Explore past exhibitions from the Muskegon Museum of Art.

Jonathan Thunder: Maamawi

From Glass to Paper: The Harvey Littleton Printmaking Legacy

Norwood Viviano: Recast Cities

Through Our Lens: Hands

The Rise of Print: Rembrandt & Company

Expressions: Muskegon County Student Art Exhibition

Golden Legacy: 80 Years of Original Art from Golden Books

David Lubbers: The Mysterious Landscape

American Realism: Visions of America, 1900-1950

The Bennett Prize: Rising Voices 3

The Lessons I Leave You: Paintings by Ayana Ross

Strange Winter: The Snow Globes of Walter Martin and Paloma Muñoz

Oddities & Delights from the MMA Permanent Collection

Tiffany Lamps: A Richard H. Driehaus Collection

Visions: 16 Detroit Artists

April 13 – Children’s Illustration: Patricia Polacco’s My Ol’ Man

April 17 – Expressions of Faith

April 21 – Good Design: Stories from Herman Miller

May 7 – Japanese Warriors: Robots from the Warren Schwartz Collection

Edward Curtis: Unpublished Alaska, The Lost Photographs

Edward Curtis: The North American Indian

Sons Virtual Exhibition

Open Position Description:

DIRECTOR OF THE BENNETT PRIZE FOR WOMEN FIGURATIVE REALIST PAINTERS

Muskegon Museum of Art  | Muskegon, Michigan

The Muskegon Museum of Art (MMA) is seeking a qualified professional to serve in the newly created position of Director of The Bennett Prize for Women Figurative Realist Painters/Bennett Schmidt Curator of Women’s Art.

The creation of this position coincides with the construction of The Bennett-Schmidt Pavilion, an addition to the current Muskegon Museum of Art doubling its size to 57,570 square feet in order to feature exhibits dedicated to the work of women artists. This expansion reflects the MMA’s position as the sponsoring museum for The Bennett Prize for Women Figurative Realist Painters, an honor it has held since the creation of The Prize in 2018.

The Bennett Prize for Women Figurative Realist Painters is a biennial, juried art competition that awards $50,000 to one woman artist to create her own solo exhibition and awards an additional prize of $10,000 to a woman painter for achievement in figurative realism. The Prize is intended to encourage women artists who have historically been underrepresented in the art world and to showcase and promote figurative realism. The Director of The Bennett Prize will be responsible for the organization, coordination, and management of all Bennett Prize activities and the associated exhibition Rising Voices, including overseeing the logistics of the competition and the call for entries, gathering the information for the exhibition and associated catalogue, overseeing the design of the catalogue and, in conjunction with MMA staff, overseeing the installation of the exhibition at the MMA and the logistics of the traveling exhibition. Given the national scope of The Prize, the incumbent must have significant skill in coordinating with other institutions and individuals, including museums, art galleries, consultants, and awardees.

Additionally, the person selected for this position, in conjunction with the Executive Director of the museum, will contribute to the women-focused programming of the MMA, including the selection, design and logistics of exhibitions of the work of women artists sponsored by the museum. The incumbent will support the curation of the work of women artists in the MMA permanent collection, including those contained in The Bennett Collection, a gift of over 150 contemporary and historic paintings of women by women being given to the museum by the Texas-based collectors, Steven Alan Bennett and Dr. Elaine Melotti Schmidt.

The ideal candidate will have significant experience, preferably 5 or more years, in and with museums, art exhibitions, and arts management and will have an understanding of and experience with managing a collection of art objects, mounting museum exhibitions that include all types of art, and the creation of promotional materials related to such exhibitions, including accompanying scholarly catalogues. A Master of Arts degree in museum studies or administration, museum science, museology, or art history is preferred. Alternatively, the appropriate candidate might have a Master of Fine Arts degree in an artistic discipline with accompanying experience in a museum setting. Lesser education, but not less than a bachelor’s degree, with offsetting experience may be considered for the right candidate.

This full-time position will report directly to the Executive Director of the MMA and will be housed in the MMA’s principal facility in downtown Muskegon, Michigan. The position will have pay appropriate to the education and experience of the chosen candidate and will include a full package of health and welfare benefits equal to that of other similarly situated members of the MMA staff. Given the need for the incumbent to interface with fellow museum staff members as well as the community, opportunities for remote work will be limited. It is expected that the incumbent will make the Greater Muskegon area their home.

