Curator of Photography and Contemporary Art

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art seeks an internationally recognized curator with expertise in 20th- and 21st-century art broadly who will have an area of focus in photography. Among the largest on the West Coast, the photography collection consists of about 8,000 objects within the museum’s total holdings of 26,000. Nestled between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Santa Barbara is about 90 minutes from downtown Los Angeles, and the city has a vibrant, walkable downtown and numerous local institutions of higher education, including the University of California, Santa Barbara. The incoming curator joins the museum at a pivotal moment with a renewed focused on community outreach, significant exhibitions, and raising our visibility regionally and nationally. This is an opportunity for someone with an entrepreneurial drive to build a program and shape the museum during a period of growth and change.

The qualified candidate will have comprehensive knowledge of 20th- and 21st-century art with an area of concentration in photography. The candidate will have an active curatorial profile demonstrated through exhibitions, publications, and public speaking. The candidate must have a record of successful collaboration with artists, collectors, curators, other non-profits, and specialists. The candidate will be responsible for a regular roster of exhibitions (loan and permanent collection), publishing, building relationships with collectors and supporters, regularly acquiring artworks, and organizing events for the curatorial support group, PhotoFutures.

The curator reports to the Museum’s Chief Curator, is responsible for collection development, presentation, and management, original research, interpretation, and fiscal accountability for projects. The candidate. The curator will support the Museum in its fundraising from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. The curator must be organized, communicative, and meet deadlines.

Requirements include:
Superior communication skills, both oral and written, and a diplomatic and collegial demeanor. A demonstrated track record of collaboration, exhibitions, and publications. An M.A. in Art History or related field. At least 5 years of full-time experience as a curator at a museum or equivalent setting.

Salary for exempt position will be commensurate with experience $100,000 to $115,000 annually.

• Full Time status provides competitive benefits including 3 weeks of vacation, 8 days of paid sick leave, 13 paid holidays (14 on Federal Election Yrs.), medical/dental/vision/life ins/pretax savings options and 403b eligibility with 100% matching of up to 5% of your earnings after a year’s service; all while working in beautiful downtown Santa Barbara.
• Position is non-remote.
• Position requires a successful background check, valid driver’s license and a clean driving record, and ability to travel periodically as necessary domestically and/or Internationally.

Review of applications begins immediately and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Please send CV, cover letter, and names of three references to: Human Resources at hr@sbma.net.

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art is one of the finest museums on the West coast and is celebrated for the superb quality of its permanent collection. Its mission is to integrate art into the lives of people through internationally recognized exhibitions and special programs, as well as the thoughtful presentation of its permanent collection.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to diversity. The Santa Barbara Museum of Art is recognized for its comprehensive art collection, diverse exhibits, and a broad array of events and community activities.