Curator of Outdoor Art

Reporting to Director of the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery, the Curator of Outdoor Art is a part-time position responsible for the development and management of the outdoor art program on UBC’s Vancouver campus. The Curator of Outdoor Art works with the Director of the Gallery and the University Art Committee in determining appropriate works for the outdoor art collection, initiates and develops contacts with artists, obtains the permissions required at various levels of the university, and manages the curatorial development and logistical delivery of public art projects. The incumbent works closely with the Gallery’s staff, UBC Campus + Community Planning, UBC Project Services, Musqueam and a variety of external contacts including artists, funders, and vendors to ensure the successful sequencing, management, and integration of new outdoor art on campus as well as ongoing maintenance and conservation of the outdoor art collection. This position prepares and manages project proposals, budgets, schedules, contracts, grants and reports, and participates in fundraising and long range curatorial and strategic planning for the outdoor art collection and the Gallery. The position is expected to participate in the intellectual life of the creative and performing arts at UBC. The incumbent liaises with a variety of University offices and units and represents the Director at meetings as required. As a key member of the team, participates in activities related to institutional planning, growth and development including workshops and staff retreats.

The Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery at UBC is mandated to research, exhibit, collect, publish, educate and develop programs in the field of contemporary art. The Gallery is situated on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) People. The Gallery promotes understanding and discussion of contemporary art and contemporary issues in art history, criticism and curating, with a focus on our region in an international context. The Gallery is an internationally recognized Category A institution and houses the University’s art collection of over 5,000 objects, one of the largest public collections of art in British Columbia. The Gallery also holds one of the largest artists’ archives in Canada and oversees the University’s outdoor art collection on the Vancouver campus which includes twenty-five works. Through a program of exhibitions, publications, loans and special projects, the Belkin participates in the national and international community of institutions concerned with contemporary art. The Gallery operates as a unit in the Faculty of Arts and participates in the training of student curators through the Critical and Curatorial Studies Program in the Department of Art History, Visual and Theory.

Organizational Status
The position reports to the Director of the Gallery, works collegially with the Associate Director/Curator and collaboratively with all Gallery staff, as well as students and volunteers, and contributes directly to the policies and priorities of the Gallery. Works with the Administrator regarding structural aspects of the position (vacation, sick time, scheduling performance reviews, etc) and on budget matters as appropriate. Communicates directly with artists, curators, conservators, technicians, donors, and other institutions from all over the world. Works with a variety of UBC departments and units, faculty members and various internal stakeholders across campus. Works with UBC Project Services in contracting multiple vendors, suppliers, designers and consultants. Develops a strong understanding of and relationship with Musqueam, liaising with them along with other external agencies, including government funders and private foundations. Serves on the University Art Committee (non-voting member) and the Outdoor Art Subcommittee and may represent the Gallery on other UBC committees and to various other units. Represents the Gallery to the media and actively participates in the local, national, and international cultural communities.