The Muskegon Museum of Art is one of the Nation’s premier art museums with a dynamic and motivated staff.  Situated on the shore of Lake Michigan, the MMA is a renowned Western Michigan cultural institution dedicated to showcasing the visual arts. Founded in 1912, the MMA has a permanent collection in excess of 5,000 objects, with a deep focus on painting, particularly the work of 19^th and 20^th century American artists. In addition to its permanent collection, the MMA from time-to-time showcases works from other institutions and private collections and received global accolades for its recent exhibition of the photographs and academic work of the ethnographer of American Indian culture, Edward S. Curtis. More recently, 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.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Director of The Bennett Prize

1. Responsible for the management of The Bennett Prize for Women Figurative Realists and accompanying exhibition including coordination and overseeing of related logistics, call for entry, catalog, exhibition installation, and related tasks.
2. Work collaboratively with MMA staff and any external marketing firms on the Bennett Prize marketing and strategy.
3. In conjunction with MMA staff, coordinate The Bennett Prize exhibition opening activities, including artist travel and accommodations, reception logistics, and workshops.
4. Oversee and coordinate associated traveling exhibitions, as well as securing additional exhibition venues, in accordance with nationally accepted museum practices.

The Bennett-Schmidt Curator of Women’s Art

1. Working with the Executive Director and in coordination with MMA staff, contribute to and develop women-focused exhibitions and programming for the MMA.
2. Curate the work of both the women artists of the MMA Permanent Collection and the Bennett Collection.
3. Work collaboratively with the Curator of Education in preparing interpretive materials accompanying these exhibitions.
4. Present related public programs and lectures and conduct training sessions for docents and other volunteers around the Bennett Prize and Women-focused exhibitions and programming.
5. Work with the Executive Director, Director of Collections and Exhibitions, and Collections Committee to enhance women artist representation in the MMA permanent collection.

Other Duties

1. Participate in external activities; represent The Bennett Prize and the Museum at scholarly, public and social events, both internal to the Museum and in the community and region.
2. Participate in MMA fundraising events such as (but not limited to) the annual Gala.
3. Contribute to the strategic discussions regarding acquiring items for the Museum’s permanent collection.
4. Assist in the development of the annual exhibition budget.
5. Work collaboratively with other MMA staff to achieve Museum objectives.
6. Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

The successful candidate will possess the following:

1. A Master of Arts degree in museum studies or administration, museum science, museology, or art history is preferred. Alternatively, the appropriate candidate might have a Master of Fine Arts degree in an artistic discipline with accompanying experience in a museum setting. Lesser education, but not less than a bachelor’s degree, with offsetting experience may be considered for the right candidate. Previous experience in at least two comparable museums strongly preferred.
2. Significant Experience, preferably 5 or more years, in and with museums, art exhibitions, and arts management.
3. Direct and demonstrable success in exhibition planning and execution and the creation of promotional materials related to such exhibitions, including accompanying scholarly catalogues.
4. An understanding of and experience with managing a collection of art objects.
5. Proven ability and success in organizing/overseeing scholarly, public and social events.
6. Proven ability to work in collaboration with a variety of people.
7. Proven aptitude for creative thinking, flexibility, and sensitivity to diverse constituencies.
8. Strong budgeting and organizational skills.
9. Excellent written and verbal communication competencies.
10. A proven record of dynamic and strong leadership skills.
11. Current knowledge of museum standards and practices.
12. Competency with computer word processing, databases, and other business/office/museum software programs.

SALARY: $60,000 – $70,000 plus generous benefit package.

APPLICATION SUBMISSION:

Please submit cover letter, resume, and three professional references to:

Kirk Hallman, Executive Director

Muskegon Museum of Art

296 W. Webster Ave

Muskegon, MI 49440

Application materials can be emailed to khepler@muskegonartmuseum.org by February 14, 2024.

Position Title: The Bennett-Schmidt Curator of Women’s Art and Director of The Bennett Prize for Women
Figurative Realist Painters

The Muskegon Museum of Art (MMA) is seeking a qualified professional to serve in the newly created
position of Bennett-Schmidt Curator of Women’s Art and Director of The Bennett Prize for Women
Figurative Realist Painters.

The creation of this position coincides with the construction of The Bennett-Schmidt Pavilion, an addition
to the current museum that will more than double its size to 57,570 square feet and which will feature
exhibits dedicated to the work of women artists. It also reflects the MMA’s position as sponsoring
museum for The Bennett Prize for Women Figurative Realist Painters, an honor it has held since the
creation of The Prize in 2018.

