The Muskegon Museum of Art (MMA), fully accredited since 1988, seeks a qualified professional to serve as Curator of Collections and Exhibitions. This is a full-time position that reports to the Executive Director and requires relocating to Muskegon, MI (or a location within a commutable distance), a summer tourist destination situated on the beaches of Lake Michigan.
The Muskegon Museum of Art is a renowned Michigan cultural institution with a national footprint. The MMA holds an impressive permanent collection of nearly 6,000 objects with a focus on paintings (particularly the work of 19th and 20th century American artists), sculpture, glass, women artists, and works on paper, which is in demand globally for loans. Now in its 114th year, the MMA has a motivated staff presenting a wide variety of 10-15 temporary exhibitions annually (mostly self-organized) and enjoys visitors from all 50 states and over two dozen counties annually. In 2025, a $16M, 26,000 SF museum expansion, The Bennett Schmidt Pavilion, was opened to the public.
The MMA has gained significant recognition as a leader in promoting the work of women artists and has been the sponsoring museum for The Bennett Prize for Women Figurative Realist Painters since the inception of The Prize. To that effect, the MMA also employs a full-time Curator of Women Artists.
The Curator has primary responsibility for:
- The management, development, safety, and care of the Museum’s growing collection in a manner consistent with both the highest museum standards as recommended by the American Association of Museums and with laws and regulations pertaining to collections and collecting activities;
- The development and implementation of a comprehensive exhibition schedule aligning with MMA strategy, including both temporary and permanent collection installations;
- Leading acquisition efforts to grow the museum’s permanent collection in line with the MMA’s Strategic Collections Plan working with the Executive Director and the museum’s Collections Committee of board, staff, artists, and volunteers;
- Collections research, interpretation, and related publications. Working in collaboration with the Museum’s Executive Director, the Curator functions as team leader of the staff and board Exhibitions Committee;
- Building relationships with the community, other museums, artists, collectors, and the wider art museum world.
Additionally, the Curator is responsible for implementing and elevating the MMA’s successful exhibition strategy balancing both large popular cornerstone exhibitions (both traveling and self-organized) designed to attract a wide variety of new audiences, and other fine art exhibitions both historic and contemporary that enhance mission, attendance and community programming.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Has principal oversight and coordination of the permanent collection, including display, interpretation, preservation, and conservation in accordance with nationally accepted museum practices and all applicable laws;
- Working closely with Executive Director, participates in external activities, marketing, publicity and fund raising activities; represent the Museum at scholarly, public and social events, both internal to the Museum and in the community and region;
- Supervises Collections Manager and Preparator(s);
- In collaboration with the Executive Director and the Exhibitions Team, is responsible for the development and implementation of a planned approach to temporary and traveling exhibitions in accordance with nationally accepted museum practices and MMA strategic priorities;
- Develops exhibitions in line with the MMA’s Strategic Exhibitions Plan;
- Develops and/or coordinates all exhibition concepts, themes and the selection of objects for installation, and is responsible for oversight of installations;
- Functions as the primary contact/liaison for all traveling exhibitions, assuring appropriate communications with exhibition sources;
- Works collaboratively with the Curator of Education in preparing interpretive materials for the permanent collection as well as temporary and traveling exhibitions;
- Presents public programs and lectures related to the permanent collection and temporary installations, conducts training sessions for docents and other volunteers, and presents lectures and other programs in art history and connoisseurship;
- Initiates and develops research and publications related to exhibitions and the permanent collection, including the development and periodic revision of comprehensive catalogues for the permanent collection;
- Develops and maintains relationships with a broad group of collectors, dealers, and scholars in the region and beyond;
- Develops and implements a strategy for acquiring items for the Museum’s permanent collection;
- Functions as staff liaison to select MMA committees and support groups, such as the Collections Committee and other groups as determined and assigned;
- Assists in the development of the annual exhibition budget;
- Participates in fundraising events;
- Works collaboratively with other staff to achieve Museum objectives;
- Other duties may be assigned.
Qualifications and Experience Requirements:
- Five years or more museum experience in a curatorial capacity with a demonstrable record of curatorial accomplishment and responsibility;
- Direct and demonstrable success in exhibition planning and execution;
- Proven ability and success in external relations, including marketing, publicity and fundraising activities, scholarly, public and social events;
- Direct experience in collections management;
- Proven ability to work in collaboration with a variety of people, manage a volunteer work force and supervise operations as needed;
- Proven aptitude for creative thinking, flexibility, and sensitivity to diverse constituencies;
- Strong budgeting and organizational skills;
- Excellent written and verbal communication competencies;
- A proven record of dynamic and strong leadership skills;
- A record of academic research as demonstrated through professional publications related to art and art history;
- Current knowledge of museum standards and practices;
- Competency with computer word processing, databases, and other business/office/museum software programs; and,
- Previous experience in at least two comparable museums strongly preferred.
A successful candidate will bring innovative thinking, vision, enthusiasm and a “can-do” attitude to the Curator role as well as an ability to motivate those around them.
Educational Requirements:
- A minimum of a Masters of Arts in art history or related museum/curatorial.
- Demonstrable broad art historical competence required; a field of specialization related to the permanent collection of the Muskegon Museum of Art strongly preferred.
To Apply:
Please send your Cover Letter, Resume, and 3 References to:
Muskegon Museum of Art
Search Committee
ATTN: Kirk Hallman, Executive Director
[email protected]
More About Muskegon:
“Great Art. Great Outdoors.” is the recent marketing brand of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce. Muskegon Michigan is located on the shores of Lake Michigan boasting over 15 miles of the most pristine beaches in the country, three stunning state parks, a dune-studded shoreline, as well as miles of trails, dozens of lakes and rivers making Muskegon a boating/hiking/skiing/biking/kayaking dream. The Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park in Muskegon State Park boasts a luge run, climbing walls, lighted cross-country ski trails, zip lines and miles of hiking trails with breathtaking views.
The greater Muskegon area is in an unprecedented period of growth as a new downtown continues to expand over the past decade with dozens of restaurants, breweries, new convention center, remodeled arena, fresh construction, new downtown housing and urban lakeshore bike trails with a young demographic. Despite all this new growth, the cost of living remains below average with a variety of housing available from urban apartment to city neighborhoods to suburban and country lifestyles. Muskegon is regularly listed in national publications as a city on the move.
For over a century, Muskegon has enjoyed strong cultural institutions including the Muskegon Museum of Art, West Michigan Symphony, Muskegon Civic Theatre, Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts, Muskegon Lakeshore Museum Center, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and is well known as a major festival town as home to the internationally renowned Michigan Irish Music Festival and others. Muskegon has also become known for its aggressive program of public art with over a dozen major sculptures being placed in the downtown over the past 5 years.
Jet service from Muskegon County Airport connects directly to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. Muskegon is 30 minutes to downtown Grand Rapids and 3 hours from Detroit and Chicago. More information can be found at visitmuskegon.org