Work Performed

• In consultation with the Director oversees the artistic direction of the outdoor art collection and ensures rigour, coherence and consistency with the Gallery’s collections policies and UBC’s Vancouver Campus Public Art Strategy.
• Coordinates project development and overall project management in consultation with other University departments including Campus + Community Planning, Project Services, and Building Operations and ensures communication between all parties (Gallery staff, artist, contractors, UBC units, and donors).
• Contributes to the development of the University’s outdoor art program and related policies and establishes new policies and procedures as required regarding the production and installation of outdoor art projects.
• Works with the Director and the University Art Committee in determining appropriate works for the outdoor art program and recommending the allocation of matching funds from Infrastructure Impact Charges (IIC) towards acquisition and installation of works as part of the University Art Collection.
• Consults with Musqueam regarding the development of new projects.
• Researches and consults with artists, Gallery technical staff, and Project Services on technical feasibility of public art projects and refines requirements for Development Permit applications.
• Oversees the commissioning of new outdoor art and negotiates and writes contracts with artists, works with UBC Development on gift agreements for works acquired by donation.
• Oversees siting of outdoor art and consults and provides curatorial expertise to Campus + Community Planning, Project Services, Building Operations, Public Affairs and others on all aspects of outdoor art projects throughout the installation process.
• Liaises with artists throughout installation process.
• Develops and monitors budgets for the installation of public art works to ensure projects develop within established budgets and authorizes expenditures when appropriate.
• Writes proposals to government agencies, private foundations, and individuals to fund the acquisition purchase and installation of works.
• In consultation with Gallery technical and collections staff, recommends maintenance and conservation of works in the outdoor art collection and the prioritizing of projects to be funded through Building Operations.
• Researches, writes and edits material for publicity, website, publications and reports.
• Advises and works with Gallery programming staff on developing related academic programs, education programs, and publications, and with communications staff on related promotion and events to generate awareness of outdoor art program.
• Works closely with UBC Development staff on fundraising and donor relations in support of the outdoor art program, meets with high profile donors as appropriate, and attends launch and related events.
• Represents the Gallery to various other units at UBC, to the media, and external community. Actively participates in the local, national and international cultural communities, and works collectively with all Gallery staff for the success and advancement of the Gallery.
• Attends meetings of the University Art Committee and Outdoor Art Subcommittee as a non-voting member
• Provides information and support to the Director and performs other duties as assigned by the Director.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Expected to make decisions regarding the overall management of the University’s public art collection and related programming. Inappropriate or errors in judgment and decision-making could have a substantial negative impact on the reputation of the Gallery and UBC, and its relationships with other institutions, lenders, and funders. Consequences of errors could include withdrawal or diminishing of grants, damage to donor relations, loss or damage to valuable or irreplaceable artworks, litigation against the Gallery and UBC, difficult working relationships with artists, and loss of reputation on campus and within the local and international communities.

Supervision Received
Works under direction of Director with considerable latitude and within broad professional and policy guidelines. Work is reviewed in terms of professional standards and adherence to the Gallery’s mandate.

Supervision Given
Manages, recruits, mentors and trains student employees, interns and auxiliary staff. Supervises technical, conservator and artist contractors and volunteers.

Minimum Qualifications
Master’s degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of six years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in a relevant discipline such as visual arts, art history, curatorial studies, or museum studies. Minimum of six years experience in arts administration and curating, including exhibition coordination, loans and collections management, project management, team leadership, budget development and administration. Demonstrated experience managing public art projects. Demonstrated experience in curatorial practices in contemporary art in the non-profit gallery, museum sector, and/or municipal public art programs.

Excellent knowledge and understanding of contemporary visual art practices and critical theory, artistic process and art fabrication.

Knowledge of post-war art in Vancouver, an understanding of the Belkin Gallery’s collection and how it has evolved, and experience working in a university art gallery/museum environment.

Considerable knowledge of best practices used in public art collections and museum management, exhibition methods, and contemporary conservation policies and practices as applied to art exhibitions and art collections.

Demonstrated ability to research, plan, budget for, organize and support public art installations, including negotiation of fees, contracts and commissions.

Ability to efficiently organize, prioritize, track and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Ability to collaborate in order to establish and maintain effective complex working relationships, and work diplomatically and persuasively with, a variety of internal and external partners and stakeholders and people of varied cultural backgrounds.

Ability to establish and maintain effective interdepartmental working relationships and understand the function of diverse UBC departments.

Grant writing and fundraising experience.

Ability to efficiently work under deadline pressures and budget limitations.

Excellent oral and written communication, presentation, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.

Ability to lead, motivate and supervise staff, contractors, and volunteers.

Ability to communicate effectively at professional meetings and use discretion and good judgment with sensitive situations.

Ability to work in highly organized and independent manner, following policy guidelines, without supervision.

Must be able to work flexible hours and be able to travel.