Description

The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at Portland State University (JSMA/PSU) is dedicated to making art accessible to audiences and breaking down the barriers that may exclude potential audiences from engaging with cultural institutions. An admission-free museum, JSMA/PSU operates at the most diverse university in Oregon:  48% of the student body identifies as other than white; 46.2% of students are first generation; and 25% have children. The museum aims to provide opportunities for students and community members to experience and explore art through exhibitions, programs, and classroom engagements across disciplines.
To meet this goal, JSMA/PSU seeks term funding for a new staff position, curator of academic programs, who will promote and coordinate the use of the PSU Art Collection and the museum’s exhibitions for academic instruction and in-gallery teaching. The curator of academic programs would engage with faculty to incorporate exhibitions into their curricula and would collaborate with departments and centers to develop crossdisciplinary, art-based projects and programs. The curator would also organize small exhibitions, collaborate with guest curators, organize lectures and programs, and supervise student interns. Working directly with diverse university student groups, the curator would help shape participation relevant to their cultural and academic experiences. More specifically, they would seek to build the visual and cultural literacy skills of students, faculty, and campus community members. Finally, the curator would advance the JSMA/PSU’s commitment to representing artists from Oregon and the Pacific Northwest region.
JSMA/PSU’s director is anticipating that the success of this project will help to persuade the university’s administration that the position should be made permanent.