “a code of honor deeply rooted in Albanian culture and incorporated in the faith of Albanian Muslims. Besa dictates a moral behavior so absolute that nonadherence brings shame and dishonor on oneself and one’s family. Simply stated, it demands that one take responsibility for the lives of others in their time of need. In Albania and Kosovo, Muslims sheltered, at grave risk to themselves and their families, not only the Jews of their cities and villages, but thousands of Jews fleeing the Nazis from other European countries…The book reveals a hidden period in history, slowly emerging after the fall of an isolationist communist regime, and shows the compassionate side of ordinary people in saving Jews.”

The Museum is currently accepting applications for Teen BMA, our program for students who will be entering or attending high school in the 2013-14 school year. Teen BMA members meet twice a month after school and volunteer for special projects on the weekends. Applications can be found on our website and will be accepted through June 30, 2013. Applicants will be interviewed during the month of July and, if accepted, will attend a mandatory orientation session in August. Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

Teen BMA members worked with yarn “bomber” artist Donna Okoro to develop an installation for Bart’s ArtVenture. The students chose to continue the celebration of Chinese New Year with an installation that will feature all the signs of the Chinese Zodiac and will also include Bart the Art Bat . Each year, Teen BMA is tasked with creating a collaborative art project. The installation will be on display through late April 2013.

Inspired by Smith Magazine’s “Six Word Memoirs” the BMA asks visiting artists, lecturers, and guests to answer the question, “Why the Birmingham Museum of Art?” Their challenge is to distill their thoughts, impressions, experience, or involvement with the BMA into six words. As in the case of the Smith books and web site, it can be six words, a six-word sentence, or a combination.

We asked members of Teen BMA for their “Six Words” about BMA:

Preserve the past and the future
Maddie Seidel

I come here to be inspired
Wendi Lu

Adventurous, exciting, colorful, modern, multicultural, informational
Katie Render

Unique, fun, diverse, creative, entertaining, cultural
Kyndall Hinton

Availability

Availability and use of the Museum is subject to current exhibitions or the pending exhibition schedule.  Private events can be held Tuesday through Sunday, after 5pm, in any of the Museum’s rental spaces.  Semi-private events can be held Tuesday through Sunday, 10am – 5pm, in the Steiner Auditorium, Members Room, or Conference Room.

Holding Dates, Booking Dates, and Cancellations

The special events manager can hold a date for up to ten (10) business days.  A rental reservation is considered definite after the date, time, guest count, and location are agreed upon in writing by the Birmingham Museum of Art through the special events manager and:

1.A non-refundable deposit of 50% of the total rental fee ($1,500.00 for weddings) has been received by the special events manager.
2. Both the Special Event Agreement and the Facility Rental Policies have been read and the Agreement is signed and returned to the Museum.

Should the event be cancelled, 50% of the deposit shall be refunded with written notice thirty (30) days or more prior to the event date.  Should the event be cancelled within thirty (30) days of the event, no refund of deposit shall be made.

Prohibited Events

The following types of events are not permitted at the Birmingham Museum of Art: fundraisers, political events, religious events, live or silent auctions, commercial/promotional events, and events where entrance requires the advance or on-site purchase of a ticket, i.e. ticketed performances or events advertised to the general public.

Décor

The Birmingham Museum of Art has strict guidelines on décor including plant and floral arrangements.  Please review your décor plans with the special events manager prior to selecting décor.

• At no time is any area of the Museum to be altered or disturbed in any way that might prove harmful to the Museum or its collections.

• Walls are not to be touched with decorations.  Nothing can be taped, nailed, or pinned into walls.

• All decorations must be free standing.

• The following items are NOT allowed as décor in the Museum or Red Mountain Garden Club Memorial Garden: candles, sparklers, balloons, glitter, and smoke machines.

Flowers and Plants

The following guidelines are intended to prevent inadvertent damage to artwork during an event:

•Materials to be arranged should be kept atop plastic sheeting (provided by the arranger) during set-up.  Every effort should be made to confine materials to a small and tidy area.  All plant materials left over must be cleaned up by the arranger and disposed of in a proper waste receptacle.

• Arrangements should not impede the normal traffic flow through the Museum. No limbs or stalks should “stick out” in doorways or hallways.

• Arrangements should be of a sufficient distance from any and all art to ensure that there is no contact with the artwork and that an accident would not result in the arrangement toppling into a piece.

• Plant materials should not touch the walls or floors in galleries.

• No misting is allowed.  All containers must be watertight.

• Lily stamens should be removed before entering the building.

• The use of aerosol cans (lacquer, paint, Wilt-Pruf, etc.) and glue guns are prohibited in the galleries.

• Arrangements, lanterns, lights, and other various decorations are not allowed in the trees in the Red Mountain Garden Club Memorial Garden or in the Jaudon pools.

• The following plant materials are prohibited in the Museum: hollowed reed basketry materials, mosses collected in the forest (nursery grown mosses are acceptable), sod, peat moss, bird or insect nests.

Food and Drink

All food and drink must be provided by the Museum’s exclusive catering company, A Social Affair.  Food and drink are limited to the 8th Avenue Lobby, Oscar’s Café, and the Red Mountain Garden Club Memorial Garden.  Food and drinks are prohibited in any of the galleries and the Steiner Auditorium.

Photography

Photography will be allowed inside the Museum of special events.  However, all photography should be confined to Oscar’s Café, 8th Avenue Lobby, and the Red Mountain Garden Club Memorial Garden.  Works of art may not be photographed without the prior written permission from a Museum representative.  Flash photography in or near the galleries is not permitted.  The special events manager will work with the professional wedding photographer in advance regarding appropriate sites for photos in the Museum.

