Head of Gallery

Head of Gallery (temporary appointment with an 18-month term faculty contract)

Virginia Commonwealth University
School of the Arts in Qatar

Position: Head of Gallery
Program: Office of Research and Development
Location: Doha, Qatar
Position Begins: Summer/Fall 2024
Consideration Process: Those who wish to express interest in this opportunity are invited to submit their materials for best consideration by Friday, May 24, 2024. Materials will be considered as they are received and until a Head of Gallery is identified. Additional instructions for consideration are provided below.

The Opportunity:

VCUarts Qatar is excited to announce an opportunity for a Head of Gallery that will support and promote the School's vision and mission through impactful exhibitions, speakers, and relevant public programs. This opportunity is a temporary 18-month term faculty appointment that will develop and implement a curatorial vision to guide an ambitious exhibition and speaker program and elevate the intellectual contributions of the VCUarts Qatar Gallery in local, regional, and global discourse. The Head of Gallery will be a dynamic professional with a prominent curatorial voice and vision with significant hands-on experience in all aspects of curation, exhibition design, and associated activities.

The Head of Gallery will have curatorial experience working across disciplines in art, design, and art history. This position will provide leadership and vision for the VCUarts Qatar Gallery, teach or co-teach undergraduate or graduate-level courses, and engage in creative practice and/or scholarly research that speaks to their own areas of interest. With an emphasis on showcasing work from emerging and established artists and designers, the Gallery facilitates wide-ranging activities and public programs at VCUarts Qatar, including the Crossing Boundaries Lecture and Workshop Series, Wavelength Lecture Series, Project Spaces exhibitions, the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) exhibitions, while partnering with the Hamad Bin Khalifa Symposium on Islamic Art and the Tasmeem Doha conference.
It is expected that a competitive international search will be conducted during the academic year with the goal of identifying a permanent Head of Gallery to start in late 2025/early 2026. The temporary Head of Gallery will be eligible to apply for the permanent opportunity when it is announced.

There are generous benefits associated with the temporary 18-month temporary appointment:

• Competitive international salary
• Tax protection for U.S. Taxpayers
• 30% Off-shore supplement
• Medical Insurance (100% employer funded premium and employer cost shared options available)
• Fully furnished villa or apartment including wireless internet
• Annual travel allowance to home of record (to include a spouse and dependents relocated to Qatar)
• Monthly transportation allowance
• Educational reimbursement for up to 4 dependent children enrolled in an accredited K-12 program
• International Professional Development and Research Opportunities

VCUarts Qatar:

VCUarts Qatar is the international branch campus of Virginia Commonwealth University's School of the Arts (VCUarts). Located in Richmond, Virginia, VCUarts ) is the top-ranked public art school in the U.S. VCUarts Qatar was established in 1998 through a partnership with the Qatar Foundation and offers students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in fashion design, graphic design, interior design and painting & printmaking; a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history; and a Master of Fine Arts degree in design. It is currently in the process of establishing a BFA in Kinetic Imaging program. Located in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, VCUarts Qatar is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. The current student body represents a diverse range of nationalities with students coming from 34 countries.

VCUarts Qatar is dedicated to global outreach and education and provides students with an environment for cross-cultural exchange that fosters inquiry, discovery and innovation. Examples of this mission are the two significant international conferences hosted by VCUarts Qatar—the biennial design conference, Tasmeem and the biennial Hamad bin Khalifa Symposium on Islamic Art. VCUarts Qatar attracts globally recognized designers, artists and scholars while fostering partnerships within the region, and beyond, that enhance the educational, economic and cultural vitality of Qatar. Having established itself as a center of excellence for education and research, VCUarts Qatar has substantial involvement with the influential art and design world of the Middle East, and is a catalyst for the growth and development of these fields in the region. VCUarts Qatar has over 120 full-time faculty and staff and a student body of over 300 students. VCUarts Qatar was the first campus established in Education City, a unique 2500-acre multiversity campus. VCUarts Qatar was joined by Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, Carnegie-Mellon University, Texas A&M University, Weill Cornell Medical College, Northwestern University, and HEC Paris.
Qatar, with English as the standard second language, is a progressive country in the Arabian Gulf and remains one of the healthiest economies in the Gulf region. Doha offers all the conveniences found in a contemporary and cosmopolitan city, while honoring a rich tradition that is evident in the old markets and the city's Islamic Arab architecture. Al-Wakrah Stadium, a venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, designed by the defunct deconstructivist architect Zaha Hadid was inaugurated in 2021. The National Museum of Qatar, designed by Jean Nouvel, opened in March 2019 while the Museum of Islamic Art, designed by I.M.Pei opened in November 2008 and the Arab Museum of Modern Art (Mathaf) opened in 2010. The U.S. Embassy considers Qatar among the safest countries in the world for Americans.

VCUarts:

Ranked by US News & World Report as a top-five arts and design school, VCUarts ) includes over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students with nationally recognized programs in design, visual and performing arts, and has an annual budget of $38 million and an endowment of more than $13.5 million. Students are taught by over 175 full-time teaching and research faculty members and the school is supported by over 70 staff members that assist in daily processes. The School includes two campuses; one in Richmond and one in Doha, Qatar. The Richmond campus is located on the university's 75-acre Monroe Park campus situated in the city's historic Fan District. Ultimately, the work of the School of the Arts extends globally with partnerships throughout the world and across fields as diverse as the humanities, health care and business.