The person selected for this position, in conjunction with the Executive Director of the museum, will be
responsible for the women-focused programming of the MMA, including the selection, design and
logistics of the various exhibitions of the work of women artists sponsored by the museum. In addition,
the incumbent will curate the work of women artists in the MMA permanent collection, including those
contained in The Bennett Collection, a gift of over 150 contemporary and historic paintings of women by
women being given to the museum by the Texas-based collectors, Steven Alan Bennett and Dr. Elaine
Melotti Schmidt.

In addition to their curatorial responsibilities, the incumbent will also function as Director of The Bennett
Prize for Women Figurative Realist Painters, a biennial, juried art competition that awards $50,000 to
one woman artist to create her own solo exhibition and awards an additional prize of $10,000 to a
woman painter for achievement in figurative realism. The incumbent will also oversee the associated
exhibition, which travels the country for two years following the award. The Prize is intended to
encourage women artists who have historically been underrepresented in the art world and to showcase
and promote figurative realism.

In their capacity as Director of The Bennett Prize, the incumbent will be responsible for the organization,
coordination, and management of all Bennett Prize activities, including overseeing the logistics of the
competition and the call for entries, gathering the information for the exhibition and associated
catalogue, overseeing the design of the catalogue and, in conjunction with MMA staff, overseeing the
installation of the exhibition at the MMA and the logistics of the traveling exhibition. Given the national
scope of The Prize, the incumbent must have significant skill in coordinating with other institutions and
individuals, including museums, art galleries, consultants, and awardees.

The ideal candidate will have significant experience, preferably 5 or more years, in and with museums,
art exhibitions, and arts management and will have an understanding of and experience with managing a
collection of art objects, mounting museum exhibitions that include all types of art, and the creation of

promotional materials related to such exhibitions, including accompanying scholarly catalogues. A
Master of Arts degree in museum studies or administration, museum science, museology, or art history
is preferred. Alternatively, the appropriate candidate might have a Master of Fine Arts degree in an
artistic discipline with accompanying experience in a museum setting. Lesser education, but not less
than a bachelor’s degree, with offsetting experience may be considered for the right candidate.
This full-time position will report directly to the Executive Director of the MMA and will be housed in the
MMA’s principal facility in downtown Muskegon, Michigan. The position will have pay appropriate to the
education and experience of the chosen candidate and will include a full package of health and welfare
benefits equal to that of other similarly situated members of the MMA staff. Given the need for the
incumbent to interface with fellow museum staff members as well as the community, opportunities for
remote work will be limited. It is expected that the incumbent will make the Greater Muskegon area
their home.

The Muskegon Museum of Art is one of the Nation’s premier art museums with a dynamic and
motivated staff. Situated on the shore of Lake Michigan, the MMA is a renowned Western Michigan
cultural institution dedicated to showcasing the visual arts. Founded in 1912, the MMA has a permanent
collection in excess of 5,000 objects, with a deep focus on painting, particularly the work of 19th and 20th
century American artists. In addition to its permanent collection, the MMA from time-to-time showcases
works from other institutions and private collections and received global accolades for its recent
exhibition of the photographs and academic work of the ethnographer of American Indian culture,
Edward S. Curtis. More recently, 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.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Director of The Bennett Prize

• • Responsible for the management of the Bennett Prize for Women Figurative Realists and
    accompanying exhibitions including coordination and overseeing of related logistics, call for
    entry, catalog, exhibition installation, and related tasks.
  • Work collaboratively with MMA staff and any external marketing firms on the Bennett Prize
    marketing and strategy.
  • In conjunction with MMA staff, coordinate the Bennett Prize exhibition opening activities.
    including artist travel and accommodations, reception logistics, and workshops.
  • Oversee and coordinate associated traveling exhibitions, as well as securing additional
    exhibition venues, in accordance with nationally accepted museum practices.

The Bennett-Schmidt Curator of Women’s Art

• • Working with the Executive Director and in coordination with MMA staff, oversee and
    coordinate the women-focused exhibitions and programming of MMA.
  • Curate the work of both the women artists of the MMA Permanent Collection and the Bennett
    Collection.
  • Work collaboratively with the Curator of Education in preparing interpretive materials
    accompanying these exhibitions.
  • Present related public programs and lectures, conducts training sessions for docents and other
    volunteers around the Bennett Prize and Women exhibitions and programming.
  • Work with the Executive Director and Collections committee to enhance women artist
    representation in the MMA permanent collection.

