Curatorial Manager

Description:

Madison Square Park Conservancy is the nonprofit entrusted by the City of New York to operate Madison Square Park, a 6.2 -acre public park in Manhattan. The Conservancy is distinguished for its vibrant public art program. Since 2004, artists who exemplify the soaring range of human creativity have realized breakout commissions in the park, projects that are accessible to all in a democratic context. On the twentieth anniversary of the founding of Madison Square Park Conservancy's art program these projects continue to inspire, provoke, and challenge; they demonstrate the breadth of artistic practice in our time. Recently commissioned artists include Diana Al-Hadid, Tony Cragg, Leonardo Drew, Nicole Eisenman, Teresita Fernández, Maya Lin, Josiah McElheny, Iván Navarro, Martin Puryear, Shahzia Sikander, and Rose B. Simpson.

Every day, 60,000 people visit Madison Square Park. Madison Square Park Conservancy raises the funds that support the park’s art program, horticulture, maintenance and security, as well as a range of free public programs.

Position summary:

The Curatorial Manager provides support for all of Madison Square Park Conservancy’s outdoor exhibitions and reports to the Artistic Director and Martin Friedman Chief Curator and to the Director of Art Operations and works in concert with all departments. 

Essential duties and responsibilities include:

• Project manage artwork commissions and exhibitions including records, maintenance and conservation, documentation, travel plans when exhibitions are loaned to other venues, and contracts for up to three art exhibitions annually
• Work closely with artists, studios, and colleagues at other institutions
• Manage printed collateral including exhibition catalogues and in-park signage
• Assist Chief Curator with exhibition and Art Committee meetings
• In concert with Director of Art Operations and Chief Curator, assist with internal plans for engineering, fabrication coordination, installation and deinstallation
• Assist Chief Curator and Development team with selected fundraising tasks and events
• Collaborate with Park staff on installation and deinstallation of projects through calendar notifications, scheduling, etc.
• Lead public tours of art exhibitions
• Supervise summer interns
• Coordinate logistics for annual symposium and annual meeting of Public Art Consortium
• Conceive art-program-related social media with Communications staff
• Coordinate events for the Art Council

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts degree in art history or fine arts or related field
• Knowledge of and passion for contemporary art and artists and a strong knowledge of art history and contemporary art
• Excellent written and oral skills
• Strong skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, InDesign
• Detail-oriented and organized
• Ability to work effectively on multiple projects and to meet deadlines
• Comfort representing the organization and department with a range of audiences

Compensation and Benefits

Salary range is $53,000 to $65,000 based on experience

Benefits include employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance; vacation and sick days; personal day; commuter benefits; floating holidays; 401(k) match after one year of employment.

Weekday schedule with some evening/weekend work required, especially during installation and deinstallation periods and evening events and programs. In-office/in-park attendance required 3 days per week, with exceptions for site visits and other work-related local travel.

Madison Square Park Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer. Madison Square Park Conservancy has required Covid 19 vaccination for all employees. The organization will consider accommodations for disability and religious-based reasons. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Madison Square Park Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to complying with all federal, state, and local equal employment opportunity (“EEO”) laws. The Conservancy prohibits discrimination against applicants for employment because of the individual’s race or color, religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, domestic partnership status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record or any other characteristic protected by law.

Benefits include employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance; vacation and sick days; personal day; commuter benefits; floating holidays; 401(k) match after one year of employment.