Arts Collections Curator

Description:

The Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries invites applications and nominations for the position of Arts Collections Curator. This position works in a collaborative environment within the Special Collections and Archives (SCA) department. The Arts Collections Curator develops, promotes, and provides collection stewardship for Special Collections and Archives arts-related special collections including over 4,000 pieces of book art, 125,000 comic arts holdings, 3,000 works of art, and other related collections. The Arts Collections Curator will play an integral role in stewarding Special Collections holdings through collection development and donor relations, supporting the SCA instruction program, and leading related outreach initiatives . The successful candidate will join an exceptionally talented, culturally and academically diverse faculty.

Special Collections and Archives at the VCU Libraries connects students, faculty, researchers, and community members with rare and unique materials in areas such as comic arts, book arts, Richmond and Central Virginia history; African-American, women’s and LGBTQ+ community histories; social movements and activism; 15th-19th- century medical texts and imprints; health sciences history focused on Virginia and the South; and University Archives. The department currently consists of 6 faculty and 4 professional staff across two locations - James Branch Cabell and Health Sciences Libraries. The Arts Collections Curator will be based in the Cabell Library and play an integral role in the continuing the development of our arts-related special collections.

Located in culturally diverse, historic, and dynamic Richmond, Virginia, convenient to the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the recreation destinations of the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Commonwealth University is one of Virginia's largest universities and among the nation's leading research institutions. VCU Libraries, one of Virginia’s outstanding research library systems, advances the University’s teaching, research, service, and patient care mission with comprehensive digital and print collections and nationally recognized innovation in its facilities, advanced media and technology resources for its community. In February 2018, the Association of College and Research Libraries recognized VCU Libraries with the ACRL Excellence in Academic Libraries Award. In 2020, the Health Sciences Library received the Medical Library Association’s Research Advancement in Health Sciences Librarianship Award. The successful candidate will join an exceptionally talented, culturally and academically diverse community.

Diversity and Inclusion
VCU’s commitment to diversity is one of the institution’s unique strengths. Our student body is one of the most diverse in Virginia in terms of race and ethnicity and socioeconomic status, and one of the four themes of our Quest 2028 Strategic Plan is “Diversity driving excellence.” The United States Department of Education has designated VCU as a minority serving institution effective July 1, 2022. VCU is committed to building an increasingly diverse faculty and leadership team, and is actively engaged in partnerships with diverse communities in the Richmond metro area. VCU Libraries is purposeful in our efforts to advance diversity and inclusion and expects that the Arts Collections Curator will be a leader in fostering a welcoming atmosphere for all members of the VCU community. The successful candidate will receive support for research, service, and professional development and will have ample opportunity to pursue diversity and inclusion related opportunities in those areas.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Head of Special Collections and Archives, and working closely with department colleagues, the Arts Collections Curator is responsible for curatorial support, including promoting access and use, collection development, and donor relations. The Curator will play an integral part in the growth of our arts-related special collections prioritizing holdings by and about historically underrepresented groups. The Curator will predominantly focus on arts-related materials but may occasionally work with additional rare and localized special collections, such as rare books and other published works.