Louisiana State Museum is Searching for a Curator of Jazz

The Curator is a member of the LSM's Collections Division. He/she is responsible for overseeing the LSM's internationally-known New Orleans jazz collection consisting of instruments, pictorial sheet music, photographs, records, tapes, manuscripts and other items. It includes the world's largest collection of instruments owned and played by important figures in jazz - trumpets, coronets, trombones, clarinets and saxophones. The incumbent works to make the collections known in both Louisiana and throughout the United States in keeping with their significance.

Duties and Responsibilities

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• Advances plans for the creation of a major jazz/New Orleans music exhibition to replace the 1980s jazz exhibition in the Old U.S. Mint that was disassembled following Hurricane Katrina.
• Contributes to exhibition planning in general and may periodically develop his or her own collection-focused exhibitions.

• Catalogs and also oversees cataloging of the collection by others.
• Identifies strategies for making the collections more widely accessible via electronic and other means.
• Answers inquiries from curators, scholars, and members of the public at large.
• Conducts research.
• Writes articles and other publications concerning the collection and encourages their publication by others.
• Makes presentations at professional conferences and other settings.
• Consults with subject-area specialists as appropriate.
• Supervises staff as required.

• Plans and oversees the proper care and conservation of the collection.

• Helps decide priorities for collection growth and makes recommendations for deaccessioning.

• Develops grant-funded projects and helps draft proposals for same.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Collections Division Director.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• A baccalaureate degree in Art History, American History, American Studies, Museology, Anthropology, Archaeology, Geology, Cultural Geography, History, or Historical Geography.
• Three years of professional-level experience.

Additional Preferred Requirements:

• Excellent writing, oral communication, interpersonal, and management skills.
• A Master's Degree and/or Ph.D. Degree in American History, Musicology, or related field.
• An ability to read music.
• A thorough familiarity with the history of jazz and Louisiana music in general.
• A proven track record in developing creative exhibitions that are capable of reaching out to general audiences as well as individuals already interested in music history.
• Track record of developing publications on jazz and music.
• Knowledge of museum collection database management systems.
• Familiarity with conservation practices and procedures.
• Experience in interacting with donors.
• Experience in securing project grants and participating in the development of grant proposals.