Associate Art Curator - Full-Time - $38,985 - $50,000 Annually

South Carolina State Museum - Columbia, SC

Are you looking to be part of an innovative team of professionals dedicated to telling South Carolina's diverse stories? As the storytellers of South Carolina, the South Carolina State Museum (SCSM) strives to share the rich natural, technological and cultural diversity of the state through its permanent collections, programs, exhibitions and digital content. The SCSM is the largest museum in South Carolina, stewarding over 1.1 million objects and specimens and welcoming 5 million+ visitors over its 36-year history. The museum has recently embarked on a renovation of 150,000 square feet of its exhibition, programmatic and collection storage spaces occupying four floors of a historic 1890s textile mill on the National Register of Historic Places. Come be a part of our team reimagining what the South Carolina State Museum can be for our next generation of visitors, students, and scholars, and enjoy living in South Carolina’s capital city, recently ranked the 7th most affordable city in America by the Wallstreet Journal/Realtor.com.    

Job Overview
The South Carolina State Museum seeks a creative individual with knowledge of art history and visual culture as it relates to South Carolina to join our team. The Museum's art collection focuses on the work of fine, folk, and decorative artists and craftspeople from South Carolina from the 1590's through present day and contains more than four thousand works of art. The museum recently completed a project funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) that supported the inventory and digitization of the museum’s Art Collection, available online. This position is responsible for the changing art exhibition program in the museum’s Lipscomb Art Gallery as well as integrating and managing artwork throughout the museum’s exhibitions. This position also works closely with our Public Programs Manager with all related art programs. An important part of the Associate Art Curator’s role will be identifying new acquisitions to continue to diversify the collection and collaboratively creating exhibitions, programs and digital content that share inclusive stories of South Carolina’s artistic traditions and visual culture.    

Responsibilities include:

• Work closely with the Chief Curator to learn about the museum’s important art collection, which will help inform the curatorial management of the museum’s art collection, including research, acquisition of artwork, exhibition planning and conservation recommendations. 

• As a member of the Museum’s Exhibition Committee, collaboratively develop exhibitions that fulfill the Museum’s vision to reflect the essence and diversity of South Carolina, including concept design, research, interpretation, object selection and script writing. Serves as a principal member of the team redeveloping the Museum’s core exhibition galleries. 

• Develop content and partnerships contributing to public programs, educational projects and digital content for a diverse audience and in partnership with South Carolina artists. 

• Actively solicit, cultivate and steward positive relationships regarding research, collections acquisition, and content and exhibition development while strengthening and building relationships with artists, community members, scholars, collectors, donors, and cultural organizations state-wide, nationally and internationally. 

• Serve as a resource for the public with requests for information related to objects, research, education, and image use. 

• Conduct grant writing and reporting as appropriate. 

• Contribute to a welcoming, respectful and positive museum environment, working collaboratively across departments to fulfill the Museum’s mission and vision in service to our audiences. 

• All other duties as assigned. 

Minimum and Additional Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a focus on art history, arts administration, museum studies, or fine arts.  

• Minimum of two years’ experience working within an art museum or other arts presenting organization or institution. 

• Understanding proper museum practices including object handling, documentation, and project management. 

• Ability to maintain positive working relationships with a diverse group of people. 

• Flexibility and adaptability, including a willingness to take positive action in a changing environment and to effectively analyze situations and problem solve. 

• Demonstrated ability to work under deadlines with a high degree of autonomy and participate effectively on a team. 

• Excellent time management and organizational skills, with strong attention to detail and follow-through. 

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including an ability to develop presentations and interpretive content. 

• Must be self-motivated, take initiative, and exercise creativity. 

• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. 

• Ability to travel statewide and stay overnight. Must have a valid driver's license and be willing to drive vans. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge and experience researching and interpreting South Carolina art and artists. 
• Demonstrated experience in creating innovative, thought-provoking and inclusive museum experiences.  
• Proven experience building and fostering positive relationships within the arts community.  
• Master’s degree preferred. 
• Experience using Axiell's EMu collections management system is a plus. 
• Should be able to lift up to 30 pounds and be able to use ladders and work safely and comfortably at elevated heights. 

https://scmuseum.org/who-we-are/human-resources/job-openings#full-time-positions