Other Duties

• • Participate in external activities; represent the Museum at scholarly, public and social events,
    both internal to the Museum and in the community and region.
  • Participate in MMA fundraising events such as (but not limited to) the annual Gala.
  • Develop and implement a strategy for acquiring items for the Museum’s permanent collection.
  • Assist in the development of the annual exhibition budget.
  • Work collaboratively with other MMA staff to achieve Museum objectives.
  • Other duties may be assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
The successful candidate will possess the following:

• • A Master of Arts degree in museum studies or administration, museum science, museology, or
    art history is preferred. Alternatively, the appropriate candidate might have a Master of Fine
    Arts degree in an artistic discipline with accompanying experience in a museum setting. Lesser
    education, but not less than a bachelor’s degree, with offsetting experience may be considered
    for the right candidate. Previous experience in at least two comparable museums strongly
    preferred.
  • Significant Experience, preferably 5 or more years, in and with museums, art exhibitions, and
    arts management.
  • Direct and demonstrable success in exhibition planning and execution and the creation of promotional materials related to such exhibitions, including accompanying scholarly catalogues.
  • An understanding of and experience with managing a collection of art objects.
  • Proven ability and success in organizing/overseeing scholarly, public and social events.
  • Proven ability to work in collaboration with a variety of people.
  • 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.
  • Current knowledge of museum standards and practices.
  • Competency with computer word processing, databases, and other business/office/museum
    software programs.

Full-Time Position with Benefits
Salary Range: $60,000 -$70,000

A complete detailed job description can be found at: www.muskegonartmuseum.org/Bennett-
Schmidt-Curator

APPLICATION SUBMISSION:
Please submit cover letter, resume, and three professional references by October 6, 2023 to:

Kirk Hallman, Executive Director
Muskegon Museum of Art
296 W. Webster Avenue
Muskegon, MI 49440

Application materials can be emailed to khepler@muskegonartmuseum.org

History

Muskegon was a prosperous and booming town during the 1870s and 80s.  The “Lumber Queen of the World,” as Muskegon was known, produced much of the lumber for a growing nation. Nearly 50 sawmills circled Muskegon Lake at the peak of the lumbering era and over 40 millionaires, those who had made their fortunes in lumber called Muskegon their home. However, once the boom times came to an end, many of the barons moved away, taking their fortunes with them.

Fortunately for Muskegon, among the few who stayed was Charles H. Hackley.  Hackley and other local leaders were determined to save Muskegon after the sawmills closed by making this town “one of the most distinctive cities of its size in the country.”  In the next eleven years, Hackley invested a good part of his fortune towards meeting that goal.

Hackley was convinced that emphasis on such public projects as progressive new schools, a library and a hospital would attract new growth.  The idea of building an art museum for Muskegon was always high on Hackley’s list of priorities.  However, other projects, felt to be more pressing, came first, such as Hackley Public Library, his first gift to the community. This was followed by gifts of a city park, a manual training school, a gymnasium and athletic field for the Public Schools of Muskegon, and a hospital.

Hackley died in 1905 before realizing his dream of an art gallery. However, Hackley left to the Muskegon Public Schools Board of Education, through a bequest in his will, an expendable trust of $150,000. This fund, now known as the Hackley Picture Fund, was to be used to purchase “pictures of the best kind” and has been used to support the acquisition of many works of art in the collection. In 2014, the Board of Education transferred this fund to the Community Foundation for Muskegon County as the Muskegon Museum of Art Hackley Picture Fund, and it is still dedicated to that purpose.

By 1910, having begun with Hackley Picture Fund the acquisition of some of the most treasured and valuable works of art still in the Museum’s present day collection, the Board of Education wisely determined that a museum-quality facility should be built. They then proceeded to purchase the lots next to Hackley Public Library and began construction of a facility for their growing and important art collection. Upon completion, the Board of Education chose to honor the inspiration for the project, which, of course, was Charles Hackley, and named their newest building the Hackley Art Gallery.

The construction of the museum culminated with an elaborate dedication ceremony on June 21, 1912.  The Hackley Art Museum was international news.  Press in New York, Boston, Chicago and London wrote about the founding of this museum.

The museum’s first director, Raymond Wyer, was a man of unique foresight. Early art acquisitions selected by Wyer included the very best world-class artists.  The most notorious of Wyer’s acquisitions was a painting by James M. Whistler, Study in Rose and Brown, purchased for $6,750.  It was thought by some to be scandalous to pay that kind of money for “ a picture that is hard to see”. In fact, the furor over this purchase was the cause of Raymond Wyer’s resignation in protest in July 1916. Today, Study in Rose and Brown is one of the true treasures in the collection.