Major Responsibilities:

• Provides leadership and curatorial vision to guide the Gallery programming, focused on contemporary art, design, and art history;
• Provides oversight of the day-to-day operational management of wide-ranging art and design gallery activities;
• Develop and teach courses on topics relevant to areas of expertise, with a willingness to teach courses across the academic departments. Courses may be taught at the undergraduate and/or graduate level;
• Serves as a managing editor for the Gallery website;
• Supports and enriches the educational, research, and outreach aspirations of VCUarts Qatar, working collaboratively with school and departmental leaders, faculty, staff, and other relevant stakeholders;
• Works collaboratively with inter-departmental staff, vendors, and clients, coordinating daily activities and facilitating the timely completion of projects.
• Collaborates with the Gallery Committee to initiate, develop, coordinate, and provide leadership on internal and external exhibitions and guest lectures that consistently attain standards of international excellence in alignment with the strategic goals of VCUarts Qatar and the University.
• Collaborates with colleagues on the VCU Home Campus, such as VCUarts Anderson Gallery and the Institute of Contemporary Arts.
• Builds collaborations with community and cultural organizations and engages a wide audience that includes students, faculty, local residents, and visitors throughout the world;
• Supervises the Exhibitions and Lectures Assistant who supports day-to-day operations;
• Performs other duties as assigned by the supervisor or needed within the general duties typically associated with this position.

Qualifications:

• MA, MFA or equivalent in Art/Design History, Art/Design Criticism, Museum Studies, or related academic disciplines;
• Minimum of five (5) years of curatorial experience in a Gallery, museum, non-profit, or higher education in a supervisory/management role, with progressive responsibility for designing and carrying out a full range of programs or projects;
• Experience overseeing and ensuring standards of excellence in museum and curatorial principles, exhibition design practices and procedures, and an understanding and sensitivity to professional ethics related to working with designers, artists, and speakers;
• Demonstrated creativity and innovation in developing and implementing all stages of an exhibition, including basic conversations of works of arts, exhibition design, registrar's procedures, the accession process, installation, and a basic understanding of legal procedures of import/export, logistic and hospitality for artists, agreements for securing loans, and repatriation issues;
• Broad working knowledge of art/design history of all periods and specialized knowledge in contemporary art/design, familiarity, and knowledge of non-Western art/design is a benefit;
• Strong writing skills for historical and critical analysis of art and design, with the ability to write for both scholarly and general audiences;
• Experience writing and directing all promotional and academic materials, such as exhibition catalogs, in support of exhibitions and speakers;
• Experience coordinating guest speakers and presenting speakers to an audience;
• Independent, strong project management skills and excellent organizational skills with the ability to organize resources, budget management, establish priorities, and manage deadlines;
• Excellent ability to work effectively with a diverse group of administrators, faculty, staff, students, artists, and suppliers, and develop and maintain favorable external and internal partnerships with the various constituencies of VCUarts Qatar, VCU Richmond, and local creative industries;
• Experience with international project collaboration and working with academic, community, cultural and educational institutions in an inclusive and culturally sensitive manner;
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a staff member at VCUarts Qatar;
• Must possess excellent verbal and written English language proficiency;
• Established research agenda and a clear potential for external funding, as well as a potential for a scholarship or creative expression to complement and expand existing expertise in the department/unit.

Consideration Process and Instructions:

Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to organizational diversity, equity and inclusion – an environment where all can thrive in their pursuit of excellence.

Those who wish to express interest in this opportunity are requested to submit a Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (typically between words) providing your career aspirations and contributions toward promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through this statement, you can share how your lived experiences, and academic and professional activities will impact your contribution to VCU's mission of promoting equity and inclusion.

Note: Examples include working with others to further the goals of equity and inclusion; leading in any capacity that tangibly promotes an environment where diversity is welcomed, fostered, and celebrated; creative activity, research and scholarship that promotes equity and parity; teaching and mentoring students, and/or engaging with faculty and/or staff from traditionally underrepresented groups to create a positive and successful organizational experience. For additional guidance on writing a Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

To express your interest in being considered for this opportunity, please submit following documents online via the VCU Jobs Website:

• Cover Letter (address interest and qualifications for the opportunity; include discussion of research agenda, teaching, and service activities);
• Reflective teaching statement (include approaches and philosophies; evidence of effective teaching; and potential courses in area of specialization)
• Portfolio of visual work that demonstrates curatorial experience;
• (2) Writing samples that demonstrate your communication skills and ability to write for scholarly and general audiences;
• List of three professional references including names with titles and contact information.
  (References will not be checked prior to candidate's approval).

Only electronic materials submitted via the VCU Jobs Website will be accepted. For best consideration, please submit materials by Friday, May 24, 2024. Materials will be considered as they are received and until a temporary Head of Gallery is identified.

Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to providing accessible and equitable living, learning and working environments free from discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin,age, sex (including pregnancy), political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or disability.

Position Type: Teaching & Research Faculty
Full time equivalent: 100%
Tenure: Open
Rank: Open
Months: 12
Department:Qatar Campus, VCUarts

Salary: Commensurate with experience. Generous international benefits

This is an expression of interest process that will result in a temporary waiver appointment.

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