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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:The Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State is seeking applicants for the position of Curator of American Arts. The museum serves Penn State's land-grant mission of teaching, research, and public service and stands strong in the values of relevancy, integrity, service, and engagement and is guided by its mission, strategic goals, and core values. The Curator of American Art helps realize the Palmer Museum of Art's vision to serve as a gateway that connects communities through art. The museum embraces diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion and actively incorporates these principles into all areas of its operations and culture. The Curator of American Art shares these ideals and is committed to helping steward the museum's expansive collection of American art and exhibition program into the next phase of its history.
The Palmer Museum of Art is situated administratively in the College of Arts and Architecture. For more information on the Palmer Museum of Art please visit our website at: The College of Arts & Architecture is working to establish a culture of anti-racism and anti-oppression that embraces individual identities, fosters a culture of inclusion, and promotes equity through curricula, values, standards, ideals, policies and practices. The ideal candidate will provide evidence of their experience with, and interest in, contributing to these goals.
The Palmer Museum of Art is building on its significant American holdings as it enacts a new interpretive framework and community-centered approach to the presentation of the collection, its interpretation and programs. The Curator of American Art lends a fresh perspective on the evolution of the museum's collection of the art of the United States at a pivotal moment in its history with the opening of the new state-of-the-art building in the Arboretum at Penn State.As a significant content creator for the museum, the Curator of American Art aligns collection and exhibition development and programs with organizational goals, strategies, and mission; is an innovative interpreter of American art, history, society, and culture, and applies this to the presentation of the American collection; works collaboratively with Palmer staff and leadership to identify, administer, and organize temporary exhibitions; and actively participates in programming that informs, engages, and expands audiences to position the Palmer Museum of Art as a leading university art museum that serves both campus and local communities while serving as a cultural destination for the region.The Curator of American Art reports to the museum's Director and works as part of an experienced team to manage exhibition projects and budgets; researches and identifies works for acquisition in keeping with the museum's collections plan and strategic goal to collect underrepresented artists; stewards, networks, and shares in donor cultivation and institutional advancement; and enacts museum best practices, procedures, and protocols.With a strong background in American art history, the Curator of American Art oversees a broad period spanning initial contact between indigenous Americans and Europeans to the 20th century, and is expected to work collaboratively with contemporary artists and curators to ensure the museum's gallery presentations and exhibitions are innovative, culturally inclusive, and respond to the most potent ideas and pressing concerns of our time.The Curator of American Art position will be filled at the Curator Senior Professional level. As a collaborative member of the leadership team, the Curator of American Art strive to accomplish the museum's mission and to support its strategic direction as set by the Director and the senior leadership of the college and university.
Experience:Requires a Master's degree (Ph.D. preferred) in art history plus six years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A specialization in American art is required, and experience in an academic art museum is preferred.
Application Procedures:To be considered for this position,
submit a cover letter and resume. In your cover letter, address how equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging relate to your professional experience.Penn State offers competitive benefits to full-time employees, including medical, dental, vision, and retirement plans, in addition to tuition discounts (75% discount for spouse and children), and paid holidays. Please visit for more detailed information.
About the College of Arts & Architecture:The College of Arts and Architecture at Penn State ( is a comprehensive arts and architecture community including academic programs in architecture, landscape architecture, music, theatre, visual arts, graphic design, and art history, with a center for the performing arts, and a university art museum, which collectively serve as important cultural resources that provide educational engagement programs for Penn State and area communities. The college is committed to artistic and scholarly creativity, research, community engagement, and the preparation of specialized practitioners in all the arts and design disciplines, along with community engagement in its programs. In addition, the college is home to several research centers, institutes and initiatives, which foster a vibrant culture of inquiry that promotes excellence within the arts and design disciplines, while at the same time leveraging the potential of a comprehensive research university. There are approximately 1,700 graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in the college. The college is housed in sixteen buildings on the University Park campus. It includes performance spaces, gallery/exhibition spaces, a lighting and design lab, computer labs, special subject libraries, specialized studios and a stage lighting archive.
About Penn State:Penn State ( is a comprehensive, multi-campus research University serving all regions of the Commonwealth, as well as the nation and the world in instruction, research, and service roles that require responsiveness to and support from society's public and private sectors. As a land-grant University, Penn State has responsibility for providing a wide array of programs in the professional and technical disciplines, as well as a balanced offering of undergraduate and graduate programs in the arts and sciences. Penn State shares with other major research universities the traditional responsibilities to discover, develop, preserve, and disseminate knowledge. The University Park campus is located in the State College metropolitan area, a university town located in Centre County in central Pennsylvania. State College has a population of approximately 42,000 residents and is within a half-day`s drive to Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and New York City. The University Park Airport is served by three major carriers with non-stop flights to Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago, and Detroit.The salary range for this position, including all possible grades is:$61,800.00 - $89,600.00Salary Structure - additional information on Penn State's job and salary structure.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS: Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.
EEO IS THE LAWPenn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-###-####.Federal Contractors Labor Law PosterPA State Labor Law PosterAffirmative ActionPenn State PoliciesCopyright InformationHotlinesUniversity Park, PA