Job Listing: Gallery Director

Staniar Gallery at Washington & Lee - Lexington, VA

Closes - review of applicants will begin on August 20, 2023 and remain open until the position is filled

Position Title - Gallery Director

Compensation - begins at $69,339 and is commensurate with experience; benefit eligible

Job Type - full-time

Apply - Please submit a resume or CV and letter of application that: describes current gallery/museum experience, describes innovative current or upcoming exhibition programming, articulates interests in directing a gallery in a Liberal Arts setting, and demonstrates a commitment to working with a diverse student population that includes majors and non-majors at all levels. Upload both required documents to the Resume/CV upload section of the application. You will be asked to provide names and contact information for three professional references.

For more information and to apply, please visit the W&L website.

Summary - The Gallery Director develops exhibitions and programming to support the University’s liberal arts mission and to enhance the cultural and intellectual life of the community. Working in tandem with the Studio Art and Art History faculty to select exhibitions, the Gallery Director’s primary mission is to link the gallery to the studio art and art history curriculum through exhibitions and the visiting artist program. The Gallery Director is responsible for the entire range of gallery operations, from development of the annual exhibition calendar to leadership in policy development. The Gallery Director also oversees gallery internship opportunities for students to gain practical pre-professional experience.

The Director acts as curator, preparator, exhibition designer, publicist, educator, and manager. The Director leads a small staff that includes a part-time gallery assistant, work study students, student interns, gallery attendants, and independent contractors (art handlers, shippers, and other outside vendors) hired by the Gallery Director. The Gallery Director also teaches the Internship in Arts Management course each academic year in which undergraduate students gain hands-on experience researching and installing exhibitions and working with visiting artists.

 Staniar Gallery was conceived of as a pedagogical space and is dedicated to the exhibition of contemporary and historical works in all media by regionally, nationally, and internationally recognized artists. Each academic year, six to eight exhibiting artists spend time in the Art and Art History Department conducting critiques, giving lectures, and mentoring undergraduate students. Staniar Gallery is a non-collecting 1,300 square foot space located in Wilson Hall in the Lenfest Center at Washington and Lee University.

 Washington and Lee University actively promotes a dynamic and inclusive environment that allows students and employees of multiple backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to learn, work, and thrive together. Successful candidates will contribute to that environment and exhibit potential for excellence in their areas of expertise.

Job Responsibilities - 

• Provide leadership and a vision for the gallery, including implementation of Staniar Gallery’s mission and curatorial/pedagogical philosophy.
• Develop and manage the annual gallery budget.
• Execute the full range of exhibition activities from conceptualization, supporting documentation and print or electronic materials, shipping, art handling, condition reports, installation and deinstallation, ancillary programming, the opening (the lecture and reception), hospitality and travel for visiting artists and scholars, and all other activities related to the development and implementation of exhibitions.  The Director may seek assistance from staff or independent contractors to aid in these responsibilities.
• Collaborate with faculty in the Art and Art History Department to conceive of and guide exhibitions that lead to a better understanding of contemporary and art historical artworks and cultural issues. Work with faculty in other departments and with professionals at other institutions (in particular, curators, critics, artists, and art historians) as needed to facilitate connections that will support gallery programming.
• Coordinates programming to serve the curricular aims of the Art Department and the University, including ancillary programming and the visiting artist program.
• Oversees formal gallery space and ancillary exhibition spaces in the art department, including Lykes Atrium and hallway spaces adjacent to Staniar Gallery. Exhibitions in these spaces may require budget supervision, publicity, scheduling, specific installation needs and visiting artist coordination.
• Develop appropriate gallery publications including exhibition announcements, exhibition catalogues, text panels, and other materials that directly support exhibitions and gallery programming.  Conceptualize publication design and content, research and writing, and commissioning. Edits the writing of other scholars. Work with professional designers and printers to implement the materials.
• Manage and coordinate publicity and public relations for the gallery. Write press releases and work with the Public Affairs and Communications office; in conjunction with Web Services, manage the online profile for Staniar Gallery and the visiting artist program; develop other public relations outreach for the gallery.
• Manage care of artworks, including proper storage, handling, installation, transport, and insurance. The Gallery Director is also responsible for continuing to develop security and environmental controls in the gallery and in gallery storage (within the constraints of the current budget and facilities) and the aim of keeping these controls current and in line with “best practices” as defined by professional standards.
• Supervise student workers and direct gallery interns within the context of a 400-level academic course, which is offered once a year.
• Work with representatives from University Museums to support and promote art throughout campus, including installing and caring for artwork from the university's collection that hangs in the Art Department.
• Manage public outreach such as visits by school groups, community groups, alumni and special programs groups, etc.
• Attend one professional conference annually to stay apprised of current gallery and museum practices.
• When necessary, develop the annual capital request for the gallery in consultation with the department head.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications -

• Provide leadership and a vision for the gallery, including implementation of Staniar Gallery’s mission and curatorial/pedagogical philosophy.
• Develop and manage the annual gallery budget.
• Execute the full range of exhibition activities from conceptualization, supporting documentation and print or electronic materials, shipping, art handling, condition reports, installation and deinstallation, ancillary programming, the opening (the lecture and reception), hospitality and travel for visiting artists and scholars, and all other activities related to the development and implementation of exhibitions.  The Director may seek assistance from staff or independent contractors to aid in these responsibilities.
• Collaborate with faculty in the Art and Art History Department to conceive of and guide exhibitions that lead to a better understanding of contemporary and art historical artworks and cultural issues. Work with faculty in other departments and with professionals at other institutions (in particular, curators, critics, artists, and art historians) as needed to facilitate connections that will support gallery programming.
• Coordinates programming to serve the curricular aims of the Art Department and the University, including ancillary programming and the visiting artist program.
• Oversees formal gallery space and ancillary exhibition spaces in the art department, including Lykes Atrium and hallway spaces adjacent to Staniar Gallery. Exhibitions in these spaces may require budget supervision, publicity, scheduling, specific installation needs and visiting artist coordination.
• Develop appropriate gallery publications including exhibition announcements, exhibition catalogues, text panels, and other materials that directly support exhibitions and gallery programming.  Conceptualize publication design and content, research and writing, and commissioning. Edits the writing of other scholars. Work with professional designers and printers to implement the materials.
• Manage and coordinate publicity and public relations for the gallery. Write press releases and work with the Public Affairs and Communications office; in conjunction with Web Services, manage the online profile for Staniar Gallery and the visiting artist program; develop other public relations outreach for the gallery.
• Manage care of artworks, including proper storage, handling, installation, transport, and insurance. The Gallery Director is also responsible for continuing to develop security and environmental controls in the gallery and in gallery storage (within the constraints of the current budget and facilities) and the aim of keeping these controls current and in line with “best practices” as defined by professional standards.
• Supervise student workers and direct gallery interns within the context of a 400-level academic course, which is offered once a year.
• Work with representatives from University Museums to support and promote art throughout campus, including installing and caring for artwork from the university's collection that hangs in the Art Department.
• Manage public outreach such as visits by school groups, community groups, alumni and special programs groups, etc.
• Attend one professional conference annually to stay apprised of current gallery and museum practices.
• When necessary, develop the annual capital request for the gallery in consultation with the department head.
• Other related duties as assigned.