Curator - ICA Pittsburgh - College of Fine Arts

Carnegie Mellon University•Pittsburgh, PA

About The Position

ICA Pittsburgh seeks an imaginative, collaborative, artist-centered Curator to help define the institution’s artistic identity. Working closely with the Founder and Director, the Curator will set and implement the institution’s programmatic vision; originate exhibitions, commissions, publications, and live programs; cultivate relationships with artists and partners; and develop sustainable multiyear plans. As a senior institutional leader at a new contemporary art institution, the Curator will help establish its values, processes, and working culture. The Curator will lead an ambitious contemporary art program, build interdisciplinary and university collaborations, develop accessible interpretation and public engagement, and contribute to institutional strategy and organizational development. The role includes managing budgets, schedules, production, partnerships, and exhibition logistics; supervising and mentoring staff and collaborators; and representing ICA Pittsburgh in the local community and broader contemporary art networks. The Curator will also partner with the Director and advancement colleagues on fundraising and donor engagement while protecting the integrity and independence of the curatorial process. The position is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is a regular, full-time staff role at Carnegie Mellon University. Carnegie Mellon offers eligible employees medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance; retirement savings with employer contributions; tuition benefits; paid time off and observed holidays; life and accidental death and disability insurance; a free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass; family concierge support for childcare needs; fitness center access; and other benefits.

Requirements

Significant progressively responsible experience in curatorial practice, contemporary art programming, or artistic leadership.
A record of developing and delivering ambitious contemporary art exhibitions, commissions, publications, performances, public programs, or related projects.
Broad knowledge of contemporary art and experience working with artists across different media, disciplines, geographies, and career stages.
Experience collaborating directly with artists to develop and present new work.
Demonstrated leadership in a museum, university gallery, kunsthalle, alternative art space, residency program, cultural organization, or comparable setting.
Experience managing complex budgets, schedules, production processes, and partnerships.
Excellent writing, editing, public-speaking, and interpersonal communication skills.
Demonstrated commitment to equity, accessibility, inclusive representation, and respectful workplace practices.
An advanced degree in art history, curatorial studies, studio art, visual culture, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of professional experience and demonstrated achievement.

Nice To Haves

Experience working within a university, research institution, or similarly complex organization.
Experience launching, expanding, or repositioning a museum, gallery, cultural initiative, or major program.
Familiarity with interdisciplinary practices involving science, technology, design, architecture, performance, sound, moving image, social practice, or emerging media.
Experience commissioning new work and managing technically or logistically complex projects.
Experience with publications, fundraising, grant development, donor engagement, or institutional partnerships.
Knowledge of Pittsburgh’s artistic and cultural communities or demonstrated ability to build locally grounded relationships.
An established national or international network of artists, curators, scholars, and cultural organizations.

Responsibilities

Partner with the Director to define ICA Pittsburgh’s artistic vision, programmatic identity, and multiyear strategy.
Originate, research, and organize exhibitions, commissions, performances, screenings, publications, conversations, and digital initiatives.
Develop programming that connects emerging and established artists, Pittsburgh-based practices, and national and international perspectives.
Identify and engage artists, guest curators, writers, scholars, and interdisciplinary collaborators.
Maintain high standards of artistic quality, experimentation, accessibility, scholarship, and ethical practice.
Work responsively with artists throughout research, development, production, presentation, and evaluation.
Build collaborations with Carnegie Mellon faculty, students, researchers, schools, and centers, and create opportunities for student engagement with artists, exhibitions, curatorial practice, and museum work.
Develop an interpretive approach that is rigorous, inviting, and accessible to audiences with different levels of familiarity with contemporary art.
Create and edit gallery texts, essays, publications, artist interviews, digital content, and other interpretive materials.
Integrate exhibitions with performances, screenings, workshops, conversations, and participatory programs.
Work with colleagues and community partners to foster reciprocal exchange among artists, researchers, students, and publics; incorporate accessibility and audience experience early in program development.
Contribute as a leadership team member to institutional strategy, planning, budgeting, and organizational development.
Translate artistic priorities into calendars, project plans, staffing needs, production schedules, and budgets.
Establish clear and equitable processes for artist selection, commissioning, guest-curator engagement, interpretation, documentation, and evaluation.
Collaborate across exhibitions, operations, advancement, communications, education, visitor experience, facilities, and university administration.
Supervise and mentor curatorial staff, exhibition teams, interns, consultants, and project-based collaborators.
Plan and manage exhibition planning, coordination, loan agreements, and installation with the Assistant Director of Exhibitions.
Foster a working culture grounded in care, transparency, accountability, intellectual generosity, and respect for different forms of expertise.
Build sustained relationships with Pittsburgh artists, cultural organizations, educators, community leaders, and audiences, and develop reciprocal partnerships with national and international contemporary art networks.
Represent ICA Pittsburgh at public programs, professional convenings, studio visits, university events, donor gatherings, and community meetings.
Partner with the Director and advancement colleagues on grants, sponsorships, donor engagement, and cases for support.
Communicate the artistic program persuasively while protecting the integrity and independence of the curatorial process.