Associate Curator

City and County of Denver • Denver, CO

6d • $63,679 - $84,375 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Denver Public Library (DPL) is a vibrant, essential hub for its diverse city, with 28 locations and over 4 million annual visitors. DPL is building a culture guided by values of Welcoming, Curiosity, Connection, Equity, and Stewardship. This role is part of the Special Collections and Archives (SCA) unit, specifically within the Museum Services team. The Museum Services team provides public access to engage visitors with the history of Colorado and the American West through exhibits, objects, artwork, and archival materials. This position is seeking two term-limited Associate Curators to join the Museum Services team. The role involves developing exhibits and public-facing experiences that explore collections, center community voices, foster curiosity, and advance equity. The Associate Curators will work at the intersection of museums, library services, community engagement, and exhibition practice to create experiences that invite visitors into conversation with history, art, and culture. Under the direction of the Curator, the Associate Curators will be essential in expanding and establishing this team’s services. The position is based out of the Central Library in downtown Denver.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Museum Studies, Art History, Arts Administration, Public History, American Studies, Ethnic Studies, or closely related field
• Three years of professional or technical level experience planning the administrative aspects of exhibit programs or working on exhibits in a museum, historic institution, library, cultural center, or related organization
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to move between periods of independent work and collaborative work
• Ability to occasionally work flexible hours including some evenings and weekends
• Knowledge of accessibility best practices and universal design principles
• Proficiency with collaborative project management tools and software
• Knowledge of Western American history, Colorado history, African American history, or related regional history
• Experience with art and artifact handling, condition reporting, and collection management systems

Nice To Haves

• Master's or Bachelor's degree in Museum Studies, Art History, Arts Administration, Public History, American Studies, Ethnic Studies, or closely related field
• Background in exhibit maintenance and installation techniques
• Proven experience in the development of both permanent and temporary exhibits for a gallery, museum, library, or related institution
• Experience project managing exhibits from design phase through implementation and closing
• Project management experience including monitoring budgets, developing contracts, tracking timelines, problem-solving, and coordinating the work of staff, contractors, and volunteers
• Experience in participatory or community-engaged exhibit practice and/or working with diverse communities and centering marginalized voices in exhibits or public programming
• Experience conducting collection assessments through an equity lens

Responsibilities

• Conduct curatorial research for a variety of history, art, and cultural exhibits
• Develop exhibit concepts that ask open-ended questions and invite visitors into collaborative knowledge-building
• Write visitor-centered in-gallery text and interpretive resources that are well-researched, factual, welcoming, accessible, and foster curiosity
• Work with the Museum Services team to create welcoming and informative graphics for display
• Manage exhibition projects from design phase through implementation, maintenance, and closing
• Lead and collaborate with DPL branch staff in installations and de-installations
• Handle art and artifact installation following professional museum standards
• Conduct site visits and assessments for exhibition spaces across DPL locations
• Troubleshoot technical issues and adapt to changing conditions during installation
• Build and maintain relationships with local and regional partners including museums, artists, universities, galleries, cultural organizations, historical societies, and community groups
• Partner with donors, nonprofit organizations, businesses, private collectors, government agencies, colleges, and artists to accomplish curatorial vision
• Work with communities to ensure their stories are told by their members
• Lead public exhibit tours and collaboratively facilitate public programs that engage visitors with exhibit themes
• Research and identify potential new acquisition opportunities that address collection diversity and equity, with documentation of recommendations
• Oversee art and artifact handling with attention to preservation and professional standards
• Complete condition reports for collection objects used for exhibits
• Ensure proper storage and display conditions to preserve collections for future generations
• Maintain accurate records including storage and display locations to ease public access

Benefits

• Four (4) Medical Plans, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Pension Plan for Life (employee contributes 8.45%, employer contributes 17.95%) and 457 (b) Retirement Plan
• PTO (over 3 weeks in your first year), quarterly wellness hours, and 12 paid holidays
• CARE Bank, Family Leave Benefits
• Enhanced Work/Life Balance: Employee Assistance Program (6 counseling sessions per year, legal assistance, financial counseling, discounted recreation center passes), Employee Volunteer Program
• Professional Learning and Development Opportunities; Courses and Career Development Resources ; Education Refund Program
• EcoPass (unlimited free RTD bus/train rides)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level