JOB TITLE: EXHIBITIONS MANAGER

INSTITUTION: Buffalo AKG Art Museum 

JOB LOCATION: Buffalo, New York 

INSTITUTION WEBSITE: https://buffaloakg.org/

About the Institution: 

The Buffalo AKG Art Museum is the sixth oldest public art museum in the United States, and one of the oldest anywhere dedicated to collecting and exhibiting contemporary art. Incorporated in December 1862, the Buffalo AKG is an artist-centric organization, and home to a world-renowned collection of modern and contemporary art. As the only global art museum in Western New York, the Buffalo AKG is an anchor for civic, cultural, and creative energies and activities, and a destination for tourists from around the nation and the world. 

Following three and a half years of construction supported by a $230 million capital campaign, the Buffalo AKG’s long-awaited new campus opened to the public in June 2023. Over the past decade, the museum has experienced extraordinary growth, more than doubling its operating budget, operating endowment funds, and the size of its full-time staff.

The Buffalo AKG is Western New York’s cultural beacon and a role model for museums across the United States. The museum’s new campus is a physical manifestation of its dedication to empowering people—staff, volunteers, and visitors—through the transformative power of art. The new campus’ design philosophy emerges from a deep and broad community-oriented commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access. The Buffalo AKG’s Board of Directors, Senior Leadership, and Staff have together made a long-standing commitment to creating an art museum that not only welcomes people from all walks of life but also engenders a sense of belonging in all who work at and visit the museum. 

In the years ahead, Buffalo AKG aspires to expand its reputation as a leader in the field of modern and contemporary art museums. Dedicated to developing its collection and presenting an original suite of exhibitions and engaging and accessible programs, the museum also seeks to catalyze new partnerships with artists, patrons, and peer institutions nationally and internationally. Internally, the Buffalo AKG seeks to create a welcoming, equitable workplace where leaders, managers, and operators thrive. Good governance, pay equity, and diversity of staff across all departments will continue to be a priority for the museum in the years ahead. 

Job Description: The Buffalo AKG Art Museum seeks to fill the full-time position of Exhibitions Manager, which serves as a project manager for temporary special exhibitions and traveling exhibitions, overseeing, and implementing all aspects of the planning process. The position reports to the Senior Manager of Operations.

Core Responsibilities:

Project Management:

• Assists in developing, implementing, and refining cross-departmental processes and procedures for exhibition planning 
• Prepares and implements exhibition timelines, guiding the process simultaneously for several exhibitions at various stages of development 
• Works closely with each project’s curator, assigned registrar, Head of Art Preparation, and other project team members throughout the museum to ensure completion of all phases of exhibition planning and execution
• Schedules and leads exhibition planning meetings, creates agendas, and follows-up on action items 
• In consultation with the Charles Balbach Chief Curator and Senior Manager of Operations, drafts, negotiates, and finalizes exhibition-related agreements with third parties for AKG-organized exhibitions, co-organized exhibitions, and exhibitions organized by other venues and presented at the AKG 
• Assists the Curatorial team in scheduling venues for Buffalo AKG-organized traveling exhibitions
• Ensures that pertinent information is shared with project team members and project stakeholders and ensures that project deadlines are met
• Provides support to exhibition curators to field inquiries and requests from staff members and external partners
• In consultation with the Curatorial Department Assistant and Charles Balbach Chief Curator, ensures that the exhibition schedule remains up-to-date and that the timing of projects is coordinated with ongoing collection activity
• With Head Registrar; Head of Art Preparation; and Director of Facilities, Planning and Management, schedules exhibition installation and deinstallation periods and ensures they remain up to date in the exhibition schedule
• As needed, coordinates with outside contractors involved in exhibition development, installation, and deinstallation
• Ensures cost effective management and control of projects, always striving for best practice

• Develops exhibition budgets in collaboration with project curators; Charles Balbach Chief Curator; Head Registrar; Head of Art Preparation; Director of Facilities, Planning and Management; and department heads throughout the museum
• With project curators and assigned registrars, updates exhibition budgets on a quarterly basis to reflect shifts in project scope and related costs 
• Ensures exhibition budgets are regularly updated with actual exhibition expenses and fundraising revenues from various departments 
• With Finance Department, prepares quarterly reports of exhibition expenses and reviews status with project curators, Charles Balbach Chief Curator, assigned registrars, and other department heads, as needed

• Drafts and updates touring exhibition contracts in collaboration with project curator, Charles Balbach Chief Curator, Senior Manager of Operations, and department heads throughout the museum 
• Acts as primary point of contact for the Buffalo AKG in correspondence with tour venue representatives, including negotiating traveling exhibition contracts, addressing questions and concerns from tour venues, ensuring the fulfillment of Buffalo AKG deadlines, and ensuring the fulfillment of tour venue deadlines
• Coordinates invoicing for tour venues with Finance Department 
• Tracks traveling exhibition costs for tour expense reconciliations

• Works with legal counsel and the Imaging, Visual Resources, and Digital Assets Manager to periodically review rights, reproductions, and intellectual property clauses in exhibition contracts
• Conducts research to determine intellectual property rights status, including copyright and third-party rights, for all loaned works in AKG-organized exhibitions
• Works with institutional lenders, private collectors, copyright holders, and licensing agencies for loaned works to obtain necessary reproduction and filming/photography permissions, negotiate fees, and coordinate payment
• Works with assigned registrars and Imaging, Visual Resources, and Digital Assets Manager to obtain images for all loaned works in AKG-organized exhibitions for archival and reference purposes and placement in museum’s CMS
• Works with colleagues across the museum, including those under the Curatorial umbrella, Learning & Creativity, Publications & Digital Experience, Retail Operations, and Communications to identify the images and permissions needed for loaned works in exhibition-related materials across various platforms, including the website, social media, ads, brochures, exhibition catalogues, etc.
• Proofs promotional and gallery materials to ensure accurate attributions for loaned works in AKG-organized exhibitions
• Works with Imaging, Visual Resources, and Digital Assets Manager to facilitate the sharing of digital assets for loaned works in AKG-organized exhibitions with artists, artists’ representatives, institutional lenders, and private collectors

• Develops and learns from a network of peers within the museum community by participating in professional development opportunities in the field of exhibitions management

• Excellent computer skills with competence in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook, as well as Adobe Acrobat 
• Knowledge of project management practices and tools
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively through digital tools
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Experience working in museum collections management systems (CMS)
• Prioritizes working cross-departmentally and collaboratively while also being able to work independently and proactively
• Ability to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines simultaneously 
• Ability to lead and engage teams of diverse personalities
• Proven diplomatic problem-solving capabilities
• Ability to handle confidential information with care and discretion
• Knowledge of intellectual property rights around image use and solutions that serve both creative and legal requirements 
• Willingness to embrace the museum’s commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA)

• Bachelor’s degree in museum studies, Arts/Non-Profit Administration, or     similar field, or professional experience equivalent
• Three to five years museum exhibitions experience 
• Experience developing and managing project budgets and    timelines
• Experience drafting and negotiating contracts 

This Position is: In-Person

Position Type: Full-Time

Salary range: $45,000 - $55,000

Benefits: Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Paid time off, Contribution to Retirement Plan

How to Apply: https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=62a3d3a8-5c0c-4247-8ade-f863a274d7e3&ccId=19000101_000001&jobId=477266&lang=en_US&source=CC2

Job Closing Date: 9/1/2024