Lulu Miller, the Hackley Librarian, was appointed to serve also as Museum Director in 1916. Again, the Hackley Art Gallery was a national trend leader with the leadership of only the second woman in the U.S. to be appointed as an art museum director.  Lulu Miller served in the joint capacity of museum and library director until 1921 and made some very astute acquisitions for the collection, including the Edward S. Curtis portfolio and the Winslow Homer painting Answering the Horn. She retired from the museum in 1930.

In 1930, Frank Almy, a graduate of Harvard Fine Arts Course, was the MMA’s next director.  He energetically set out to “sell the Hackley Gallery to the people of Muskegon.” However, the Chronicle commented, “Whether or not the long indifference of the people of this city to the treasure they have in this gallery can be overcome, we do not know…”

Almy tirelessly lectured, created exhibits and made astounding acquisitions of art for the collection including Edward Hopper’s NEW YORK RESTAURANT (the only Hopper painting in the state of Michigan) and the sensational John Steuart Curry’s TORNADO OVER KANSAS.  Another of Almy’s important acquisitions was Joos Van Cleve’s ST JEROME IN PENITENCE, painted in 1516.

The museum continued to undergo many changes and Hackley wasn’t its only benefactor. L.C. Walker, well-known Muskegon business leader and philanthropist, along with his wife Margaret, were instrumental in building the museum’s outstanding graphics collection.  Indeed, in every decade since 1940, the Walker family, continuing with Shaw and Betty Walker, have given significant works of art to the MMA.

In 1979, ground was broken for a $1.6 million addition to the Hackley Art Gallery, also funded by the L.C. & Margaret Walker Foundation.  Construction was completed in 1980 and with that, the Hackley Art Gallery changed its name to the Muskegon Museum of Art with the Hackley Galleries and the Walker Galleries.

The Muskegon Museum of Art Foundation Board of Trustees was established in 1983, at the conclusion of a successful drive to raise $1,000,000, led by another community philanthropist, Robert Tuttle, which established the first MMA Endowment Fund at the Community Foundation for Muskegon County.  The MMA Foundation Board of Trustees is a board mutually appointed by the Board of Education and the Community Foundation for Muskegon County and exists to provide oversite for the Museum, raise funds, and advise the Board of Education on all matters related to the Museum.

But the museum is so much more than fine art and Boards.  Our Permanent collection is the envy of many of our colleagues in the art world, our changing exhibition schedule is rich with opportunities for our community to experience art and artists from around the world, and our school outreach and tour program reaches over 5,000 area students annually.

The Muskegon Museum of Art is accredited by the American Association of Museums. 

Join us for Super Saturday at the MMA on the second Saturday of every month! Enjoy FREE *general admission to the museum’s permanent collection galleries and a FREE kids STEAM workshop or activity. Each Super Saturday is inspired by a piece of art from the MMA permanent collection or a current exhibition.

*General admission does not include admission to specialty exhibitions

Super Saturday Schedule:

Saturday, January 13 |  11 AM – 2 PM: Snow Globes!

Saturday, February 10 |  11 AM – 2 PM: Build an Animal Sculpture!

Saturday, March 9|  11 AM – 2 PM: Colorful Self-Portraits!

Saturday, April 13|  11 AM – 2 PM: Spring Prints!

Saturday, May 11|  11 AM – 2 PM: Magical Mobiles!

June – No Super Saturday

Saturday, July 13|  11 AM – 2 PM: Wacky Weather!

Saturday, August 10|  11 AM – 2 PM: Quilt Squares!

Saturday, September 14|  11 AM – 2 PM: Sculpt a Horse!

Saturday, October 12|  11 AM – 2 PM: Wacky Wearables!

Saturday, November 9|  11 AM – 2 PM: Merpeople Egg Cartons

Saturday, December 14|  11 AM – 2 PM: Design an Ornament!

Virtual Super Saturday:

Can’t make it to a Super Saturday? No worries, enjoy Super Saturday at home with these virtual tutorials to learn more about the MMA permanent collection through an at home STEAM activity.

Portraits

Still Life

Glass

Cities

Kingdoms

Snowflakes

Tradition

The Blues

  Reading

  Views

  Kites

  Sky’s the Limit

Historical Women Artists

  Mazes

  Say it Loud!

Bow of Ulysses

 Rooftops

Edward S. Curtis Photographs

Tiff Massey: Jewelry Box

Drawing Flowers

Support for Super Saturday is generously provided by Howmet Aerospace.