The Museum does not allow engagement photo shoots or bridal photo shoots for weddings that are not being held at the Museum.

Parking

When renting the Museum for a private event, the client will have exclusive access to the Birmingham Museum of Art’s parking lot.  The parking lot has 110 spaces.  Additional public parking is available under the interstate directly behind the Museum ($0.25 per 2 hours) and at the Boutwell Auditorium parking deck located at the corner of Rev. Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd. and 19th Street North ($8.00 per car).

Should the client wish to hire a valet service, the valet company must contact the special events manager to establish the proper traffic logistics with the Museum’s Director of Security.  Valet service at the Museum’s front entrance will require two (2) Birmingham Police Officers to direct traffic.  The client will be responsible for paying this cost ($25 per hour, each).

Security and Maintenance

The Birmingham Museum of Art has its own security and maintenance staff that is in the building and parking lot at all times.  The Museum reserves the right to hire additional security personnel at the expense of the client to maintain crowd control for an event.

For private events held after 5:00pm, the client will be responsible for paying overhead fees.  Overhead fees are charged prior to 9:00am and after 5:00pm, when Security is normally off-duty.  After 5:00pm, the client will be charged a minimum of $200.00 per hour until the building is closed and secured.  The hourly fee increases with the number of galleries open during the event.  Client will also be charged for one hour of clean up after the event (e.g. party is from 8pm until 12am, client charged from 5pm until 1am).

For wedding receptions, the overhead fee is $400 per hour from 5pm until the event is over, and includes all galleries and Museum spaces open.  Should a wedding reception have more than 500 guests, the overhead fee will increase to $500 per hour from 5pm until the event is over.

City, state, and federal codes, including safety/fire regulations, will be enforced by the Museum security staff and adhered to by client and client’s guests.

Deliveries, Storage, Setup and Cleanup

Deliveries:

All deliveries must take place on the day of the event.  Deliveries must be scheduled with the special events manager; any unscheduled delivery will be refused.  Deliveries must be made through loading dock: no equipment will be allowed through the glass door entrances.  All materials must be removed from the Museum at the event’s conclusion.

Storage:

The Birmingham Museum of Art has very limited storage areas.  The Birmingham Museum of Art will not store any materials overnight and assumes no liability for such items.

Setup and Cleanup:

Setup for private events can begin at 10:00am on the day of the event.  The setup and dismantling of decorations is not to disrupt public use of the facility.  Vendors and/or clients must bring their own equipment (ladders, rolling carts, extension cords, etc.), as the Museum does not provide this equipment.  Vendors and/or clients are responsible for removing all decorations and equipment from the premises at the conclusion of the event.  The Museum maintenance staff will clean the facility once all decoration has been removed.

Can I bring in my own caterer?

The Museum has an exclusive caterer, A Social Affair, which must provide all food and beverage for private events.

Can alcohol be served at the Museum?

Yes.  Our exclusive caterer, A Social Affair, can provide any alcohol desired.

Do I have to rent my own tables and chairs?

The Museum has an inventory of tables and chairs that are included in all of the rental prices.  However, should your event require more tables and/or chairs than we have, you may rent additional tables or chairs from a rental company.

When can my event start?

Private events can start Tuesday through Sunday after 5pm, when the Museum is closed to the public.

How long can my event last at the Museum?

As long as you’d would like it to!  Our hourly overhead fee begins at 5pm (our normal closing time) and ends whenever the event ends and the Museum has been cleaned and closed.

Does it cost extra to have the Museum galleries open during my event?

Yes, each gallery area in the Museum has its own hourly fee if opened during an after-hours event.

Can I schedule a rehearsal for my wedding ceremony?

A rehearsal may be scheduled at no additional cost the day before or prior to the wedding or event date during normal operating hours (10am – 5pm) if time and space are available.

Where can my guests park?

When renting the Museum for a private event, you and your guests have exclusive access the Museum’s parking lot, which has 110 parking spaces.  Our lot is located behind the Museum, accessible from Richard Arrington, Jr. Boulevard.  Additional parking is available at Boutwell Auditorium.

Does the Museum offer valet service?

While we do not offer valet service, we can recommend valet companies to provide the service at your event.  Valet service can be arranged at either the back entrance or the Rev. Abraham Woods, Jr. Boulevard front entrance.

Can I take pictures in the Museum?

Photography is allowed in the Museum during private events.  However, it should be confined to Oscar’s Café, 8th Avenue Lobby, Red Mountain Garden Club Memorial Garden, Charles Ireland Sculpture Garden and the Steiner Auditorium.  Works of art may not be photographed without the prior written permission from a Museum representative.  Flash photography in or near the galleries is not permitted.  Photography release forms must be signed in advance of taking pictures.  Please contact the special events manager for more information.

Can I have a band/DJ at my event?

Yes, you can have any type of musical entertainment at your event.  The Museum also has a stage for any entertainment that is included in the rental price.

Can I bring in other outside vendors? Such as florists, lighting designers, etc.?

Yes, besides our exclusive caterer, you can use any of the other talented vendors in Birmingham for flowers, décor, lighting, and wedding cake.   The Museum does have a list of preferred vendors that have done great work at the Museum.  Contact the special events manager if you’d like more information on our preferred vendors.

Can I decorate the Museum for my event?

Yes, however, all decorations must be approved by the special events manager.   At no time is any area of the Museum to be altered or disturbed in any way that might prove harmful to the Museum or its collections.  Walls are not to be touched with decorations and tables must be set away from the walls.  Nothing can be taped, nailed, or pinned into the walls or in the trees.  All decorations must be free standing.

Have another question that we haven’t answered?  

Please call our special events manager, Paige Fletcher at 205-254-2681, for any additional questions.